IAWJ statement on Afghanistan

As you are aware, the situation in Afghanistan is rapidly deteriorating. The IAWJ has issued an official statement highlighting the plight of women judges, their families, colleagues, and those of all women and girls.

As you know, two women judges were recently killed in Afghanistan as they were being driven to work. Women judges are receiving threats and fear that they will be targeted for doing their job in the courts trying to bring safety and security for the people. The official statement can be found at the link below.

NZAWJ has a special relationship to the Afghanistan Women Judges Association through their courageous contribution to the Auckland Regional Conference in 2015 and the Biennial Conference in May 2021. We urge our members bring this to the attention of government with a view to assisting in getting judges included in emergency evacuation. 

We also provide a link to an interview on the position in Afghanistan with IAWJ former president Vanessa Ruiz that aired on Saturday. Here is the link to the episode.

Here is a link to an article in The Law Gazette where Susan Glazebrook speaks about the concerns for our judicial colleagues.

We are exploring ways of providing assistance to women judges in Afghanistan and will let you know ways our members can provide support.