In partnership with other legal and refugee-led organizations, AMERA International identifies and develops information and resources on legal pathways for displaced Afghans, and for those seeking to leave Afghanistan. We also seek to strengthen representation of Afghans by centralizing legal resources for legal representatives.
On this page you will find:
AMERA has collaborated with PILnet, the Asia Pacific Refugee Rights Network (APRRN), the Asia Pacific Network of Refugees (APNOR), ATLAS Women, the Leitner Center, and a number of partners, to develop legal information sheets on available legal aid and routes into different countries around the world for people in or fleeing Afghanistan.
Immediately following the Taliban takeover of Afghanistan in August 2021, the Asia Pacific Network of Refugees (APNOR), the Global Refugee Network (MENA), PILnet, and other partners organized an urgent consultation on meeting legal needs arising from the Afghanistan situation. During this event, the need for clear and concise information on legal aid and legal pathways available to Afghans emerged as a priority area.
The international legal community, the ATLAS Women, was pivotal in the early stages of the crisis, mobilizing its network of lawyers on the ground to provide urgent legal assistance to Afghan women and their families. Building upon this work and to respond to evolving legal needs, PILnet, ATLAS Women, APRRN, AMERA, the Leitner Center, and a number of partners began developing legal information sheets on available legal aid and routes into different countries around the world. This work was made possible thanks to support from Herbert Smith Freehills, which seconded two members of staff to PILnet to support this and other refugee rights projects.
Over a year on and such information remains more important than ever. Since March 2022, the Taliban have systematically denied women access to education and public life. Girls have been shut out of primary schools, secondary schools and universities, culminating in the minister for higher education announcing the suspension of women’s education until further notice. In late December 2022, the Taliban also announced an order banning women from working for local and international NGOs in Afghanistan. These actions by the Taliban leave millions of Afghans in need of legal assistance. With a number of collaborative projects between NGOs and law firms now in place across Europe to provide additional free legal support and services, the sheets aim to simplify and explain the ecosystem of legal assistance in these and other countries.
Resources for Afghans
AMERA, PILnet, the Asia Pacific Refugee Rights Network (APRRN), and the Asia Pacific Network of Refugees (APNOR) present a series of legal information sheets in English and Dari for Afghans seeking legal assistance in or relocation to a number of countries.
Each legal information sheet provides a list of legal options available to Afghans already in the country; to those with family members in the country; and to those wishing to relocate due to risk of harm; as well as a list of organizations providing free legal assistance and other useful resources.
Please note that AMERA, PILnet, APNOR, and APRRN are unable to provide direct legal assistance or referrals. See below for alternative resources and support.
برگه های اطلاعات قانونی به زبانی دری
For additional general resources (not country specific), you can visit the following pages:
For resources related to Australia, you can visit the following pages:
For resources related to Brazil, you can visit the following pages:
For resources related to the US, you can visit the following pages:
Resources for Legal Representatives
- Country of Origin Information:
- Our Afghanistan Country of Origin Information Experts directory
- Asylos Country of Origin Information repositories on Afghanistan, Pakistan, Iran, and Turkey
- Asylos COI report on Consequences of Non-Cooperation with the Taliban 2017 – 2023
- European Country of Origin Information Network (ECOI) collection of resources on Afghanistan
- European Union Agency for Asylum COI publications on Afghanistan, and on the situation of Afghan refugees in Iran
- Human Rights Watch, World Report 2023 – Afghanistan
- Recent legal analysis:
- European Union Agency for Asylum, Afghanistan Country Guidance 2023 – includes conclusions on profiles of Afghan applicants, risk analysis, and nexus to reasons for persecution
- UNHCR Guidance Note on the Protection Needs of People Fleeing Afghanistan (February 2023)
- GROUP-BASED PROTECTION OF AFGHAN WOMEN AND GIRLS UNDER THE 1951 REFUGEE CONVENTION | International & Comparative Law Quarterly | Cambridge Core (July 31, 2023)
- Are all Afghan women and girls refugees? An analysis in light of the Refugee Convention (December 22, 2022)
- Other useful resources:
- UK-specific resources:
- Available in both English and Dari, the monthly newsletter from the Afghan Pro Bono Initiative (APBI) provides updates from the UK on legal pathways for Afghans, numbers who have traveled, and support for Afghans.
- US-specific resources:
- Immigration Justice Campaign resources on the representation of Afghan nationals in US asylum proceedings
- The ILSAA (Immigration Legal Services for Afghan Arrivals) Legal Services Providers Network connects lawyers working with Eligible Afghan Arrivals (EAAs) with funding, networks, and learning pathways.
- USCRI Afghan Policy Update webinar from 3 August 2023 discussing the latest legislative and executive efforts to extend legal protections to Afghan parolees.
- Freedom House A Needs Assessment of Afghan Human Rights Defenders 2022 – 2023
- Protection Cluster Afghanistan, Afghanistan Protection Analysis Update Q2 2022
- UNHCR Operational Data Portal: Afghanistan Situation
- Includes information about registered refugees & Afghans in refugee-like situations in Iran, Pakistan, Tajikistan, Uzbekistan, and Turkmenistan.
- UK-specific resources:
We are always looking to expand the resources on our platform. If you know about Afghanistan-related resources, or you are aware of organisations and individuals to include in our directories, please get in touch.
Last updated January 2024