Dear you,

This is the hardest update we’ve had to write yet.

We have fought tirelessly to secure protection for Afghan women and human rights defenders in Pakistan. We looked to Brazil as a lifeline, but they have now confirmed that they cannot take them in time. The Netherlands, despite its leadership role in Afghan refugee resettlement, has not yet committed to action.

Meanwhile, the situation in Pakistan is rapidly deteriorating:

• Afghan refugees are being evicted from their homes, harassed, and extorted by the police.
• Even those with documents are being told to leave.
• Every day, we brace ourselves for a message that may never come. Every day, we hold space for the possibility that a voice we cherish will be swallowed by the mauling jaws of the Taliban regime—without a trace, leaving behind a silence that screams.

During our online leadership training session, two women had to flee their homes because the police were conducting raids. One sought refuge at a neighbor’s house, hoping to stay unnoticed. The other had nowhere to go—she sat in a park with her children, long past midnight, vulnerable and afraid.

This is the daily reality they face. Even in moments of learning and hope, they are forced to run.

One of the women wrote to us last night:

"Tonight, my brother went to the market to get some fruit because a family member was sick. The police stopped him and demanded money. When he said he didn’t have any, they took his phone. They are merciless."

"The whole world sees our pain, but they cruelly remain spectators. We are so humiliated and deprived of our basic rights. No organization has shown mercy. Wherever I applied, I only received apologies."

Without support, they will not survive this.

What we are doing now

1️⃣ We are calling on the Dutch government to step up.

The Netherlands has the diplomatic power to pressure Pakistan to stop deporting Afghan refugees and facilitate safe relocation to another country.

Over 11,500 people have signed this petition, demanding action.


2️⃣ We are asking for direct connections to embassies in Pakistan that are issuing humanitarian visas.

These people cannot escape without a legal pathway—we are pushing for real solutions, not empty words.


3️⃣ We are preparing for the worst.

If governments fail, what options are left?

We are running out of time.


We know this update is painful to read. It is painful to write. But we will not stop fighting for these women and men who risked everything for freedom.

📢 What you can do now

✅ Keep sharing the petition – Every signature counts. The more voices, the harder it is for the Dutch government to ignore this.
🔗 https://chng.it/x2yBFHGQVc

✅ Contact journalists – If you know anyone in the media, ask them to cover this story. Visibility is power.

✅ Tag Dutch officials on social media – They need to know the world is watching.
@MinBuZa @DonatoColonna @CasparVeldkamp

We have not given up. We will not give up.

Please, stand with us now.

#SaveAfghanWomen #ActNow #HumanRights #RefugeesWelcome #NetherlandsLeadership