Joint Statement on Afghanistan: Protect Women, Children, LGBTIQ & Other Vulnerable Persons

August 18, 2021

We, the undersigned organisations working to advance the human rights of persons of diverse sexual orientation, gender identity and expression, and sex characteristics (SOGIESC) call for the protection of women, children, LGBTIQ people and other vulnerable persons in Afghanistan.

Since 15 August, the Taliban-led takeover of Kabul’s Presidential Palace and the abrupt collapse of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan’s government raises concerns over human rights and the safety of marginalised groups in the country. Besides LGBTIQ people and people of diverse SOGIESC, women, persecuted religious minorities, journalists and human rights defenders have come under threat, and many have gone into hiding out of fear.

We are concerned with alleged reports of the Taliban already implementing their strict version of the Sharia law, and it has been reported that many women and girls fear participating in public life and face the risk of being banned from going to school and university again. We are saddened to see the decades of progress made by women’s groups be potentially reversed suddenly and disastrously.

We also fear that LGBTIQ people will be further criminalised and persecuted, as authorities in the Taliban have made recent statements that death sentences will be reinstated for gay men. The Afghan LGBTIQ people have already been living in fear of violence and killings for a number of years, and we dread that this situation will escalate further.

In ILGA World’s latest State-Sponsored Homophobia (2020) report, Afghanistan is listed among countries for which there is no full legal certainty that the death penalty is the established punishment for consensual same-sex sexual acts (see here). The same report also updates on the explicit criminalising provisions of “same-sex conduct” under Section 646 of Afghanistan’s 2017 Penal Code and enforcement in recent years (see here).

While the Taliban has announced a “general amnesty” in Afghanistan and has called for women to join its government “according to Sharia law”, it is imperative that any form of governance that takes place, needs to empower women and minorities and be based on human rights and evidence-based practices. If the Taliban wants to include women, it needs to first stop preventing women from accessing public life and education and to not perpetuate any harm against women and minorities.

The crisis in Afghanistan is complex and difficult, but we remind the international community that it has a moral obligation—particularly those who have played a role in the development of the issue—to ensure that the political crisis is diffused via a solution that prioritises the self-determination of the Afghan people while protecting vulnerable persons from harm and violence.

We call for the following:

  • We urge the Taliban to respect the rights of all people granted by the Constitution of Afghanistan, the international covenants ratified by Afghanistan, the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, and international human rights norms, irrespective of their SOGIESC status.
  • We demand that any effort to quell this political crisis will be made with the consultation of vulnerable people in Afghanistan including LGBTIQ persons and women. Their human rights must not be compromised for a political peace deal.
  • We call on the international community to provide urgent humanitarian assistance and protection to all Afghans.
  • We urge that countries open their borders and accept refugees and asylum seekers from Afghanistan. We commend Canada’s commitment to accepting 20,000 vulnerable Afghans and prioritising LGBTIQ persons, women leaders and other groups, and look to other countries to follow suit.
  • We call on everyone to work together to provide support in their own capacity. We call on individuals and groups to make donations, donors to make emergency funding available, and for organisations to assist in coordinating the collection and distribution of funds, noting the lack of LGBTIQ organisations in Afghanistan.

Endorsed by the following groups:

  1. 6Rang (Iranian Lesbian and Transgender Network)
  2. Access Planet Organization
  3. African Trans Network
  4. Aleph Melbourne
  5. All Out
  6. All Women’s Action Society (AWAM)
  7. Alouen
  8. Amnesty International Taiwan Section
  9. Antalya Feminist Kolektif
  10. ASEAN Feminist LBQ Network
  11. ASEAN SOGIE Caucus
  12. Asia Pacific Transgender Network
  13. Asia-Pacific Rainbow Catholics Network
  14. Bangladesh Queer Partnership Platform- EQUAL
  15. Beyond Borders Malaysia
  16. Bisdak Pride, Inc.
  17. Bisexual Alliance Victoria
  18. Boys of Bangladesh (Formerly)
  19. Campaign for Change 
  20. CAN-Myanmar 
  21. CEDAW Committee of Trinidad & Tobago
  22. Centre for Civil and Political Rights
  23. Centre for Independent Journalism (CIJ) Malaysia
  24. COC Netherlands
  25. Community Welfare and Development Fund
  26. Covenants Watch
  27. CPCD Studio
  28. Dawei Probono Lawyer Network
  29. Deaf Rainbow 
  30. Diversity and Solidarity Trust – Sri Lanka 
  31. Diversity Lounge Toyama
  32. Doshisha University 
  33. Edge Effect
  34. ELLY Fukui
  35. Equal Asia Foundation
  36. EQUAL GROUND, Sri Lanka 
  37. GAYa NUSANTARA Foundation
  38. Gays Without Borders
  39. Helem
  40. Human Dignity Trust
  41. Human Rights Defenders World Summit
  42. ICS Center
  43. ILGA Asia
  44. ILGA World
  45. Iloilo Pride Team
  46. Inclusive Bangladesh
  47. International Service for Human Rights
  48. International Women’s Rights Action Watch Asia Pacific
  49. Intersex Asia
  50. Intersex Philippines
  51. isha lisha – Haifa feminist center
  52. Ishikawa Conference for LGBT
  53. Iwate Rainbow Network
  54. J-ALL (Japan Alliance for LGBT Legislation)
  55. JEJAKA
  56. justice for sisters
  57. Kampania Przeciw Homofobii | Campaign Against Homophobia (Poland)
  58. Kanazawa Rainbow Pride
  59. Kaos GL 
  60. Korean Sexual-minority Culture & Rights Center
  61. LakanBini Advocates Pilipinas 
  62. Legal Dignity
  63. Let’s Breakthrough, Inc.
  64. Lezpa
  65. LGBT Centre
  66. LOUD (Lesbians of Undeniable Drive)
  67. LOVE4ONE
  68. M-coalition
  69. MANODIVERSA
  70. Manushya Foundation
  71. Marsa Sexual Health Center
  72. Matimba
  73. Metro Manila Pride 
  74. Midneunfemi
  75. Monsoon Malaysia (MM)
  76. MOSAIC Mena
  77. Movimiento de Integración y Liberación Homosexual (MOVILH)
  78. Mujer-LGBT Organization, Inc
  79. Namibia Diverse Women Association
  80. Nijiiro Diversity
  81. Noboprobhaat 
  82. Nőkért Egyesület (Association for Women), Hungary  
  83. NPO Tokyo Rainbow Pride
  84. Oogachaga
  85. Organization Intersex International-Chinese (Oii-Chinese)
  86. Outrage Magazine
  87. Pacific Human Rights Initiative
  88. Palestinian Working Woman for Development “PWWSD”
  89. Pan Africa ILGA
  90. PELANGI Campaign
  91. Persatuan Sahabat Wanita, Selangor (Friends of Women Organisation, Selangor)
  92. Pioneer Filipino Transgender men Movement
  93. PLACE TOKYO
  94. Planet Ally
  95. PLUHO (People Like Us Hang Out!)
  96. Pride House Tokyo
  97. PROHAM
  98. Proud Futures
  99. PT Foundation
  100. Queer Voices of Bhutan
  101. Queers4Climate 
  102. Rainbow Action Against Sexual-Minority Discrimination
  103. Rainbow Egypt
  104. RainbowJesus (무지개예수)
  105. RFSL (The Swedish Federation for Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer and Intersex Rights)
  106. Sans Tabous
  107. Sayoni
  108. SEED Malaysia
  109. Seoul Human Rights Film Festival in South Korea
  110. SGRainbow
  111. SHARE, center for Sexual rigHts And Reproductive justicE
  112. Sisters in Islam, Malaysia
  113. SOGILAW
  114. SORANIJI HIMEJI
  115. Success Capital Organisation
  116. Swasti
  117. Taiwan Association for Human Rights
  118. Taiwan Equality Campaign
  119. Taiwan Gender Equity Education Association
  120. Taiwan LGBTQ Family Rights Advocacy
  121. Taiwan Tongzhi (LGBTQ+) Hotline Association
  122. The Gay and Lesbian Coalition of Kenya (GALCK)
  123. The Global Center for LGBTI+ Freedom and Education
  124. The Institute for Studies on Society, Economy & Environment – iSEE
  125. Thorne Harbour Health
  126. Together4Change: DAWOOM
  127. Transgender Equality Hong Kong
  128. Transgender Victoria
  129. Transpiration Power
  130. Trikone Australasia Inc
  131. Tufts University
  132. UP Babaylan
  133. Visayas LBTQ Network
  134. Women Against Rape
  135. Women for Women’s Human Rights (WWHR)
  136. Youth Voices Count
  137. にじ♡はぐ　石川
  138. ひだまりの会

ILGA Asia is the Asian Region of the International Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Trans and Intersex Association, representing more than 170 LGBTI organizations in East, South, Southeast, and West Asia, with the administrative office in Bangkok, Thailand. 

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Mahnoor Aka Moon​

(she/her/hers)
SOUTH ASIA REPRESENTATIVE

Mahnoor Ch, also known as Moon, is a prominent advocate for gender rights, HIV awareness, and social justice in Pakistan. As a development practitioner, social scientist, and gender rights expert, she brings extensive experience and a multidisciplinary approach to her work. In her role as Program Director at the Khawaja Sira Society, she has led impactful initiatives, including the Multi-Country South Asia Global Fund Project. Her contributions have earned her several accolades, such as the Community Hero Award and formal recognition from both the Governor of Punjab and the President of the United States.

Beyond her leadership in community-based projects, Mahnoor has served as a trainer and technical expert, providing guidance on national policy development for the National AIDS Control Program and conducting training sessions for law enforcement in Lahore and Rawalpindi. She also plays a key role on the steering committee of the Global Fund Advocates Network for the Asia-Pacific region, helping shape global strategies for health and rights advocacy. Currently, Mahnoor is a member of the Prime Minister’s Counsel in Pakistan, advising on high-level policy decisions. She also works as a community-based implementing partner with UNDP, ensuring HIV prevention and treatment services are accessible to marginalized populations. Her unwavering dedication to equality and justice continues to inspire meaningful change across Pakistan and beyond.

Shane Bhatla

(he/they)
Disability Representative

Shane (he/they) is a non-binary disabled activist and Gender Equality, Diversity, and Social Inclusion (GEDSI) consultant. They also serve on the advisory panel of Access For Everyone and are on the Global Advisory Board of a MHPSS and QMU project. Shane’s advocacy focuses on trans and disability issues, working to destigmatize conversations about mental well-being in these communities. Their journey reflects resilience and a commitment to breaking down societal barriers, with eight years of experience in the non-profit sector.

Shane’s notable projects include making regional LGBTIQ+ conferences more accessible, hosting a roundtable on the intersectionality of LGBTIQ+ and disability, creating a media publication featuring photos of LGBTIQ+ disabled individuals and a project to enhance the competency of suicide hotline crisis workers on LGBTIQ+ and disability issues.

With over a decade of work experience, Shane has been featured in the media, on blogs, podcasts and video interviews. Additionally, he has authored an e-book named A11y: A guide to accessibility for employers. Their expertise stems not just from their work experience, but also lived experience. In 2024, they were involved in developing the Kathmandu Charter for the rights of people with lived experience of mental health conditions, a never done before initiative.

Learn more on: shanebhatla.org

Tashi Tsheten​

(he/they)
SOUTH ASIA REPRESENTATIVE​

Tashi is an LGBTQIA+ advocate from Bhutan and a Co-Founder of Queer Voices of Bhutan (QVoB), a community-based platform supporting the rights and inclusion of the gender and sexually diverse community in Bhutan. With a focus on addressing social stigma and advocating for legal and economic opportunities, Tashi and their team continue to contribute to advancing LGBTQIA+ rights nationally and regionally. Currently serving as a Program Advisor at QVoB, Tashi is also engaged in regional efforts through Youth Voices Count (YVC) and ILGA ASIA. Passionate about social justice, community building, and policy advocacy, Tashi remains committed to fostering greater understanding and acceptance for the LGBTQIA+ community.

Aisha Mughal

(she/her)
TRANS REPRESENTATIVE

Aisha Mughal is a transgender rights expert working with the Ministry of Human Rights in Pakistan and as a UNDP Consultant. Since 2015, she has been actively advocating for transgender rights. In 2020, she made history as the first transgender person to represent any country during an official UN treaty review, participating in Pakistan’s national delegation to the UN CEDAW committee in Geneva. Aisha has contributed to peer-reviewed research on transgender issues and played a key role in the drafting and approval of the Transgender Persons (Protection of Rights) Act, 2018. She has also served with the National Commission for Human Rights (NCHR) in Pakistan.

Joyce Teng

(she/her)
EAST ASIA REPRESENTATIVE

Joyce Teng is the Executive Director of Taiwan Equality Campaign (previously known as “Marriage Equality Coalition Taiwan”.) Before Taiwan Equality Campaign, she participated in some activist groups focusing on different issues like environment protection, women rights and transformational justice since 2010, and served as the Legislative assistant for the parliament of Taiwan between 2013 to 2015, and then dedicated herself to same-sex marriage legalization since 2016.

Joyce holds M.L. of National Taiwan University. With experience in the Parliament and her legal background, Joyce was responsible for the advocacy of LGBTI+ rights policies and legal reform. She advocated for inclusive political participation and representation since 2018, and acted as the Deputy Executive Director of Taiwan Equality Campaign. She then took the position as Executive Director in December 2022, leading Taiwan Equality Campaign on LGBTI+ rights advocacy.

Nyein Pyae Sone

(she/her)
Finance officer

Nyein Pyae Sone is the Finance Officer at ILGA Asia. She has been working in the international non-profit management sector since completing her first Bachelor’s degree in Accounting in 2010. With over 12 years of extensive experience, she specializes in budget management, month-end and year-end closing, partnership support for local partner organizations, grant and financial management, cash flow forecasting, and financial reporting.

Throughout her career, she has contributed to various projects within international NGOs and UN agencies in both Thailand and Myanmar. Nyein holds a Master of Business Administration (MBA) with a focus in Business Administration and Management from UCSI University, Malaysia. Her solid background in finance and deep understanding of project operations make her a valuable asset to the organizations she works with.

Yarinda Srisutat

(she/her)
Senior Events and Admin officer

Yarinda Srisutat or you can call my nickname Kim (She/Her), Based in Krung Thep Mahanakhon (Bangkok), Thailand, Yarinda is an experienced nonprofit professional with a strong background in administration, finance, and event management. She currently serves as the Senior Admin and Events Officer at ILGA Asia, where she plays a key role in ensuring seamless operations, coordinating impactful events, and strengthening regional collaboration within the LGBTQ+ movement.

Yarinda has been deeply involved with ILGA Asia over the years. From 2019 to September 2023, she worked as a Senior Finance and Admin Officer, contributing to the organization’s operational growth. After a brief tenure at APCOM Foundation from October 2023 to August 2024, she rejoined ILGA Asia in a new capacity as Senior Admin and Events Officer, bringing her expertise in logistics, planning, and community engagement.

Her journey in the nonprofit sector began in 2016 when she volunteered and worked as a field staff member at the Rainbow Sky Association of Thailand (RSAT), engaging in grassroots LGBTIQ+ advocacy. In 2017, she became a Program Assistant at the Thai Red Cross AIDS Research Centre, where she supported clinical trials focusing on transgender women as a key population.
Beyond her professional work, Yarinda studies Mahayana Buddhism and finds joy in spending time with her pet cockatiel birds.

Shambawi Paudel

(she/they)
Research Associate

Shambhawi Paudel is a feminist advocate with a research interest in critiquing intersectional application of human rights standards. She completed her LLM in Human Rights Law specializing in International Justice.She is involved in policy research and has written and published on a range of issues, including gender, queer rights, education policy, and digital rights and privacy concerns. She believes it is important to have long conversations about navigating oppressive social power relations rooted in care and community. She enjoys reading and crocheting in her free time

Omair Paul

(he/him)
Research and global advocacy program manager

Omair Paul is the Program Manager at ILGA Asia. He joins the team with almost a decade of UN advocacy experience, previously serving as the UN Representative for Muslims for Progressive Values (MPV) since 2014. He led the organisation’s UN advocacy strategy and campaigns, represented MPV in various high-level UN meetings & processes, and forged working relationships with diplomats, UN agencies, and civil society organisations (CSOs) and networks.

He focuses on countering fundamentalist religious ideologies and protecting the rights to free expression, freedom of religion and belief, and the economic and social rights of women, girls, and ethnic, religious, and SOGIESC minorities in Muslim societies.

Subscribe to our newsletter to recieve breaking LGBTIQ news from across Asia, opportunities and resources, and updates from ILGA Asia.

Khine Su Win

(she/her)
STRATEGIC DEVELOPMENT DIRECTOR

Khine Su Win is a health professional, medical doctor, researcher, trainer and human rights advocate with a profound focus on Global Health. Her career is anchored in the cause of capacity building among marginalized communities in various regions of Asia including South East Asia, South Asia and East Asia.

With a passion for social justice, she works to enable and uplift marginalized groups, including People Living with HIV (PLHIV), Women Living with HIV (WLHIV), members of the LGBTIQ community, sex workers, People Who Use Drugs (PWUD), and opium farmers. By promoting their rights and advocating for their well-being, she strives to create a more inclusive and equitable society, where every individual’s voice is heard and respected.

Jeff Cagandahan

(he/him)
INTERSEX REPRESENTATIVE

Jeff Cagandahan is a pioneering Filipino intersex man and human rights activist known for his landmark legal victory in 2008, when the Supreme Court of the Philippines recognized his right to change his name and gender marker, making him the first intersex person in the country to gain legal gender recognition. Born in 1981 and assigned female at birth, Jeff was diagnosed with congenital adrenal hyperplasia (CAH), a condition that led to the development of male physical traits during adolescence. His case emphasized the right to self-determination and became a cornerstone for intersex rights in the Philippines. He is the Co-founder of Intersex Philippines and a Board Member of Intersex Asia, playing key roles in advancing intersex human rights across the region. Jeff has been outspoken about the need for awareness, healthcare access, and societal inclusion for intersex people.

Sean Sih-Cheng Du

(he/him)
EAST ASIA REPRESENTATIVE

Sean Sih-Cheng Du is the Secretary-General of the Taiwan Tongzhi (LGBTQ+) Hotline Association. He joined Hotline as a volunteer in 2002 and has been since actively involved in the work on LGBTI+ and PLWHIV’s rights. He became Hotline’s Director of Policy Advocacy in 2011 and the Secretary-General in 2021.

His work includes social education, workplace equality, gay men’s sexual health, and international affairs. He was a crucial member of the Marriage Equality Coalition Taiwan and a board member of the Persons with HIV/AIDS Rights Advocacy Association of Taiwan.

He is currently the East Asian Representative of the ILGA Asia Executive Board, a board member of the Taiwan Equality Campaign, and a member of the Taipei City Committee of Gender Equality. He has a master’s degree in Sociology from National Taiwan University.

Artemis Akbary

(all pronouns)
NON-BINARY REPRESENTATIVE

Artemis Akbary is the Executive Director of the Afghanistan LGBTIQ+ Organization (ALO), a leading advocacy organization dedicated to the rights of LGBTIQ+ individuals, particularly in conflict and post-conflict settings, with a main focus on Afghanistan. Their work involves engaging with international accountability mechanisms to ensure justice and accountability for LGBTIQ victims and survivors. With extensive experience advocating for LGBTIQ+ refugees at the EU level, Artemis is a recognized voice for marginalized communities. They have also worked as a consultant with various international organizations and NGOs on forced displacement issues. Artemis has addressed global human rights issues at forums such as the UN Human Rights Council, the UN Security Council, and other international platforms. Artemis holds an academic background in International Relations and European Politics, with expertise in Queer, Peace, and Security.

Chitsanupong "Best" Nithiwana

(she/her)
SOUTHEAST ASIA REPRESENTATIVE

Founder and executive director of Young Pride Club, Chitsanupong “Best” Nithiwana (she/her) is a human rights defender for the rights of LGBTIQ+ youth and gender equality in Thailand. Absolutely dedicated to her career path, she started out as a public information assistant consultant at the UN headquarters. She supported the digital campaign of Youth Peace Security to gain the meaningful participation of women and youth in peace processes worldwide. In 2018, she became the first transgender participant in the US Exchange programme, YSEALI Academic Fellows.

An outspoken advocate for the LGBTIQ+ community, she now runs her own community in Chiang Mai, Thailand, Young Pride Club, which is a safe learning community for young people interested in gender equality and the LGBTIQ+ community. Established in 2018, the community provides on-the-ground activities and online content to develop leadership and participation in gender equality advocacy. Young Pride Club was also a main organizer of the Chiang Mai Pride 2019-2022 and the 2022 Youth Pride Thailand, the country’s first pride organized by LGBTIQ+ youth for LGBTIQ+ youth. In 2022, it reached over 40,000 followers and developed 50 young leaders across the country.

Recently, Best also became an APCOM Hero Award Honouree (Community Hero) under the theme “Unity & Diversity ” in recognition of her inspiring work.