NZBA calls on government to protect Afghan women judges

Following the Taliban takeover in Afghanistan, the New Zealand Bar Association (NZBA) has called on the New Zealand government to help secure safe passage and refuge for 250 Afghan women judges and their families

This comes after Susan Glazebrook, president of the International Association of Women Judges (IAWJ), made a similar appeal last week. 

NZBA said that New Zealand should work with its partners involved in the Afghan evacuation to ensure a humanitarian approach – and that doing so upholds the rule of law for the international community to support these judges when they need it the most.

“While all judges in that country are at risk, we have clear evidence that women judges are particularly vulnerable,” said Paul Radich, president of the NZBA. “Earlier this year two women judges were assassinated on their way to court. They were clearly targeted. The IAWJ reports that judges are even now receiving threats along the lines of ‘where will you hide now?’”

“These judges took up the call to serve their country and their communities,” added Radich. “They did this with the assurance that they would be supported by the international intervention in Afghanistan. The international community cannot now abandon them.”