[Update] One year of Taliban rule

Sharing one woman’s story of life in Afghanistan [View in Browser]( [Amnesty International candle logo]( [NEW REPORT: AFGHANISTAN ONE YEAR LATER »]( “I feel like I am in prison.” There’s a cruel irony to Azam’s words: she was a pro-bono lawyer for survivors of domestic abuse and violence in Afghanistan. She helped put abusers behind bars. But since the Taliban seized power last August, Azam hasn’t been able to work. She can’t seek justice. Her rights — and the rights of millions of Afghan women — were stripped away overnight. Shortly after the takeover of Afghanistan, thousands of prisoners were released — many of whom were behind bars for committing domestic abuse. When they were freed, Azam started receiving so many death threats she had to change her number... move out of her home... and close her office. Azam’s story is sadly not unique — across Afghanistan, women lawyers, judges, and government officials are in hiding. We just published [a major report, Death in Slow Motion, based on interviews with 101 Afghan women and girls]( that demonstrates right now, there is nowhere to turn for women and girls facing violence. They are being denied an education, and excluded from the workforce. They are being harassed, threatened, arrested, forcibly disappeared, detained, and tortured. [All our gains of the past 20 years are now gone, the rights to freedom of expression and assembly are non-existent. - Azam Ahmadi, Lawyer]( [Share: Afghanistan One Year Later]( But when human rights are stripped away, we at Amnesty help reclaim them. Because when injustice happens to one person, it matters to us all. With the support of people like you, Amnesty International continues to investigate and document human rights violations in Afghanistan and advocate for those at risk. Since last August, we’ve provided relief support to over 500 human rights defenders, journalists, women’s rights activists, lawyers, artists and LGBTI activists and their families so that they can escape Taliban threats and violence. And, in a major victory, we helped to secure $6 billion in funding from Congress for humanitarian protection and resettlement of Afghans, including medical care, job training, English classes, and public benefits. [There is still so much work to do — and this work is powered by you.]( But with the strength of our movement, we can provide a lifeline to those who are losing hope. Thank you for being here with us. We’ll be in touch with more ways you can help women and girls in Afghanistan. Daniel Balson Advocacy Director, Europe and Central Asia Amnesty International USA [P.S. If you’re inspired to support this work, you can do so here.]( [DONATE NOW]( © 2022 Amnesty International USA 311 W 43rd Street, 7th Floor, New York, NY 10036 | 1-800-AMNESTY Please don't reply to this email. You can send questions to aimember@aiusa.org. We’re so happy you’re here to hear about the most important updates on human rights! If necessary, you can [opt to receive fewer emails]( or [unsubscribe here](. [supporter]