This week the world has watched devastating scenes of violence in Afghanistan and witnessed the desperate attempts being made to evacuate the country. Scenes from the airport in Kabul show chaos as thousands of people face violence from the Taliban when trying to reach the airport to evacuate. Meanwhile, others are still sheltering in their homes, in too much fear to attempt reaching the airport at all. Under Taliban rule from 1996-2001, women were prevented from accessing education and employment in all but rare cases; now there are warning signs that the Taliban may severely curtail women’s rights again.

Here in Wisconsin, Fort McCoy is preparing to accept refugees from Afghanistan. Once refugees arrive at Fort McCoy, local resettlement agencies may assist the Afghan refugees to obtain critical services. As of yet, it is unclear when refugees will begin arriving at Fort McCoy.

“We stand against oppression, violence, and gender-based abuse in all forms. End Abuse has deep roots in supporting immigrant and refugee survivors of violence, and we will work to uplift and support new arrivals to Wisconsin directly and through our member programs,” said Monique Minkens, Executive Director for End Domestic Abuse Wisconsin (End Abuse). In alignment with our mission, urges our federal and local administrations to take action to support Afghan refugees through the through the following steps:

      Federal:

• Establish a policy for all Afghans fleeing violence to be eligible for humanitarian parole
• Designate Afghanistan for Temporary Protected Status

     Wisconsin: 

• Commit to funding emergency shelter and long-term housing options for Afghan refugees arriving at Fort McCoy
• Allocate funds from the American Rescue Plan Act to provide civil legal services, including for immigration services, needed by Afghan refugees arriving in Wisconsin

 

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End Domestic Abuse Wisconsin: The Wisconsin Coalition Against Domestic Violence is the leading voice for victims of domestic abuse in Wisconsin. At End Domestic Abuse Wisconsin, we educate shelter and program advocates, law enforcement, legislators, and community members to provide safety and support to survivors. We strive to shift Wisconsin from the attitudes and beliefs that cause domestic violence to values of mutual respect and equality, and we partner with communities in the effort to prevent and end domestic abuse. 

 

We encourage reporters to include the National Domestic Violence Hotline number [1−800−799−SAFE(7233)] in their stories for victims who need help. A list of local Wisconsin domestic violence victim service providers can be found at  http://www.endabusewi.org.