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Women judges find a safe haven in NZ

Paula Penfold and Louisa Cleave

Two Afghan women judges have arrived in New Zealand and a third is on her way here, following efforts led by a New Zealand Supreme Court judge to help them flee the worsening situation in Afghanistan.

They were given New Zealand visas after pleas by the International Association of Women

Judges’ (IAWJ) president, Justice Susan Glazebrook.

‘‘The women have been given the opportunity to rebuild their lives, in safety,’’ Justice Glazebrook said. ‘‘They have had a very difficult time, but are pleased to be here.’’

Two of the judges and their families have recently arrived. A third is in Europe but will soon be flying to New Zealand with her children, her nephew, and her husband.

After the Taliban took power in Afghanistan, the women and their families escaped on charter flights arranged by non-governmental groups including the International Bar Association’s Human Rights Institute, said Glazebrook.

The fact that these organisations had to take a leading role highlighted a failure of the international community, she said.

‘‘These women have for years been working in conditions of insecurity and danger in order to uphold the rule of law, gender equality and human rights. The international community should not abandon them now.’’

After the Taliban took power in Afghanistan in August, the IAWJ called on the international community to provide safe passage and refuge for the country’s women judges, saying their lives were in danger because of the work they

did in the Afghan courts.

Of the 230 women judges the association was concerned about, so far more than half have been evacuated, but Glazebrook said ‘‘only a small proportion of these families’’ had found a final refuge. ‘‘And some 90 women judges remain in grave danger in Afghanistan ... facing real and immediate threat.’’

In August, Justice Glazebrook told Stuff Circuit the women were facing danger on a number of fronts, including revenge attacks from individuals they had sentenced for crimes such as domestic violence, who had now been released from prison by the Taliban.

‘‘We are, of course, very pleased that these three families are now safe and settled in New Zealand but . . . their colleagues, some 600 people with their families, are still left in mortal danger in Afghanistan.’’

There are a further 100 judges and their families in transit countries still awaiting resettlement in final destinations. ‘‘These are courageous, educated women who put themselves at risk to rebuild their country and to support the rule of law there,’’ Justice Glazebrook said.

She thanked the New Zealand Government for its work to get the families here.

She said a fourth Afghan woman judge granted a New Zealand visa was evacuated by the United States in the days before the withdrawal of US forces, and was now settled here.

‘‘The women have been given the opportunity to rebuild their lives, in safety.’’ Justice Susan Glazebrook International Association of Women Judges’ president

National News

en-nz

2021-12-01T08:00:00.0000000Z

2021-12-01T08:00:00.0000000Z

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