Situation in Afghanistan: supporting women and communities affected by the recent earthquakes

Amendments tabled for the plenary sitting on this text, in their own numbering series. This is a different set from the committee amendments tracked elsewhere on AmendEU, and is not counted in any of the site’s amendment totals.

1. Amendment 1ESNJoint motion for a resolution · Paragraph 5 a (new)
   Amendment

   5a. Is deeply concerned by the CJEU’s judgment of October 2024, according to which gender and nationality are sufficient grounds for asylum; considers that this judgment will distort the overall purpose of asylum mechanisms, create an additional ‘pull effect’ and lead to unequal access to protection, as a certain group of people can be granted automatic preference in obtaining asylum;

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2. Amendment 2ESNJoint motion for a resolution · Paragraph 10 a (new)
   Amendment

   10a. Expresses deep concern about the consequences of mass migration by Afghans for the freedom and security of women and girls across Europe; emphasises that direct technical cooperation between the EU and its Member States and Afghanistan is a prerequisite for the effective return of Afghans from EU Member States;

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3. Amendment 3PPEJoint motion for a resolution · Recital D
   Current text

   D. whereas in 2024, the CJEU issued three landmark judgments5 on gender-based violence and persecution, confirming that women and girls at risk of such violence, as well as of state-imposed discriminatory measures, qualify for refugee status on account of their gender; __________________ 5 Judgment of the Court of Justice of 16 January 2024, WS v Intervyuirasht organ na Darzhavna agentsia za bezhantsite pri Ministerskia savet, Case C-621/21, ECLI:EU:C:2024:47; Judgment of the Court of Justice of 11 June 2024, K, L v Staatssecretaris van Justitie en Veiligheid, C 646/21, ECLI:EU:C:2024:487; Judgment of the Court of Justice of 4 October 2024, AH, FN v Bundesamt für Fremdenwesen und Asyl, C-608…

   Amendment

   D. whereas in 2024, the CJEU issued three judgments5 on gender-based violence and persecution, indicating that Member States are entitled to take into consideration gender and nationality alone when carrying out an individual assessment of an application for asylum by a woman of Afghan nationality; __________________ 5 Judgment of the Court of Justice of 16 January 2024, WS v Intervyuirasht organ na Darzhavna agentsia za bezhantsite pri Ministerskia savet, Case C-621/21, ECLI:EU:C:2024:47; Judgment of the Court of Justice of 11 June 2024, K, L v Staatssecretaris van Justitie en Veiligheid, C 646/21, ECLI:EU:C:2024:487; Judgment of the Court of Justice of 4 October 2024, AH, FN v Bundesamt fü…

   Excerpt — full text in the official PDF.
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4. Amendment 4PPEJoint motion for a resolution · Paragraph 5
   Current text

   5. Notes with grave concern that 1 300 human rights defenders, journalists and other public figures who have supported the development of democracy in Afghanistan over the last decade, are still waiting in Pakistan to be admitted to European Member States after having been provided with documentation that allowed for temporary status in Pakistan, while their asylum request is processed; expresses deep concern about the ongoing deportations that are now also targeting these groups; calls on the EU Member States to make efforts to urgently expedite processing of applications from Afghans in need of safety and protection, especially for those at risk of deportation;

   Amendment

   5. Notes with concern the situation of Afghan human rights defenders, journalists and other public figures who have supported democratic development in Afghanistan over the past decade and who have been granted documentation allowing them temporary status in Pakistan; calls for the EU and its Member States to assist, where relevant and possible, the application process for these individuals;

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5. Amendment 5PfEJoint motion for a resolution · Recital C
   Current text

   C. whereas since returning to power in August 2021, the Taliban have imposed a radical interpretation and enforcement of Sharia law, resulting in the almost complete erasure of women and girls from public life in Afghanistan; whereas this has been enforced through sweeping restrictions on women and girls, including bans on attending secondary and higher education, prohibitions on engaging in most forms of employment, denial of access to public spaces and sports, the imposition of strict dress codes, the dismantling of support systems for victims of violence and requirements that women travel only when accompanied by a male guardian; whereas further decrees, such as the December 2024 prohibit…

   Amendment

   C. whereas since returning to power in August 2021, the Taliban have imposed a radical interpretation and enforcement of Sharia law, resulting in the almost complete erasure of women and girls from public life in Afghanistan; whereas this has been enforced through sweeping restrictions on women and girls, including bans on attending secondary and higher education, prohibitions on engaging in most forms of employment, denial of access to public spaces and sports, the imposition of strict dress codes, especially the mandatory wearing of the burqa, the dismantling of support systems for victims of violence and requirements that women travel only when accompanied by a male guardian; whereas furt…

   Excerpt — full text in the official PDF.
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6. Amendment 6PfEJoint motion for a resolution · Recital I
   Current text

   I. whereas Afghanistan continues to face a high level of terrorist activity from extremist Islamist groups, including the Taliban, Al-Qaeda and ISIS-Khorasan, which deliberately target civilians, minorities and humanitarian workers; whereas the EU rightfully does not have relations with Afghanistan’s de facto authorities;

   Amendment

   I. whereas Afghanistan continues to face a high level of terrorist activity from extremist Islamist groups, including the Taliban, Al-Qaeda and ISIS-Khorasan, which deliberately target civilians, minorities, including religious minorities, and humanitarian workers; whereas the EU rightfully does not have relations with Afghanistan’s de facto authorities;

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7. Amendment 7PfEJoint motion for a resolution · Recital 3a (new)
   Amendment

   3a. Demands and calls for strict controls to guarantee that international aid is not seized by the de facto Taliban authorities; underlines that the humanitarian and financial aid must go to the civilian victims of the earthquake for whom it is intended and not benefit the Taliban;

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8. Amendment 8PfEJoint motion for a resolution · Paragraph 5
   Current text

   5. Notes with grave concern that 1 300 human rights defenders, journalists and other public figures who have supported the development of democracy in Afghanistan over the last decade, are still waiting in Pakistan to be admitted to European Member States after having been provided with documentation that allowed for temporary status in Pakistan, while their asylum request is processed; expresses deep concern about the ongoing deportations that are now also targeting these groups; calls on the EU Member States to make efforts to urgently expedite processing of applications from Afghans in need of safety and protection, especially for those at risk of deportation;

   Amendment

   5. Notes that 1 300 human rights defenders, journalists and other public figures remain in Pakistan under temporary protection; emphasises that Member States retain full sovereignty over their asylum and migration policies and should prioritise national security and border integrity;

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9. Amendment 9PfEJoint motion for a resolution · Paragraph 5a (new)
   Amendment

   5a. Stresses that the degrading humanitarian situation in Afghanistan will increase migratory pressure on Europe; recalls that Afghan asylum seekers are overwhelmingly male and are overrepresented in crime rates in several European countries; considers, therefore, that the humanitarian response should be delivered directly in Afghanistan and should in no way consist of welcoming more Afghans to the EU;

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10. Amendment 10PfEJoint motion for a resolution · Paragraph 8
    Current text

    8. Condemns the persistence of violence against women in Afghanistan, including rape and sexual violence, forced (child) marriages, domestic violence and cases of female genital mutilation;

    Amendment

    8. Condemns the persistence of violence against women in Afghanistan, including rape and sexual violence, forced (child) marriages, domestic violence, honour killings and cases of female genital mutilation;

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11. Amendment 11The LeftJoint motion for a resolution · Paragraph 5
    Current text

    5. Notes with grave concern that 1 300 human rights defenders, journalists and other public figures who have supported the development of democracy in Afghanistan over the last decade, are still waiting in Pakistan to be admitted to European Member States after having been provided with documentation that allowed for temporary status in Pakistan, while their asylum request is processed; expresses deep concern about the ongoing deportations that are now also targeting these groups; calls on the EU Member States to make efforts to urgently expedite processing of applications from Afghans in need of safety and protection, especially for those at risk of deportation;

    Amendment

    5. Notes with grave concern that 1 300 human rights defenders, journalists and other public figures who have supported the development of democracy in Afghanistan over the last decade, are still waiting in Pakistan to be admitted to European Member States after having been provided with documentation that allowed for temporary status in Pakistan, while their asylum request is processed; expresses deep concern about the ongoing deportations that are now also targeting these groups; calls on the EU Member States to make efforts to urgently expedite processing of asylum applications from Afghans in need of safety and protection, especially for those at risk of deportation; recalls that Afghanis…

    Excerpt — full text in the official PDF.
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12. Amendment 12RenewJoint motion for a resolution · Paragraph 11 a (new)
    Amendment

    11a. Welcomes the establishment of an independent investigative mechanism for Afghanistan to answer the call of Afghan victims as a significant milestone in the pursuit of truth, justice and accountability for the people of Afghanistan, who are suffering from international crimes and violations of international law committed in the country; welcomes also the renewal of the UN Special Rapporteur’s mandate and echoes his call for accountability;

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