Satya Narayan Sharma, a member of an Indian NGO — Rajasthan Samgrah Kalyan Sansthan (RSKS) — recently addressed the ongoing 54th session of the United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHRC), shedding light on the significant impact of India's Citizenship Amendments Act (CAA). During an intervention made by him, Sharma highlighted the concerns of refugee communities hailing from neighbouring Pakistan, who, after being displaced, found refuge in India. He underlined how the CAA has played a pivotal role in granting Indian citizenship to minorities from Pakistan, providing them with a fresh start and a renewed sense of security. Sharma shared the harrowing experiences faced by those, who had to leave their homeland due to problems, harassment, and persecution. He emphasized that seeking refuge in another country is an arduous journey marked by endless suffering. Speaking about the CAA, Sharma revealed that Indian citizenship had recently been conferred upon refugees in regions like Jodhpur, Barmer, and Ahmedabad, further solidifying India's commitment to protecting the rights of persecuted minorities. "In their home country, these displaced individuals once had land, property, and farms, but they endured discrimination, harassment, and property seizures solely based on their religion and minority status," Sharma said. "As a result, they made the difficult decision to leave their native land and seek refuge in India, leaving behind many loved ones," he added. Sharma reflected on the implications of a nation where people do not wish to reside in their homeland due to fear and insecurity, deeming it a matter of grave concern. "India has consistently opened its arms to welcome and secure refugees from various countries, recently extending Indian citizenship to numerous refugees from neighbouring nations," Sharma continued. "By implementing the Citizenship Amendment Act, India has demonstrated its commitment to offering refuge and a fresh start to those in need, embracing the principles of humanity and the belief in 'Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam,' the world as one family," he said. Sharma also emphasised the importance of global unity and the rejection of discrimination based on religion or race anywhere in the world. He also reiterated the government of India’s permanent position of forging solidarity among nations to stand against any form of discrimination and to bring peace and unity to the world.

An Afghanistan-based nonprofit said Saturday it was working with the United Nations and others for the release of 18 staffers, including a foreigner, detained by the Taliban. The International Assistance Mission said two Afghan nationals and one international team member were taken from its office in central Ghor on September 3. The nonprofit said 15 other Afghan national staff members were taken from the same office on September 13. The group said that all of them had been taken to Kabul. The group said in a statement they had worked in the country alongside Afghans for 57 years. They stand "by the principle that aid will not be used to further a particular political or religious standpoint," the statement read. Local media reported that a US national is among those detained and that staff members were detained for carrying out Christian missionary work. NGOs under attack Nongovernmental organizations (NGOs) have come under greater scrutiny since the Taliban swept to power two years ago. Following the takeover, the Taliban forced nearly all women to quit their jobs.  In December last year, the regime banned Afghan women from working at non-governmental agencies, forcing several NGOs to suspend work since they had women working for them.  The Taliban has also banned girls from attending secondary schools and closed the women's university. The International Assistance Mission said on its website that the group has been working in Afghanistan to improve lives and build local health, community development and education in partnership with the international Christian volunteers.

Since returning to power in 2021, Taliban leaders have made life increasingly difficult for Afghan women. A ban on women working for non-governmental organizations spells disaster for humanitarian work. Afghanistan is heading into a "humanitarian catastrophe," German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock said earlier this week at a meeting with her European counterparts in Brussels. It is brutal, she said, to witness the Taliban cut off millions of Afghans from aid. Baerbock's comments come in response to the Taliban's decision in December to ban women from working for aid agencies in the country. The new rules apply for Afghan as well as foreign organizations. Taliban leaders justified their decision by saying some aid workers had ignored the country's Islamic dress code. Any organization that continues to employ women will lose its license to operate. Baerbock said this ban would make it harder for German aid deliveries to reach the country and called on the Taliban to allow girls and women back to workplaces, schools and universities. According to a recent UN report, the Taliban have removed over 250 women judges and hundreds of woman lawyers and prosecutors from their positions since returning to power in 2021. UN experts warned of a "collapse of the rule of law" in Afghanistan, adding that judicial positions are now being filled mainly by Taliban members with little more than a basic religious education. Women-led businesses face uncertainty "I am in constant fear day and night that our company will be shut," businesswoman Latifah Akbari told DW. She has a small food business called Hariva, based in Afghanistan's Herat Province. It sells eggplant paste, marmalade, pickled cucumbers, dried vegetables and more. "Right now, 48 women are employed in the company, earning a living in either full-time or part-time work." Fariba is one of them. She works part-time and is glad to have a source of income. She was a hairstylist until the Taliban takeover, then lost her job. "I was lucky to have found a way to make money, even if it isn't much," Fariba told DW. "I help produce marmalade and tomato paste and the income helps support my family." Some 300 Afghan women work in a variety of small businesses throughout Herat Province. "After women were barred from Afghan universities, some of these students tried finding work with women-led businesses in Herat," Behnaz Salghoqi, of Herat's Chamber of Industry and Commerce for Women, told DW. Such businesses tend to employ only women, meaning they do not interact with other men. The Chamber of Industry and Commerce for Women was established in 2014 to assist women entrepreneurs on the national and international level and remains active today. Its goal is to assist women-led businesses and, by helping them, work to make the country's economy less dependent on outside aid. The Taliban takeover, however, has done great damage to their efforts. Entrepreneurs like Akbari are worried their business could be shut down too. "What would we do if they bar us from working as well?" she asks. Currently, half of the country's 38 million people face food insecurity, and 3 million children are threatened by malnutrition. Harsh winter takes its toll Matters have been made even worse by Afghanistan's harsh winter. Temperatures as low as minus 33 degrees Celsius (minus 27 degrees Fahrenheit) were recorded in the central Ghor Province. Regions in the central and northern parts of the country have seen road traffic come to a standstill amid heavy snowfall, as social media posts show. At least 70 people have died as a result of this extreme cold, Afghanistan's ministry of disaster management said last week. Some 70,000 cattle — an important food and income source — also died. "This winter is by far the coldest in recent years," the head of Afghanistan's meteorology office, Mohammed Nasim Muradi, told AFP. The relief agency Caritas and others want to help those suffering. "It is our job to assist people in need," Caritas head Oliver Müller told German church-affiliated news outlets. "But we cannot continue to work under these conditions in Afghanistan." Many aid agencies have either fully or partially suspended their work in the country since the ban on female workers came into force. This ban makes it impossible for aid agencies to directly help Aghan women, as they are not allowed to speak to men outside their families. "This ban hits the nerve of humanitarian aid," Müller further told the news outlets. For now, his organization is limited to handing out food donations to the local councils headed by men. Müller said this was "unacceptable, as we cannot guarantee this aid goes where it is intended." He called on for politicians to increase their pressure on the Taliban to change course.

A Non-Governmental Organisation organised a special awareness programme on surgical care during the COVID-19 pandemic in the Kashmir valley. A number of doctors and health experts participated in the programme. Though the government health sector has improved in the last few years, some reputed Non-Government Organisations (NGOs) are playing great roles in helping people during the pandemic. These organisations have the latest types of machinery and medical equipment including high-tech ambulances, oxygen concentrators, wheelchairs, and stretchers. The Jammu and Kashmir's Department of Health has also worked in association with these NGOs to help people at the time of emergency like the COVID-19 pandemic. Speaking to ANI, Dr Nahida Nazir, Organiser of the event said the purpose of the event is to apprise people of the medical facilities so that people can get proper health benefits, especially surgical care during Covid crises. "The purpose of this event is to spread awareness. We have the latest eight and nine projects currently underway in the valley. Through this programme, we are reaching people so that they can utilise more and more services," Dr Nazir said. Irfan Rasheed, a local person said "The NGOs are doing a great job here. They are working with the government hospitals to help people. All deserve an appreciation for their work." Sehar Anjum, the counsellor said "these NGOs are proving free counselling and awareness programmes for the people. Due to this event, people get to know about the medical care that is being provided in the valley so that they can utilise benefits." Source: ANI

Kashmir based (NGO) All Jammu Kashmir Youth Society has started helping people in the Valley by providing them with food kits and other essential items to those who are struggling amid COVID-19. All JK Youth Society President Sajid Yousuf told Kupwara Times: “We have verified all but five hundred families across Kashmir who are in need of food kits, so our team will deliver it to their houses." He told the newspaper that they have also started a helpline number on which the needy people can call, and they will travel to their area to serve them adding that this initiative will go on. Source: India Bloom AH