Active Women’s Coordination Association: Switzerland’s Deportation Plan Based on Ethnicity Is Discriminatory and a Violation of Human Rights

Photo: © Ilia Bronskiy | Unsplash

The Active Women’s Coordination Association of Afghanistan, in response to reports about Switzerland’s proposed deportation of Afghan asylum seekers based on ethnicity, has condemned the move as "discriminatory, unethical, and a clear violation of international human rights laws" and called for an urgent investigation by global institutions.

This statement comes in reaction to a report published by a Swiss newspaper, which revealed a possible plan to deport Afghan asylum seekers from Switzerland, particularly those of Pashtun ethnicity. The report has sparked widespread reactions both within and outside the country.

According to the statement, deporting individuals of any nationality or ethnicity to Taliban-controlled Afghanistan is not only a breach of moral and humanitarian principles, but also a clear violation of the 1951 Geneva Convention on Refugees and other international human rights instruments.

The Association has warned that such deportations, if carried out solely on the basis of ethnic identity, may constitute racial discrimination and could undermine trust in asylum policies. This is especially concerning given that Afghanistan is currently under a regime that itself governs based on ethnic, religious, and political discrimination.

The statement calls on institutions such as the Office of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, the UN Special Rapporteur on Afghanistan, the UN Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination, the European Court of Human Rights, and other international bodies to thoroughly investigate this matter and prevent such violations from being repeated.

The Association also urged the Swiss government to clarify its position regarding these reports and to publicly and transparently affirm its commitment to human rights principles, particularly the principle of non-discrimination based on ethnicity.

In conclusion, the Active Women’s Coordination Association of Afghanistan stressed that all ethnic groups in Afghanistan, including Pashtuns, Tajiks, Hazaras, Uzbeks, Turkmens, Balochs, and others, must be equally entitled to human rights and that no group should fall victim to discriminatory policies in any civilized country.