Afghanistan What are we sending young people back to?

“Afghanistan is not only war-stricken; it is riven by ethnic frictions, political factionalism, high levels of poverty, impunity, serious abuses of human rights by both state and non-state actors, ineffective governance, high levels of corruption, weak rule of law, an anaemic legal system, and a high risk of infiltration, cooption or subversion by insurgents, warlords and criminal groups. Despite ongoing efforts to improve training, the majority of Afghan National Security Forces (ANSF) remain poorly equipped and relatively ineffective. Afghanistan has become the world’s largest source of externally displaced persons (EDPs) or “refugees” in common parlance; their estimated number of 3.1 million accounting for some 10% of its population.”

Afghanistan country guidance AK (Article 15(c)) Afghanistan CG [2012] UKUT 00163(IAC) This is where previous quotation came from And yet, judgment found that Article 15c of the Qualification Directive is not breached To meet 15c criteria, a civilian, solely by being present in the country, faces a real risk which threatens his life or person. This would mean no-one could be forcibly removed to Afghanistan

Afghanistan right now The Guardian 11 Sept: 'Circle of childhood friends broken with bomb in Kabul' Associated Press 4 Sept: 'Suicide bomber kills dozens at funeral' Radio Free Europe 14 Aug: 'Bomb blasts kill dozens across Afghanistan' Amnesty, February (Fleeing War, Finding Misery) : “Half a million Afghans displaced by fighting are struggling to survive in makeshift shelters let down by their government and international donors that look the other way … at least 28 children have died in the harsh winter conditions in the camps around Kabul. The Afghan government estimates more than 40 people have frozen to death in camps across the country.” Human Rights Watch, February: 'Children deported to Afghanistan will face horrible risks'

Why have people had to flee? Read Popal, Nasib and Aziz's stories (NCADC individual campaigns) Watch the Mazloom documentary War – forced recruitment – family members killed for political reasons – kidnappings Often don't know – family send for own safety

How do young people get to this point? Arrive as young people  Claim asylum  Asylum claim refused  Discretionary leave granted (if age accepted)

How do young people get to this point? At 17.5 years old, discretionary leave ends  Apply for further leave, almost always refused  Asylum refusal often not appealed till this point  Appeal refused, fresh claims refused, appeal rights exhausted  Detained  Issued with ticket for 'ghost' charter flight

What happens to young people deported to Afghanistan? Ahmed Life in Afghanistan has been very difficult for Ahmed. He has tried very hard to find employment but has not had success. Ahmed has tried several times to locate his mother and younger siblings. He has travelled the dangerous journey to his village but there is no trace of them. Soon after arrival he was telephoned by his older sister and informed that her 12-year old son (her only child) had been shot and killed. He tried to visit his sister, but the journey was too dangerous and he turned back. With no hope for a future in his home country, Ahmed tried to escape Afghanistan again but was arrested and sent back. Since, he has remained in Kabul but is still unable to find work or to trace his family.

What happens to young people deported to Afghanistan? Kidnappings, forced recruitment, killed, homelessness, poverty, alone Other testimonies – Ali's story on Refugee Support Network blog Life After Deportation blog Flee again – on the streets in Europe – caught in a dangerous cycle seeking safety

Issues Not getting access to good legal advice Age disputes No monitoring of what happens on return Afghanistan not safe Socio-economic conditions

What can be done? Stop Deportations to Afghanistan (national campaign – Facebook group, NCADC website Mazloom Raise awareness! Young People Seeking Safety network Stay in touch with people deported to Afghanistan