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Bakhtra Institute Berlin, July 14, 2023, The program was organized by Bakhtar Institute in the LouLou cafe. Mr. Athayi, one of the founding members and responsible for the research department of the Institute, presented key issues related to academic disciplines, career perspectives, job orientation, important points for the job applications, methods of verifying educational credentials, supporting refugee agencies in Berlin, and introducing relevant job channels and websites for Immigrants and newcomers to a group of academic individuals and skilled workers who had recently arrived in Germany. It is worth mentioning that during the workshop, the opinions and suggestions of the participants for future programs were concluded, and the participants, considering the usefulness and effectiveness of such programs, expressed their expectations that Bakhtar Institute should provide more opportunities for them in the future in terms of education and finding employment in their respective fields, so that they can integrate into the job market as quickly as possible.

Bakhtar Institute | Saturday, 2nd September 23 BI organized a Round table discussion with a small group of lecturers, experts, and member of associations from Afghan community in Berlin. The purpose of the Round table was to explore the various aspects of the term ‘Engagement’ in the literature and seek to open it up and contextualize it into Afghanistan’s context. BI’s department on Research and Knowledge Transfer prepared a power point presentation seeking ‘engagement’ in three main fields of ‘employment and organization’, ‘students & university’ and ‘engagement with de facto authorities/states.’ ‘Engagement’ is a multidimensional concept, which is different from context to context, however, Afghan academics, researchers, and diaspora in general needs to set indicators, develop strategies and contribute to the process. The participants had the opportunity to discuss and criticize the current relations of the international community with the de facto authorities of Afghanistan as well as the current situation in Afghanistan. BI realizes that debate on ‘engagement with de facto authorities of Afghanistan’ requires further discussion, analysis, and inquiries in order to be able to construct a meaningful engagement.

Bakhtar Institute (BI) would like to honor, respect and extend its sincere congratulations on the occasion of International Women’s Day to all women particularly the women of Afghanistan. While celebrating this significant day at international level, since 19 months, millions of women in Afghanistan have been deprived from their primary and fundamental rights such as right to education, work, and free movement. In the meantime, they are exposed to serious and systematic violence and abuse and are literally under house arrest. The initial notion of the 8 March celebration is to promote a gender equal world, a world free of bias, stereotypes, and discrimination – a world that’s diverse, equitable, and inclusive and ultimately, a world where difference is valued and celebrated. On the contrary, a century-old value has turned out to be completely perishing in the heart of Asia, the Taliban’s Afghanistan. The other sad side of the coin is that in the last two years, the world has been witnessing the collapse of nascent democratic values including the women’s rights and there is almost no sign of a collective global action such as “responsibility to protect” against the ongoing dire situation in Afghanistan. Once again, Bakhtar Institute condemns the ongoing systematic oppression and violence against women of Afghanistan and urges the United Nations, European Union, Organization of the Islamic Countries, the United States of America, Russia, China, International human rights organization, and other regional countries to fulfill their responsibilities and to take practical measures for the betterment of the human rights situation and to restore democratic values in Afghanistan. Bakhtar Institute, once again, reminds that the right to education isn’t negotiable and emphasizes on the significance of resuming a meaningful and honest dialogue among the national and international stakeholders that can result to the restoration of all human rights values including the right to education, work, freedom of speech and movement for the women of Afghanistan. Finally, BI announces that it can provide the platform for such discussions and dialogue for Afghanistan’s national and international stakeholders. Bakhtar Institute, Berlin, Germany8th of March, 2023

“Seeking Knowledge is a duty upon every Muslim, man and woman” (Prophet Muhammad p.b.u.h) Unfortunately, in addition to the previous restrictions on girls’ education at both secondary and higher education, Taliban issued an order, which was enforced on 21 December 2022 and banned all Afghan women (students and teachers) from entering any public or private higher education institute and university inside Afghanistan. Taliban’s action and their attempts to justify it are unacceptable to Afghanistan citizens. We at Bakhtar Institute, consider this action and other restrictions imposed by the Taliban on education of girls and women very painful that are not only a violation of human dignity, but also in clear contradiction with cultural and religious beliefs of the people of Afghanistan. Bakhtar Institute, as a professional Afghan diaspora organization focusing on Research, Education and Advocacy, believes that the right to education is an undeniable fundamental right of every Afghan citizen and will continue its activities in line with the realization of this essential human value. We believe that in order to achieve a developed and prosperous Afghanistan, it is essential that social justice and human dignity be granted and all citizens of the country, women and men, could have access to education, are allowed to work, and become active members of the society. Thus, the Institute calls on all citizens of Afghanistan from all ethnic and social groups, inside and outside of the country, to coordinate their efforts toward realization of the right to education for girls and women in Afghanistan. Furthermore, our request from German state, the European Union, and the United Nations is to take concrete actions and fulfill their responsibilities regarding the assurance of the fundamental rights of Afghan citizens, particularly of women, girls, and children so that the schools and higher education institutes of the country be reopened to all students, regardless of their gender.   21 December 2022

Bakhtar Institute e.V as a Diaspora-led NGO presented its most recent closed initiative ‘One-year certificate program for Afghan female students of Afghanistan’ at the 5thAfghansitan conference at University of Education Freiburg, titled ‘Polycrisis in Afghanistan: Education and Diaspora Responses’ on 13th July 2024. The conference provided a great opportunity to share the experience, opportunties and lessons learned of BI online initiative over the last year. It was also a great chance to exchange with experts, organizations, and educational initiatives in this field which enabled us to make networking and recieving constructive feedback for the betterment of our future projects.

On 8th March, the International Woman’s Day Bakhtar Institute e.V convened an event related to the situation of women and girls in Afghanistan. The event titled ‘Afghan Women Resilience, Agency and Activism’ provided the platform to a number of Afghanistan’s diaspora community to discuss, and assess their activism, the situation of women rights in the country and the way forward to work at the Germany and EU level. The program comprised of two sections. In the first stage an intensive discussion about the situation of women and girls in Afghanistan through panel with three guest speakers took place. In addition, poem, article by participants and welcome note of representative of Bakhtar Institute were part of it. In the second stage, the space was allocated for informal networking, exchanges, and music. Three Music bands voluntarily took part in the event.    BI representative stressed that this event is organized to express our solidarity with the women and girls in Afghanistan who have encountered the most difficult and challenging time over the last two and half years in the country.   The de facto authorities released over 46 decrees only against women excluding them from all their basic human rights including the right to work, to education: both secondary and higher education, access to healthcare, appearing in the public area, park, bath, and participation in the society etc…  On the other hand, they are also facing a serious risk of persecution, threat, kidnapping, torture, forced confession without considering the principles of a fair trial, sexual abuse, warning and imprisonment of the relatives and family members of protesting women. Women have been humiliated and insulted more than any other times under the current sovereignty.   Key notes from speakers: 

On the occasion of International Women’s Day, we are happy to convene an event on the situation of women and girls in Afghanistan. In this event, members of Afghanistan diaspora community will discuss, and assess their activism over the last two years in Germany and across EU. Furthermore, the space for informal networking, exchanges, and music will be provided About the background of the program: With seizing of the power by the Taliban in August 2021, increased restrictions have been applied on various dimensions of women and girls life in the country. This not only marginalising them from the public sphere, but also eliminated their access to basic rights such as education, employment, movement, and participation. Such restrictions led basically to widespread dispersal of women and girls activists, journalists, lawyers, artists and etc… across the globe and a large number of them are relocated in Germany. However, in the new context, they have continued to survive and become more mobilized in diaspora communities. They advocate daily for their rights and raise their voice to impose pressure on the de facto authorities through activism and various platforms.Therefore, we celebrate not only the International Women Day in Berlin but also assess the activism, women rights and participation both from historical perspective and future prospect. In this event:1- Panel discussion2- Poem and articles3- Music4- Networking and exchange Date and time: 09.03.2024 Doors Opening: 18:30 Program Starts: 19.00 O’clock Address: Ulmenallee 3514050 Berlin-Westend Participation is free of charge. Please confirm your participation to the program till 05.03.24 using the following registration form: