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Afghanistan’s War Victims’ Voices

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It was a grim and solemn occasion today as I and others presented our accumulated evidence of genocide and crimes against humanity being committed in Afghanistan by the Taliban, and I did not take my words lightly. Nonetheless, it was and remains my duty to warn the world about what so many are willingly ignoring, what has been allowed to occur in Afghanistan, and much more importantly, what is now at stake if we continue to do nothing:

An unprecedented 19.8 million people are facing death and genocide by starvation in Afghanistan. To understand the sheer scope of what we are facing, here is some context: that is well over three times the number that were killed in the Holocaust, four to five times those who were killed by Stalin's Holodomor in Ukraine, and nearly double the number that were killed under King Leopold in the Congo.

The organized crime syndicate that is the Taliban and their allies have created a human trafficking and drug empire the likes of which I have never seen before. The Taliban narcostate poses a grave global and national security risk to every country on the globe, with their opioids and amphetamines produced by slave labor reaching every corner and market of the globe. The human cost of this criminal empire is unimaginable: despite being involved in anti-trafficking efforts around the world and having investigated human trafficking since I was sixteen, this is simply the worst situation I have ever witnessed.  

The International Criminal Court must immediately investigate and indict the Taliban regime for crimes against humanity, and the global community must cease treating the Taliban cartel as if it were some legitimate form of government distinguishable from the likes of the Sinoloa Cartel or the Sicilian Mafia. It's not. Moreover, NATO must uphold its obligations to its former allies and partners in the region, evacuating and ensuring their safety, while addressing the threat that the Taliban pose to its member countries. Most importantly of all, the people of Afghanistan need immediate and appropriate humanitarian relief, from the interference of their Taliban oppressors. As long as the Taliban continue to exist, their depravity will not cease; the world must respond accordingly and appropriately to this threat.

We can – and absolutely should – analyze what went wrong not only in the withdrawal from Afghanistan but in the 20+ years of failures and mistakes that led to current crisis (as well as how Afghan allies were failed during their evacuation and resettlement). Indeed, such a reckoning is important not only to ensure that a catastrophe never happens again, but for the continuing endurance of American national security.

But right now, millions of people need our immediate help, and this has got to take priority.

 

This “Eyes on Trafficking” story is reprinted from its original location.

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PBJ Learning is a leading provider of online human trafficking training, focusing on and prevention education. Their interactive Human Trafficking Essentials is used worldwide to educate professionals and individuals how to recognize human trafficking and how to respond to potential victims. Learn on any web browser (even your mobile phone) at any time.

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EYES ON TRAFFICKING

This “Eyes on Trafficking” story is reprinted from its original online location.

ABOUT PBJ LEARNING

PBJ Learning is a leading provider of online human trafficking training, focusing on awareness and prevention education. Their interactive Human Trafficking Essentials online course is used worldwide to educate professionals and individuals how to recognize human trafficking and how to respond to potential victims. Learn on any web browser (even your mobile phone) at any time.

More stories like this can be found in your PBJ Learning Knowledge Vault.