legal advocacy for afghan women refugee's rights in European countries

The recent Taliban takeover of Afghanistan has displaced hundreds of thousands of Afghan citizens, particularly women and girls fleeing grave human rights abuses and violent repression. As increasing numbers seek refuge in Europe, this paper examines legal advocacy efforts to promote the rights of Afghan women asylum seekers and refugees. It provides background on factors driving Afghan women's displacement and an overview of relevant European Union (EU) directives and international conventions on refugees, asylum seekers, and women's rights. Drawing on original interviews with ۵۰ Afghan women refugees and ۲۵ legal advocates, it analyzes advocacy initiatives led by NGOs, legal clinics, and civil society groups assisting Afghan women in ۵ major European host countries. It highlights procedural, evidentiary, and substantive challenges Afghan women face in securing refugee status and accessing social services. Cross-case comparisons illuminate differences in women's asylum experiences across national contexts. The analysis finds significant gaps in implementation of existing EU gender equality and migration policies, resulting in inconsistent adjudication and denial of many Afghan women's claims. However, specialized legal assistance and advocacy are shown to improve asylum outcomes. The paper concludes with evidence-based policy recommendations to strengthen protection of Afghan women refugees’ human rights in Europe.