FOUR YEARS UNDER THE TALIBAN

Name: FOUR YEARS UNDER THE TALIBAN
Start: 2025-08-19T17:00:00+02:00
Location: Øvre Slottsgate 3, Oslo, Norway

Schedule

Tue, 19 Aug, 2025 at 05:00 pm

UTC+02:00

Location

Øvre Slottsgate 3, Oslo, Norway | Oslo, OS

ABOUT THE EVENT
On August 15, 2021, the Taliban entered Kabul. We all remember those dramatic days. Many were evacuated, many fled – but most Afghans still live in Afghanistan. Since then, the reports from the country have been deeply alarming. Human rights, and freedom of expression in particular, have been severely eroded. The humanitarian situation with hunger and unemployment is heightened, while girls and women are denied education and work.
At the same time, Afghanistan is receiving less and less attention in an increasingly unstable world. The urgent crisis largely goes under the radar in today’s international media. What is it like to live in Afghanistan now? What is the current state of basic human rights?
We hereby invite you to an evening with conversations, knowledge and reflections about the human rights situation in Afghanistan—featuring experts from Afghanistan and Norway.
REGISTER HERE: https://forms.office.com/e/VQv0vMHB0n
PART I: THE STATUS FOR FUNDAMENTAL RIGHTS IN AFGHANISTAN
– Women’s Rights: What access do women have to education and work? What about freedom of movement and choice?
– Minority Rights: What is the current situation for the many minority groups in the country?
– Living Conditions: What is access to food and overall quality of life like?
– Norway’s Contribution: How is Norway engaging in Afghanistan?
PART II: THE STATUS FOR FREEDOM OF EXPRESSION IN AFGHANISTAN
– Freedom of expression: What is the state of free expression in the country?
– Press freedom: Do any independent media outlets or journalists remain active?
– International attention/contribution: How can the international community support freedom of expression, press freedom, and those who dare to speak out?

PROGRAMME
Doors open at 16:45 with a photo exhibition
Welcome: Jørgen Watne Frydnes, Director, PEN Norway
PART I: THE STATUS FOR FUNDAMENTAL RIGHTS IN AFGHANISTAN
Digital keynote: Dr. Sima Samar, former minister and Chair of the Afghan Independent Human Rights Commission (AIHRC)
Remarks: TBC
Presentation: What is the situation in rural areas? Mustafa Himmati, Norwegian Afghanistan Committee
Panel discussion: What can Norway do for Afghanistan?
– Ayesha Wolasmal, journalist and author
– Terje Watterdal, Country Director, The Norwegian Afghanistan Committee
– Moderated by Elisabeth Eide, PEN Norway
Q&A
BREAK w/ a photo exhibition

PART II: THE STATUS FOR FREEDOM OF EXPRESSION IN AFGHANISTAN
Remarks: TBC
Panel discussion: The situation for freedom of expression, press freedom, and the role of the international community:
– Hamid Obaidi, journalist, Afghanistan Journalists Support Organization
– Afshin Ismaeli, journalist and photographer
– Moderated by Hasina Shirzad, The Human Rights Fund
Q&A
Closing remarks: Liv Kjølseth, Secretary General, Norwegian Afghanistan Committee
THE END (19:00)