Following Mexico's humanitarian tradition of protecting and promoting human rights, today we received a group of Afghan women who asked for help to leave their country given the current situation there. After receiving a confidential call from various organizations that were concerned about the young women's welfare, the Foreign Ministry took the necessary diplomatic and consular steps to ensure their safe passage to Mexico.
The women are part of the "Afghan Dreamers" team, known internationally for building ventilators for COVID-19 patients from used car parts. The team also received a special award at an international robotics championship, and has become a symbol of the pursuit of women's human rights in Afghanistan.
On their arrival in Mexico, Foreign Secretary Marcelo Ebrard said that Mexico has a long tradition of taking in refugees. He pointed out that, despite the fact that we are very distant from what is happening in Afghanistan, “this human cause, protecting the values and causes that make us Mexicans who we today, has led us to commit to bringing them here today."
The Undersecretary for Multilateral Affairs and Human Rights, Martha Delgado, said that the young women's arrival is consistent with the Mexican government's feminist foreign policy and its interest in protecting children. She added that, "an institution based in Mexico (which, for security reasons, will not be named) has offered food, lodging and basic services, free of charge."
One of the young women, Fatemah, said that "the reason why we chose (to come) to Mexico was that we consider it to be a country with freedom and solidarity." In her message, she highlighted the value of her team's work in promoting women's access to science and technology in Afghanistan, as well as their international achievements. "It makes us nervous that it is precisely these achievements that now put our families in danger," she said.
At the event—attended by Cristopher Ballinas, the Foreign Ministry's Director General for Human Rights and Democracy, and Judit Arenas, Senior Director and Senior Adviser at APCO Worldwide, who took the diplomatic steps and coordinated with social organizations to arrange for the group's safe passage to Mexico—the Foreign Secretary concluded his remarks with a clear message: "In Mexico, we say "Están en su casa" - "This is your home." And today we want to say those words to you from the bottom of our heart: This is your home. Mexico honors its tradition and the future we want to have. You are very welcome and you can count on us.”
The Government of Mexico reiterates its readiness to give protection and assistance for humanitarian reasons to people whose lives and safety are in imminent danger, in accordance with its capabilities and applicable international and national law.
