Society 379

SOCIETY
How many Afghans are living in Austria
and how is the Embassy engaging
with them?
Almost 43.000 Afghans reside in Austria.
Our team in Vienna exerts every
effort to facilitate their integration
into Austrian society. I regularly meet
with individuals, Austrian officials, and
Vienna-based organizations. Afghan
migrants who arrived in Austria as part
of the 2015-2020 wave still struggle.
They lack appropriate documentation
and identification. Our organized
conferences for Afghans, particularly
those seeking asylum, provide correct
and relevant information about Austrian
institutions and society. We try to
impart to them crucial values of their
host-country, easing their assimilation
to Austria. Certainly, the global
refugee crisis is complex and sensitive.
Dismantling the stigma surrounding
Afghans in Austria is imperative. We
are aware of how the yellow press and
some political parties portray immigrants.
These false narratives distract
us from our collective agenda – protecting
the rights of refugees facing
incredible hardships. The support and
protection Austria has provided for
Afghans abroad as well as its contributions
to integration and reintegration
programs for Afghans abroad are
sincerely appreciated. A successful
reintegration program partly relies on
a strong and stable Afghanistan, allowing
us to welcome back any Afghan
emigrants effortlessly.
Afghanistan has a difficult past – what
are your personal wishes and visions
for your country’s future?
I wish that in the future, Afghanistan
attains peace and prosperity. I envision
a society where everybody exercises
equal rights and people can live together
without any fear of persecution
and I am not alone in my desire for this
future. Since 2001, Afghanistan marks
an era of reformation. People under
the age of 35 comprise 75% of our
population. This generation lives in our
country with democracy as the norm.
They have enjoyed more educational
and professional opportunities. Notably,
women’s status in society has risen.
President Ashraf Ghani stands behind
these women and stressed that guaranteeing
them respect and protection
is non-negotiable. We seek to preserve
these accomplishments. We will never
sacrifice them for anything, even pressure
from the Taliban. We aim to achieve
lasting peace through an Afghan-led
process. Yet, we require support to
preserve our gains from the last 19 years.
These triumphs include embedded
democratic values in the public, preservation
of constitutional mandates,
specifically equal rights, and strengthened
institutions of the republic. Of
course, free and fair elections lead to
the republic’s legitimacy and strength.
Moreover, we continue to eradicate
corruption and instill transparency
in our institutions regardless of level
or scope. Having studied journalism
myself, I tried to introduce literary-journalism
and ethics in Afghanistan. I was
the very first person who raised these
two subjects in my country. Free media
and a flourishing society are present.
We have done a lot to make the roots
of democracy endure in this republic
and we wish to convey the true image
of Afghanistan to the media.
AFGHANISTAN
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