The VBA Women’s Division is seeking to help publicize efforts to aid Afghan women judges who are trying desperately to evacuate Afghanistan. Here’s an article about the emergency situation and below is information posted to the Women’s Division in VBA Connect, with additional details. Also please see this letter about the topic from Retired Judges Davenport and Wesley, including information about efforts being made in Congress to help.
Many women judges from Afghanistan came to Vermont over several years’ time to observe the American court system, largely through the efforts of Judge Patricia Whalen. Now these judges desperately need help. They and their colleagues are being threatened with violence from former litigants, some of whom have been released from prison under the new regime and are seeking revenge on the judges who sentenced them. Some are husbands who were divorced and lost custody of children through the family courts. A very few of the women judges have made it out. Even before the Taliban took complete control, women judges were targeted and assassinated. The International Association of Women Judges has been working tirelessly over the last month to evacuate the judges. You can help this effort by donating to the International Association of Women Judges at IAWJ.org, or by using this LINK. Be sure to note that your donation is for the Afghan women judges.