Georgetown Community Responds to Humanitarian Crisis in Afghanistan, Continues Longtime Outreach and Advocacy
As the tragic and difficult events have unfolded in Afghanistan in the recent days and weeks, members of the Georgetown community have mobilized to find ways to help. Since 2001, Georgetown has been at the forefront of efforts to support Afghan scholars and students, and will continue outreach and advocacy.
How to Help
One Year Later
On the one-year anniversary of U.S. withdrawal from Afghanistan, the Georgetown Institute for Women, Peace and Security (GIWPS) shares their efforts to evacuate, resettle and advocate for Afghan women and girls.
A Testimonial
![Shuja wears traditional Afghan clothing with snow-capped mountains in the background](https://www.georgetown.edu/wp-content/uploads/2022/03/29-scaled-1800x1800-c-default.jpg)
“Working in the government and seeing more has given me a sense that I’m doing this work for the Afghan people. For the soldiers who ran out of food and ammo and water and resisted to the bitter end. For the whole country talking about hope having died with the Taliban coming back again, taking the aspirations of all young people with them. The policy environment has radically changed in Afghanistan and the world.”
![Shuja speaks at a launch event for the Georgetown Public Policy Review.](https://www.georgetown.edu/wp-content/uploads/2022/03/7-scaled.jpg)
![Shuja Jamal pictured in Helmand Province, Afghanistan.](https://www.georgetown.edu/wp-content/uploads/2022/03/15-1.jpg)
![Shuja Jamal at his graduation from the McCourt School of Public Policy in 2019.](https://www.georgetown.edu/wp-content/uploads/2022/03/10-scaled.jpg)
Protect Afghan Women
The Georgetown Institute for Women, Peace and Security started Protect Afghan Women to encourage action and donations to help the evacuation of at-risk Afghan women and to spread the word about the conditions in Afghanistan for women civil society and human rights leaders.
![Women holding signs that say "I stand with Afghan Women" in front of the White House](https://www.georgetown.edu/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/DSF4430-1024x683.jpg)
![Protester in a crowd yells into a megaphone](https://www.georgetown.edu/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/DSF4438-1024x683.jpg)
U.S.-Afghan Women’s Council (USAWC)
Founded in 2002 and co-chaired by the president of Georgetown University and the U.S. ambassador-at-large for global women’s issues, the USAWC is a non-partisan public-private partnership that convenes governments, civil society and the private sector around the goal of supporting Afghan women and girls’ education, health care, economic empowerment and leadership.
USAWC Calls to Action
Protecting Scholars at Risk
Georgetown is a sustaining member of the Scholars at Risk network, which is dedicated to protecting scholars and promoting academic freedom around the world. Georgetown is working through the network to further support Afghan scholars and students.
Solidarity and Shared Grief
Faculty Assess the Rapidly Changing Landscape in Afghanistan
Experts from the School of Foreign Service offer detailed insights into U.S. political and military missteps, impacts on Afghan women and the future of regional terrorism and U.S. power.
Afghanistan’s Former Finance Minister Tells His Story
Afghanistan’s former Minister of Finance Khalid Payenda discussed with SFS Dean Joel Hellman the final days of the Ghani administration, evaluated the possible disintegration of the Afghan economy under Taliban rule and gave an insider’s view of the corruption that had hollowed out the government.