The fund supports legal scholars who have been displaced from their country of practice and career. Specifically, this fund was created after a group became aware of the plight of Afghan women who were judges in Afghanistan and were unable to continue under the Taliban’s regime. Legal professionals, such as these women, are unable to continue their work in their country and have come to Canada. To continue their professions in Canada, they need to become more fluent in English, re-do or upgrade their legal education, or need other support to regain their career. This fund has the intention of supporting individuals in re-education that have been displaced due to conflict, war, or other events.
The Plight of the Afghan Women Judges
When the Taliban brutally seized control of Afghanistan in August 2021, the 270 women judges in Afghanistan became immediate targets and had no choice but to flee their homes and their country. With assistance from the International Association of Women Judges and other NGOs, many women judges and their families were thankfully able to escape Afghanistan and find safety and refuge in other countries. Thirty-five Afghan judges and their families have relocated to Canada, seven of whom now live in Calgary with ten adult family members and 12 children, two of whom were born in Calgary. These courageous women face numerous challenges as they seek to rebuild their lives in Canada after serving as judges on appellate courts in Kabul, Badakhshan, and Parwan, Afghanistan.
Your support offers financial assistance for tuition, books, LSAT prep courses, and living expenses, helping these scholars rebuild their lives and re-enter the legal profession in Calgary.
