Afghanistan Support Clinic (LAW4811)
Monash University through its Law Clinics Program and with encouragement from the Castan Centre for Human Rights Law established the Afghanistan Support Clinic where law students assist the Ham Diley Campaign with research and drafting.
The clinic is working with the Ham Diley (همدلى) Campaign, which means empathy or solidarity in Farsi. The Ham Diley Campaign started as a volunteer-initiative by two human rights lawyers and PhD candidates, Azadah Raz Mohammad (University of Melbourne) and Karin Frodé (Monash University), in collaboration with Simone Abel, the former CEO of the non-profit organisation the Capital Punishment Justice Project. It is a response of solidarity and empathy with the people of Afghanistan following the Taliban's return to power on 15 August 2021.
Since August 2021, the Ham Diley Campaign has made tangible impacts through its policy and casework. Highlights include involvement in the evacuation of 90 individuals at risk of persecution. The Campaign is working closely and has generated support and assistance from with Afghan and international scholars, journalists, diplomats, organisations, and international lawyers.
The Ham Diley Campaign is now focusing on research and promoting accountability for mass atrocities and extra-judicial killings committed by the Taliban (1994 - current), including: Production of a Handbook on Universal Jurisdiction commissioned by diaspora groups − Advocacy for a permanent investigative mechanism for Afghanistan Submissions to relevant Australian and UK parliamentary committees, focusing about women and girls in Afghanistan.
The Clinic will not be running in Clinical Period 1 2024 as the Campaign will be focusing on planning the launch of the Handbook on Universal Jurisdiction. Updates on any future Clinic rounds will be provided after the launch in March/April 2024 when the Campaign will re-assess next stages.