LGBTIQ+ Afghans continue to face some of the gravest human rights violations in the world, including targeted violence, torture, sexual violence, forced marriage, disappearance, and arbitrary detention under the Taliban. These abuses form part of broader gender-based crimes and patterns of persecution that remain severely under-documented and overlooked. ALO’s Accountability Program exists to address this critical gap.

As a refugee-led organization embedded in affected communities, ALO plays a vital role in documenting violations that would otherwise remain invisible. Our team collects survivor testimonies, evidence, and patterns of abuse using rigorous, trauma-sensitive, and ethically grounded methodologies. Safeguarding, confidentiality, and survivor protection guide every aspect of our work.

Afghanistan is facing one of the world’s most severe and prolonged humanitarian crises. Years of conflict, economic collapse, natural disasters, and the near-total absence of human rights protections have left millions struggling to survive. For LGBTIQ+ Afghans, these emergencies are not only life-threatening — they are compounded by targeted violence, social exclusion, and the inability to safely access mainstream humanitarian aid.

Queer Afghans often remain invisible in crisis response. Fear of exposure, discrimination by service providers, and the complete criminalization of LGBTIQ+ identities under the Taliban mean that many cannot seek help openly. During earthquakes, floods, food shortages, and conflict-related displacement, our community is consistently among the last to receive assistance — if they receive any at all.

LGBTIQ+ refugees around the world face heightened risks throughout their displacement journeys, from violence and discrimination in transit countries to systemic barriers within European asylum systems. Many cannot access protection because mainstream services are not safe, inclusive, or informed about the realities of queer and trans people fleeing persecution. ALO’s LGBTIQ+ Refugees Program responds to these gaps through direct support, inclusive community programming, specialized tools, and sustained advocacy at national, regional, and international levels.

Our work supports LGBTIQ+ refugees and asylum seekers of all nationalities, including Afghans, Ukrainians, Russians, and others seeking safety in the Czech Republic.

ALO contributes directly to shaping how the United Nations understands and responds to the human rights situation of LGBTIQ+ people affected by conflict, persecution, and displacement. Our work is grounded in evidence, documentation, and lived expertise, enabling us to bring forward information that is often missing in UN processes. Through consistent engagement, we have helped ensure that the persecution of LGBTIQ+ Afghans is recognized within international reporting, accountability discussions, and diplomatic conversations.

Over the past years, ALO has submitted detailed evidence to UN Special Procedures and Treaty Bodies, delivered statements at the Human Rights Council, briefed Member States, and co-organized high-level side events in Geneva. Our contributions have informed UN analyses on Afghanistan, influenced recommendations issued to states, and supported international monitoring of gender-based and SOGIESC-based crimes. We have also played a key role in raising awareness of the protection gaps faced by LGBTIQ+ refugees in transit countries and Europe, ensuring these concerns are included in global protection and humanitarian frameworks.