10–11 July 2026 | University of Education Freiburg, Freiburg (Germany) & Online

The 6th Conference on Afghanistan, held under the theme “Afghanistan: Shared Struggle, Shared Future – The Need for Global Solidarity,” brought together researchers, human rights advocates, members of the Afghan diaspora, practitioners, and policymakers to examine the realities facing Afghans both inside and outside the country. Organized by the Working Group Afghanistan at the University of Education Freiburg together with international partners, the conference emphasized that the challenges confronting Afghanistan are not isolated national concerns, but call for evidence-based understanding, international cooperation, and sustained global solidarity.

A central focus of the conference was the deteriorating human rights situation in Afghanistan, particularly the rights of women and girls, alongside questions of access to education, health, justice, and participation. Contributions by prominent experts and human rights advocates, including Sima Samar, Shaharzad Akbar, Richard Bennett, Thomas Ruttig, Torunn Wimpelmann, and others, explored current political and humanitarian developments as well as resistance to restrictions on women’s education and possible strategies for international support. Two panel discussions addressed the role of the Afghan diaspora in supporting people inside the country and the situation of women’s education under Taliban rule.

The conference also placed particular emphasis on the Afghan diaspora and its role in building connections between Afghanistan and societies abroad. Thomas Geisen, Maria B. Jastrzebska, M. Baqer Zaki and Ajmal Behmanish presented research on the Afghan diaspora in Germany and Switzerland, discussing both integration experiences and important gaps in existing research. Further contributions examined language and belonging, responsible diaspora research, migration, and the diversity of Afghan communities. A recurring insight was that the Afghan diaspora cannot be understood as a homogeneous group: acknowledging different histories, ethnicities, languages, cultures, identities, and migration experiences is essential for research and for developing genuinely inclusive policies and initiatives.

A broad range of workshops deepened these discussions, covering solidarity among Afghans in Germany, changing approaches to Afghanistan research, socioeconomic development and conflict, women’s situation in Herat, restrictions affecting health and education, strengthening research competencies among Afghan women, and Afghan diaspora communities in Eastern Europe. The programme thereby created space not only for academic exchange, but also for connecting research with lived experience, civil society engagement, and practical forms of support.

For the Solidarity Research Network, the conference offered an important opportunity to connect solidarity research with one of the most pressing humanitarian and political contexts of our time. Discussions highlighted that solidarity requires more than speaking about people affected by conflict and displacement: it involves creating spaces in which different voices are heard, respected, and connected. The conference reinforced the importance of collaboration between research, policy, practice, human rights advocacy, and diaspora communities—and the need to ensure that violence and systematic human rights violations in Afghanistan do not disappear from international attention.

More information: Conference on Afghanistan 2026, University of Education Freiburg.