Berlin Forum for Afghanistan – 8th Meeting 2026
Justice and Accountability for Afghanistan: Examining Reality, Expectations, and the Role of Germany. A hybrid meeting on Tuesday, 29 September 2026, 16:00–19:30 (doors open 15:45), at the Heinrich-Böll-Stiftung in Berlin.
Date
29 September 2026
16:00–19:30
Location
Heinrich-Böll-Stiftung e.V., Schumannstraße 8, 10117 Berlin
Format
Hybrid
We are pleased to invite you to the 8th meeting of the Berlin Forum for Afghanistan. The meeting will bring together perspectives from Afghan civil society, human rights practice, academia and international justice, focusing on how international and domestic mechanisms can contribute effectively to justice and accountability for human rights violations in Afghanistan, and on Germany's particular role in advancing these efforts.
The discussion will address recent developments in international justice and state responsibility, with particular attention to Germany's role in the CEDAW initiative before the International Court of Justice (ICJ) and the potential of Universal Jurisdiction under Germany's Code of Crimes against International Law (VStGB). Bringing together representatives from judicial institutions, politics, civil society and academia, the forum will explore concrete pathways for strengthening accountability and ensuring meaningful participation by Afghan civil society and survivors.
Key information • Format: Expert inputs, panel discussion and moderated dialogue • Hybrid event: Participation in person or online (registered online participants receive the Zoom link by email) • Doors open: 15:45 • Confidentiality: The meeting will be held under the Chatham House Rule • Languages: English, Farsi and Pashto
The full programme and the list of speakers are listed below. For questions and participation confirmation, please contact info@bfa-berlin.org.
- 15:45–16:00
Arrival and registration
Doors open at 15:45. Sign-in, technical check and admission of online participants, so that the programme can begin at 16:00.
- 16:00–16:15
Opening, round of welcome and review of the previous meetings
• Opening of the meeting: Management or Executive Board of VAFO e.V. • Welcoming remarks: Jost Pachaly – Head of Asia Division, Heinrich-Böll-Stiftung • Review and programme: Zia Moballegh – Member of BFA
- 16:15–16:40
Keynote
UN Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in Afghanistan
Richard Bennett
- 16:40–17:40
Expert inputs: Perspectives on justice and accountability
Moderation: Dr. Haroon Mutasem 1. Shaharzad Akbar – Executive Director, Rawadari (online): human rights situation, documentation and accountability 2. Prof. Dr. Chantal Meloni – Senior Legal Advisor, ECCHR: international criminal justice and universal jurisdiction 3. Dr. Huma Saeed – Senior Transitional Justice Fellow, City University of New York: victims’ perspectives and transitional justice 4. Anna Suerhoff – Research Associate, German Institute for Human Rights: the Institute’s perspective, the CEDAW initiative and Germany’s role
- 17:40–17:50
Coffee break
- 17:50–18:40
Panel discussion & exchange
Discussion with the speakers and participants on pathways towards justice and accountability for Afghanistan and the role of Germany.
- 18:40–19:15
Launch of the BFA online platform
Ali Reza Hussaini
- 19:15–19:30
Closing remarks
Berlin Forum for Afghanistan
- 19:30–20:00
Dinner and informal exchange
All times are Berlin time.
Register for this event
Places are limited. Please register with your name and email address; you will receive the detailed agenda and, for online participation, the access link by email.