Foundation Receives Tremendous Praise For Hosting Afghanistan’s First Conference Dedicated To Eliminating Modern Slavery, Human Trafficking and Labor Exploitation in Afghanistan and Throughout the World
Kabul, Afghanistan—November 5, 2019—Committing itself to help forge a world where the evils of Modern Slavery, Human Trafficking and Labor Exploitation are vanquished from every corner of the earth, The Bayat Foundation (www.bayatfoundation.org), Afghanistan’s largest, private, non-profit Health, Education and Social Development Organization, announced today that it had hosted ‘Ending Slavery-Extending Hope’ (www.endingslavery-extendinghope.org), Afghanistan’s groundbreaking, first-ever conference dedicated to eliminating Modern Slavery, Human Trafficking and Labor Exploitation in Afghanistan and throughout the world.
Held at the Bayat Media Center, Darul Aman Road in Kabul on 4 November 2019 from 9:00 AM to 12:30PM, the Ending Slavery-Extending Hope conference was attended by large delegations of high-level Public and Private Sectorleaders, including:
The Honorable Geoffrey Tooth: Australian Ambassador to Afghanistan
Mr. David Sedney: President of The American University of Afghanistan
Mr. Hamidullah Farooqi: Chancellor of Kabul University and Minister-Advisor to The President
Mr. Aziz Rafee: Director, Civil Society Forum of Afghanistan
Dr. Dale Walker: PhD in Human Rights Law from the University of Exeter, and our human rights focal point at AUAF.
Mr. Rohullah Ahmadi: Project Manager, Combatting Human Trafficking in Afghanistan/Support to Shelters Projects, Hagar International
Mr. Ahmad Qais Jaweed: Country Manager, Ziba Foods
Mr. Jaap van Hierden: Country Director, Cordaid
Mr. Murtaza Idries: Founder, Afghan Business Summit
Launching the Conference with a powerful Keynote Address, Dr. Ehsan Bayat, Co-Founder of The Bayat Foundation and The Chairman of The Bayat Group, encouraged the delegates to continue and deepen their cooperation, “Because, only by working together, can we strive to forge a world where every man, woman and child is Lifted Up with Freedom, Education and Employment, and the scourges of Modern Slavery, Human Trafficking and Labor Exploitation are at long last, Broken Up and Banished forever,” Dr. Bayat said.
Following Dr. Bayat’s remarks, Australian Ambassador Geoffrey Tooth, in his address to the Conference, highlighted Australia’s efforts to combat Modern Slavery and the importance of international cooperation on the issue.
Jenn Morris, CEO of The Walk Free Foundation (www.walkfreefoundation.org), in her pre-recorded address to the Conference, praised The Bayat Foundation for raising awareness of Modern Slavery and the Foundation’s role as Afghanistan’s official representative to The Bali Process Government and Business Forum (GABF) (www.baliproccess.net), the world’s largest public and private sector organization dedicated to eliminating Modern Slavery, Human Trafficking and Labor Exploitation.
Ending Slavery – Extending Hope examined the efforts undertaken by Afghan businesses, governmental and non-profit organizations to eliminate Modern Slavery, Human Trafficking and Labor Exploitation in Afghanistan. Conference discussions assessed the effectiveness programs designed to fight Modern Slavery, Human Trafficking and Labor Exploitation, which are based on recommendations from The Bali Process Government and Business Forum (GABF).
Organized into two expert-led panel discussions, the delegates who attended Ending Slavery – Extending Hope, examined the tragedy of Modern Slavery, Human Trafficking and Labor Exploitation, and also provided powerful, practical and permanent solutions for its eradication:
Panel#1: Bali Process/AAA Goals–From Acknowledgment to Action
Panel #2: Emancipate and Empower – Jobs, Education and Protecting Vulnerable Communities From Exploitation
“Far too many Afghans—but especially, our precious children—are vulnerable to Modern Slavery, Human Trafficking and Labor Exploitation, hideous crimes which deprives people of their freedom, their hope and their lives,” said Mrs. Fatema Laya Bayat, Co-Founder and President of The Bayat Foundation. ‘Ending Slavery – Extending Hope,’ is the first step we can take to help eliminate Modern Slavery, Human Trafficking and Labor Exploitation in Afghanistan.”
“Enabling millions of Afghans to live freely, with opportunities and hope, is the very core of The Bayat Foundation’s mission,” said Dr. Ehsanollah Bayat, the Co-Founder of The Bayat Foundation. ‘Ending Slavery – Extending Hope,’ demonstrates our unyielding commitment to work with organizations, in Afghanistan and internationally, so that together, we can work to eliminate the scourge of Modern Slavery, Human Trafficking and Labor Exploitation in Afghanistan and throughout the world.”
About the Bayat Foundation:
Since 2005, the US-based Bayat Foundation, a 501 c (3) charitable organization, has promoted the well-being of the Afghan people. Founded and directed by Ehsanollah Bayat and Fatema Bayat, the Foundation has contributed to more than 300 projects dedicated to improving the quality of life for the youth, women, poor, and elderly of Afghanistan; including construction of 13 maternity hospitals that have now treated over 2,000,000 mothers and babies.
Projects have included the construction of new facilities and sustainable infrastructure in needy regions, and the promotion of health, education, economic, and cultural programs. In addition to his charitable initiatives, Ehsanollah Bayat founded Afghan Wireless (AWCC) in 2002, which was the first GSM wireless and Internet Service Provider in Afghanistan, and later established Ariana Radio and Television Network (ATN), which includes Ariana Radio (FM 93.5). For more information, please email info@bayatfoundation.org.