Thank you, Mr. Chair, and thank you, Mr. El Shafie, for being here.
I have to say that your testimony is compelling and detailed. Your submission as I've reviewed it is an excellent document, with detail far beyond what I would normally have expected. It makes me deeply concerned about the situation in Afghanistan, about the abuse and the persecution of Christians and religious minorities, and about the abuse of women and the sexual slavery of boys. It's abominable. We deal with a lot of difficult issues at this committee, but this one really strikes a chord in me.
You've given some excellent suggestions on what our government can do. You pointed out in your testimony and in this document that good laws exist in Afghanistan. But the good laws are not being enforced and the bad laws are not being repealed.
You also show that there is a lack of will to enforce some of the constitutional rights that women, children, and religious minorities are supposed to have. You also document the need for public education. I hear you saying in your testimony that you still have hope, that you haven't given up entirely. You're not suggesting that we leave now. Because if we do, we would be abandoning them to this state, and that's simply not acceptable.
Our government will be persisting in its efforts to reform the country over the next couple of years, and I hope we'll have the opportunity to bring about some of the changes that you've suggested. I can assure you that I will be raising these concerns with my colleagues in government, and I thank you for forwarding this document to them.
You mentioned in your opening testimony that you'd been successful in 300 cases over the years. Could you elaborate on how you were successful? What were the most effective things that you've been able to accomplish through those cases? Is it hiring lawyers within the country? Is it raising the issue in a political situation or in the media? Help us understand how you've been so successful.