Amnesty International Report from Kabul
AI author | 02.02.2007 10:59
In June 2002, AI set up a one year field presence in Afghanistan as part of the Afghanistan Project. Having a staff presence on the ground has enabled us to develop extensive networks of contacts and carry out substantial field research. It has also given us the opportunity to coordinate our work with the Afghan authorities, the international community, INGOs and other actors in Afghanistan. This has made our work more effective and more relevant to the evolving situation on the ground.
In January the field officer, Margaret Ladner, gave an interview to AI Norway about her experience of working in Kabul and the various challenges faced by AI. Through the interview, we can understand more about the situation as well as AI’s work in Afghanistan.
How would you describe the general human rights situation in Afghanistan at present?
There have certainly been many positive changes in the human rights situation in Afghanistan over the past year. However, insecurity has become a major problem facing Afghans across the country. Institutions such as the police and courts are not yet able to protect ordinary Afghans as they should, and in some areas they are the perpetrators of human rights abuses themselves. Impunity is a problem at all levels, from current to past abuses, from massive war crimes to ongoing cases of domestic violence.
What are the main human rights challenges in the short term, and in the longer term?
Rebuilding institutions to guarantee the rule of law is essential for the protection of human rights in Afghanistan. This process presents massive challenges in both the short and longer term. Training is needed across the country for police, prison guards, and the judiciary. Many of these institutions lack even the most basic equipment, such as pens and paper, and struggle to do their duties without proper facilities, vehicles, and communications equipment.
Juvenile boys held in the men's section of Kabul Central Jail attend a literacy class. Despite facing a shortage of resources, initiatives are developing in some areas. (Ka
Police and Prison staff in Mazar-e sharig, Balkh district. At the time of AI's visit, police had not been paid for four months, and were working with minimal resouces. (Mazar-e Sharif, Afghanistan, Nov 2002) ©Anou Borrey
It is also very important that human rights education be broadly provided so that communities are aware of their rights and can challenge authorities when they are ill-treated.
Many of those who served in the various armed groups prior to the current government coming to power are now members of the local and national government, often serving as police. This presents challenges as these officials must now shift from a military to civilian role, within power structures that are still in transition and continue to be dominated by those connected with powerful armed groups.
One of the major problems for the human rights and humanitarian community in Afghanistan will be keeping donor attention on the country as new hot spots and issues arise. Afghanistan will not be able to meet all of these challenges without the sustained commitment, involvement and support of the international community.
If tackling impunity for past and present violations is one of the answers to the challenges mentioned above, then how do you think that can be done?
Impunity in Afghanistan has many layers and different things will need to be done to address the different aspects of the problem.
Concerning past abuses Afghan Independent Human Rights Commission, established in June 2002, is tasked with initiating a national discussion on the issue of transitional justice. Such a dialogue will be essential for Afghans as a nation to decide what should be done about abuses of the past. For ongoing abuses, impunity will persist until the criminal justice system is rebuilt and staffed with professional, trained staff. The Afghan Independent Human Rights Commission is also responsible for monitoring and investigating human rights abuses, but until there is a functioning criminal justice system, there will not be mechanisms for bringing perpetrators to justice. Support of the international community for Afghans working on these initiatives will be essential for all of these processes to succeed.
In January the field officer, Margaret Ladner, gave an interview to AI Norway about her experience of working in Kabul and the various challenges faced by AI. Through the interview, we can understand more about the situation as well as AI’s work in Afghanistan.
How would you describe the general human rights situation in Afghanistan at present?
There have certainly been many positive changes in the human rights situation in Afghanistan over the past year. However, insecurity has become a major problem facing Afghans across the country. Institutions such as the police and courts are not yet able to protect ordinary Afghans as they should, and in some areas they are the perpetrators of human rights abuses themselves. Impunity is a problem at all levels, from current to past abuses, from massive war crimes to ongoing cases of domestic violence.
What are the main human rights challenges in the short term, and in the longer term?
Rebuilding institutions to guarantee the rule of law is essential for the protection of human rights in Afghanistan. This process presents massive challenges in both the short and longer term. Training is needed across the country for police, prison guards, and the judiciary. Many of these institutions lack even the most basic equipment, such as pens and paper, and struggle to do their duties without proper facilities, vehicles, and communications equipment.
Juvenile boys held in the men's section of Kabul Central Jail attend a literacy class. Despite facing a shortage of resources, initiatives are developing in some areas. (Ka
Police and Prison staff in Mazar-e sharig, Balkh district. At the time of AI's visit, police had not been paid for four months, and were working with minimal resouces. (Mazar-e Sharif, Afghanistan, Nov 2002) ©Anou Borrey
It is also very important that human rights education be broadly provided so that communities are aware of their rights and can challenge authorities when they are ill-treated.
Many of those who served in the various armed groups prior to the current government coming to power are now members of the local and national government, often serving as police. This presents challenges as these officials must now shift from a military to civilian role, within power structures that are still in transition and continue to be dominated by those connected with powerful armed groups.
One of the major problems for the human rights and humanitarian community in Afghanistan will be keeping donor attention on the country as new hot spots and issues arise. Afghanistan will not be able to meet all of these challenges without the sustained commitment, involvement and support of the international community.
If tackling impunity for past and present violations is one of the answers to the challenges mentioned above, then how do you think that can be done?
Impunity in Afghanistan has many layers and different things will need to be done to address the different aspects of the problem.
Concerning past abuses Afghan Independent Human Rights Commission, established in June 2002, is tasked with initiating a national discussion on the issue of transitional justice. Such a dialogue will be essential for Afghans as a nation to decide what should be done about abuses of the past. For ongoing abuses, impunity will persist until the criminal justice system is rebuilt and staffed with professional, trained staff. The Afghan Independent Human Rights Commission is also responsible for monitoring and investigating human rights abuses, but until there is a functioning criminal justice system, there will not be mechanisms for bringing perpetrators to justice. Support of the international community for Afghans working on these initiatives will be essential for all of these processes to succeed.
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