Global Facilitation Network for Security Sector Reform (GFN-SSR)

Amnesty International Report 2009: Afghanistan

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What is the current situation of key human rights issues in Afghanistan? This annual report by Amnesty International discusses the failures of the government to maintain the rule of law and to provide basic services to millions of people even in areas under its control. There has been little progress towards improving human rights. The report provides a detailed outline of key issues Afghanistan faces ranging from reforms of the judicial and security systems to the provision of basic human rights and services to Afghan citizens.

Millions of Afghan citizens living in southern and eastern Afghanistan remain terrorised by the Taliban, other insurgent groups and local militias ostensibly allied with the government. This ongoing security instability has often prevented access to food, health care, and schooling. Furthermore the instability has provoked increasing military conflict between anti-government groups and US and NATO troops, resulting in the killings of thousands of civilians.

The report provides a brief timeline of key events since 2005 in order to improve human rights records of Afghanistan and target the judicial and security sectors:

• 2005: Establishment of the Action Plan on Peace, Justice and Reconciliation (2005 Action Plan).
• 2006: Development of the 2006 Afghanistan Compact.
• January 2009: the Afghan-international Joint Co-ordination Monitoring Board acknowledged that little headway had been made in the implementation of the 2005 Action Plan.
• June 2009: the government launched the Afghanistan National Development Strategy; a road map for development until 2013.

The report focuses on twelve key issues:

1. Justice system: Judicial and security sectors lacked the personnel, infrastructure, and political will to protect and promote human rights.
2. Impunity: Impunity prevailed at all levels of administration as no effective accountability mechanism had been established.
3. Arbitrary arrests and detentions: Arbitrary arrest and detention by the police and other official security agencies were widespread.
4. Death penalty: the death penalty is still applicable and in many cases trial proceedings in violated international standards.
5. Abuses by Afghan and international forces: There is a serious concern about the indiscriminate and disproportionate use of air strikes.
6. Abuses by armed groups: Criminal gangs and armed groups have abducted foreigners and high-profile Afghans for ransom, and attacked business owners, aid workers and teachers.
7. Suicide attacks: Taleban and other insurgent suicide attacks with military or police targets often resulted in high civilian deaths and injuries.
8. Freedom of expression: This freedom was eroded by threats and attacks from both state and non-state actors.
9. Discrimination and violence against women and girls: The rights of women/girls remain constrained by social prejudice and violence within the home and by armed groups
10. Lack of humanitarian access: Insecurity caused by the Taleban and other insurgent groups stopped many aid organisations from operating.
11. Right to health and education: Both health and education systems suffered from inadequate funding, lack of qualified professionals, and security problems.
12. Internally displaced people and returnees: International/local humanitarian agencies faced difficulties in reaching IDPs and many returnees face destitution upon their return.

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