Afghanistan Quarterly Haysom: We Are Here As Partners of Afghans UN Special Envoy Talks with Afghans from Across the Country Ian and Women’S Rights Activist
Total Page:16
File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb
Stories inside include... London Meet: Peace Award: UN’s political chief Activist wins calls for continued UNDP award for her international advocacy work engagement in promoting women’s Afghanistan Page 3 rights Page 2 https://twitter.com/_unama_ www.facebook.com/UN.Assistance.Mission.in.Afghanistan www.ickr.com/photos/unama www.youtube.com/unamatv Volume 4, Issue 3 | Winter 2014 Afghanistan Quarterly Haysom: We are here as partners of Afghans UN special envoy talks with Afghans from across the country ian and women’s rights activist. Speaking about the country’s current security challenges, Mr. Haysom said that what is re- quired now is a dialogue process in which Afghans talk to Afghans. “We have said, at every available opportunity, that we would make our services available to facilitate these talks and to provide any op- portunity for Afghans to talk to Afghans from right across the po- litical spectrum,” he said. “I believe very strongly that Af- ghans, more than maybe anyone else in the world, deserve peace and they need peace, because the country cannot afford the costs of war, the costs in financial terms and in human terms, for another 13 years,” he added. Calling attention to global economic challenges and the im- pact those fiscal problems have had on the financial wherewithal of member states, the special en- Nicholas Haysom, the head of the United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan, meets with Afghans ahead of the ‘Open voy identified the stark realities Jirga’ programme, the bi-weekly panel talk show of Radio Television Afghanistan (RTA). It is backed by the UK’s Department for of shrinking budgets at a time International Development, and is a joint RTA and BBC Media Action production. (Photo by Fardin Waezi) of other emerging crises, such as he top UN official in Kabul, Mr. Haysom, the head of the UN lems which Afghanistan faces— Ebola, and the situations in Mali, Nicholas Haysom, stressed Assistance Mission in Afghanistan politically, economically, securi- Syria and elsewhere. the world body’s commitment (UNAMA), debated a broad range ty-wise—can’t be dealt with by a “We expect, as UNAMA, to to support Afghanistan and to back of issues about how the United Na- nation divided, 50 per cent on one face pressure from our head office the nascent Government of National tions fits into and addresses key ar- side and 50 per cent on the other,” as to how we use our funds and Unity, during a debate with Afghan eas, such as human rights, women’s said the special envoy. “It needs a how much money we can get,” he audiences broadcast in early Decem- rights, security, elections, corruption nation with unity of purpose and said. “So it just goes to show that ber on state television. and peace talks. a common vision.” there is a limit both to what we On the state broadcaster’s flag- The UNAMA chief, who is The other distinguished Afghan can do and the resources that we ship panel show, ‘Open Jirga,’ Mr. also the Special Representative panellists on the programme were are going to increasingly be able Haysom highlighted the UN’s back- of the Secretary-General for Af- Sultan A. Aziz, the senior advisor to get further down the road.” ing to Afghanistan, responding to ghanistan, made clear his sup- to the Afghan Deputy Minister of The ‘Open Jirga’ programme is questions from a studio audience port for the position of President Interior in charge of strategy and the bi-weekly flagship panel talk brought together from across the Ashraf Ghani and Chief Execu- policy; Ahmad Wali Massoud, show of Radio Television Afghani- country’s 34 provinces. “We are here tive Officer Abdullah Abdullah who heads an Afghan organization stan (RTA). It is backed by the UK’s as partners of the Afghan people at on the necessity for a govern- involved in social, cultural, edu- Department for International De- a most difficult time in the Afghan ment of national unity. cational and health activities; and velopment, and is a joint RTA and nation’s history,” he said. “They say… that the huge prob- Shinkai Karokhail, a parliamentar- BBC Media Action production. 2 United Nations: Afghanistan Quarterly Volume 4, Issue 3 | Winter 2014 Young Afghan activist wins UNDP peace award An international panel women like me is not expected to play active role in public life, much recognized Hasina Jalal for less become an activist.” her advocacy work, which She explained that, even in fac- has focused on equality ing such challenges, she remains resilient. “I believe that inclusion of for Afghan women, women is not a favour to women particularly women from but an essential element for peace,” she said, stressing that she intends rural areas. to continue to focus on helping asina Jalal is one of two amplify the voices of young wom- Afghans to win the 2014 en through education and train- HN-Peace Award prize, ad- ing, and promoting partnerships ministered by the United Nations and collaboration among women’s Development Programme (UNDP) groups, working to bring together to recognize the leadership role of the voices of people who are being women and peace advocates from six marginalized by violence, poverty conflict-affected countries in Asia. and isolation. Ms. Jalal, a founding member Hasina Jalal (right), a founding member of the National Association of Afghanistan Civil Society “I believe that the collective of the National Association of Af- and board member of the Freedom Message Newspaper, received UNDP’s N-Peace award in the power of the disempowered is key ghanistan Civil Society and board category of “Untold Stories: Women Transforming their Communities.” (Photo courtesy UNDP) to equality, democracy and a peace- member of the Freedom Message stan’s women, particularly women the agenda of women’s rights. “My ful and more progressive life for all,” Newspaper, was named the win- from rural areas. In her work, the work for a more inclusive soci- she said. “In winning this award, I ner of the “Untold Stories: Women young Afghan activist has focused ety extends to the written word, demonstrated that young women Transforming their Communities” on helping to raise the voices of in which I expose abuses against in Afghanistan are capable of con- category for Afghanistan in an Oc- young women through education women, promote inclusion and cel- tributing to peace and development tober awards ceremony. and training activities, and by pro- ebrate freedom of expression,” she despite the many social, economic More than 100 nominations were moting partnerships and collabora- went on to say, describing how she and political obstacles, and the received from the six participating tion among women’s groups. cofounded the Freedom Message enormous threats to their security.” countries: Indonesia, the Philip- “Receiving the 2014 N-Peace Newspaper to promote freedom of Since 2011, the N-Peace Awards pines, Afghanistan, Nepal and first- Award has motivated me to struggle expression, tolerance and under- have recognized the efforts of wom- time participants Myanmar and for Afghan women’s rights toward standing of democratic principles. en peace activists in Asia as well as Pakistan. The winners were chosen an ideal of equality and freedom,” Despite her achievements, she male partners who focus on gen- by an international selection panel said Ms. Jalal, noting that she feels explained, there are many chal- der equality and the inclusion of for their contribution to building proud of her achievement. “I have lenges still to be overcome, not the women in peace processes in their peace with and for women in their an uncompromising belief in the least of which is the ongoing threat own countries. The 2014 awardees respective countries. promotion of women’s rights and to her personal safety. “Recent joined other peace advocates from The judges recognized Ms. Jalal democratic principles, enabling me events in Afghanistan witnessed the region and the awards selection for her advocacy and empower- to remain resilient in the face of cul- women activists and defenders of panellists for an Awards Ceremony ment work, which has focused on tural barriers and security threats.” human rights being assassinated by in Bangkok, Thailand, in October. spreading awareness and demand- Despite the challenges she faces, enemies of the people,” she said. “In N-Peace is managed by UNDP’s ing greater equality for Afghani- she said she will continue to push the culture of Afghanistan, a young Asia-Pacific Regional Centre. Legislation bans use of children in security forces The passing of new Nations urges all armed groups to halt the recruitment of children, as legislation follows the required under international law.” endorsement earlier in A recently released report 2014 of an action plan to on children and armed conflict from the world body’s chief, Ban end the recruitment of Ki-moon, highlighted issues re- underage Afghans into garding child recruitment in security forces. Afghanistan. According to the report, in 2013 alone, nearly he United Nations in Af- 100 boys—some as young as ghanistan welcomed the eight years old—were recruited Tpassing of legislation in early into armed forces, including in November by the Afghan Lower state security. House of Parliament to criminalize Since 1998, more than 100,000 underage recruitment in the Af- children associated with armed ghan National Security Forces as a forces or armed groups have re- significant step forward in protect- The Afghan Lower House of Parliament passed legislation to criminalize underage recruitment in ceived UNICEF assistance to re- ing the rights of Afghan children. the Afghan National Security Forces, following the endorsement in 2014 of an action plan, signed turn to school and receive educa- The passing of the legislation fol- with the UN in 2011, to end the recruitment of underage Afghans.