DOCSLIB.ORG

UNCEDAW Afghanistan Shadow Report July 2013

Total Page：16

File Type：pdf, Size：1020Kb

Download full-text PDF Read full-text
UNCEDAW Afghanistan Shadow Report July 2013 UNCEDAW Afghanistan Shadow Report July 2013 Afghanistan Breaches its Duty to Protect Female School Children from Gender-Motivated Violence and its Duty to Provide Equal Opportunities for Girls to Receive Education by Failing to Address the Forced Marriage of Young Girls and Failing to Provide Adequate Numbers of Female School Teachers, and Thus Violates Articles 10 and 16 of the Convention to Eliminate All Forms of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW) Non-Governmental Organization (NGO) Shadow Report to the United Nations Human Rights Committee Addressing List of Issues – Issue 9 – Stereotypes and Harmful Practices Issues 14, 15 – Education Issue 19 – Rural Women Issue 22 – Marriage and Family Relations Submitted by AWAKEN Afghan Women and Kids Education and Necessities, Inc. AWAKEN is a not-for-profit organization formed to enable Afghan individuals and families to become literate and self-sufficient. International Human Rights Law Society A Student Organization of Indiana University Robert H. McKinney School of Law Submitted to the UNITED NATIONS HUMAN RIGHTS COMMITTEE CEDAW Secretariat Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) Palais Wilson 52, rue des Paquis CH-1201 Geneva, Switzerland July 8, 2013 Authors and Endorsers of this Shadow Report Submitted to the United Nations Human Rights Committee on Afghanistan’s Non- Compliance with the Convention to Eliminate All Forms of Discrimination Against Women. Afghan Women and Kids Education and Necessities, Inc. (AWAKEN) is a not-for-profit that endeavors to help individuals, especially women and girls, become literate and self-sufficient by assisting its Jalalabad office with the planning and development of programs that will provide educational opportunities, vocational training, health care services, and emergency assistance to Afghan families, particularly women and children. The International Human Rights Law Society (IHRLS) is a student organization at Indiana University Robert H. McKinney School of Law located in Indianapolis, Indiana. The IHRLS provides research services for domestic and overseas human rights organizations, hosts speakers focusing on human rights issues, and supports students who travel overseas to participate in a variety of human rights activities. More generally, the IHRLS facilitates student access to the world of international human rights law, spreads awareness, and increases communication amongst likeminded individuals. Acknowledgments Principal Authors, Editors and Researchers Tim Weber, President, International Human Rights Law Society; Primary Author, Primary Researcher, and Student Team Leader; J.D. Recipient, Indiana University Robert H. McKinney School of Law. Fran Quigley, Faculty Advisor and Chief Editor, Professor, Indiana University Robert H. McKinney School of Law. Natalie Carpenter, Primary Author, Primary Researcher; J.D. Candidate, Indiana University Robert H. McKinney School of Law. Ryan Naylor, Vice-President, International Human Rights Law Society; Primary Author, Primary Researcher; J.D. Candidate, Indiana University Robert H. McKinney School of Law. Other J.D. Candidates of Indiana University Robert H. McKinney School of Law Andrew Barchet Endorsements AWAKEN Recommendations 1. Bring education to the countryside. There needs to be cooperation between NGOs, local governments, and the Ministry of Education to provide greater access to education to the rural areas of Afghanistan. Because security is still a problem in Afghanistan, families are unwilling to send their children far outside their villages to receive education. Even families fortunate enough to have automobile transportation still fear sending their children, particularly their daughters, away from the village to go to school. When educational and higher educational opportunity is concentrated in larger cities, the graduating professionals are generally unwilling to take their degrees and move to rural villages to teach. Afghanistan already has a shortage of female teachers, and getting the few graduates to teach in the countryside is challenging. By developing greater educational systems in rural areas, the Government of Afghanistan can begin to see a positive cycle whereby education breeds greater education. 2. Cultural education and ambassador programs. The Afghanistan Government should sponsor and encourage cultural education programs and ambassadorial exchange programs so that leaders and decision-makers can experience how other systems of education can be effective. The exchange programs should focus on the roles gender plays in the host country‟s culture in order to promote discourse regarding and bring about a change in the traditional belief structure in Afghanistan that women should not be educated. I. The government of Afghanistan has failed to meet its obligations under Article 101 of the CEDAW because: it has failed to protect female Afghani school children from gender motivated violence; early forced marriage makes it impossible for many Afghani women to pursue education; and the lack of female teachers makes meeting the needs of Afghani women impossible due to the historic, cultural rules regarding intermingling of the genders. 1. Education and literacy statistics 1.1. Around 5,000 Afghan girls were enrolled in school in 2001. In 2011, there were 2.4 million, a 480-fold increase.2 1.2. As of 2010, Afghanistan was the only country with an educational gender parity index (GPI) below 0.70 according to UNESCO‟s Education For All (EFA) Global Monitoring. 160 countries agreed to set the goal that all children will have primary education by 2015. The report said Afghanistan will miss that goal “by a large margin.”3 1.3. In 2009 approximately 22% – around 446,682 – of female students were considered long- term absentees.4 1.4. The percentage of girls in universities is increasing year by year. In 2006, girls formed 20% which reached to 22% in 2007 and 24.8% in 2009.5 1.5. Since 2002, the Afghan government and donors have built more than 4,000 schools, recruited and trained more than 175,000 new teachers, and increased enrollment rates for school-aged children to nearly 50 percent.6 1.6. According to the National Risks and Vulnerability Assessment (NRVA) 2007 (1386/1387), around 26% of the population were literate which included only 12% of women. The illiteracy rate in urban, rural and between nomads are accordingly 52%, 79% and 94%.7 1 CEDAW Article 10. 2 Annie Kelly, Afghan girls’ education backsliding as donors shift focus to withdrawal, the guardian, February 24, 2011, http://www.guardian.co.uk/global-development/2011/feb/24/afghanistan-girls-education- report. [Hereinafter Kelly, Afghan girls’ education backsliding]. 3 UNESCO Report, Afghanistan ‘clears big obstacles’ in girls’ education, BBC, October 16, 2012, http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-19966043. 4 Kelly, Afghan girls’ education backsliding. 5 UN Committee on the Elimination of the Discrimination Against Women, Combined Initial and Second Periodic Reports of State Parties: Afghanistan, CEDAW/C/AFG/1-2 (21 December 2011) at 58. [Hereinafter UNCEDAW Report]. 6 USAID, Education: Increasing access to quality education and suitable learning environments, USAID, February 2013, http://afghanistan.usaid.gov/en/programs/education#Tab=Description. 7 UNCEDAW Report at 6. 1.7. Only 26% of all Afghans, and only 12% of Afghan women, are literate.8 1.8. The majority of girls don‟t stay on after fifth grade and nine out of ten 15 year old girls are illiterate.9 1.9. Articles 43 to 47 state that education is the right of all citizens and education up to bachelor level is free of charge. In addition, secondary school education is considered mandatory and the government must establish balance in and improve education for, women and nomads and eliminate illiteracy. The government also supports the cultural activities. 1.10. Article 3 of Education Law also states that “citizens of Afghanistan have the right to education without any discrimination.”10 1.11. The total number of students in grades 1-12 is 7,381,331 and 2,749,553 of them are girls.11 1.12. Despite significant improvements in the field of employment, the level of women employment in governmental offices is only 21%. This is due to many factors; the main factor is the low level of literacy among women.12 1.13. In each school, there is a council in which the parents of students, local elders and managers of school are members. The goal of this council is to encourage enrolment of children, particularly girls and monitoring the provision of the education.13 1.14. “Most of our students are the first generation of girls to get educated.”14 1.15. Ten years ago, fewer than a million Afghan children attended school, according to UNICEF. Today, more than 8.2 million children are going to school.15 1.16. Afghanistan has one of the highest proportions of school age children in the world. About one-fifth of Afghans are between the ages of 7 and 12.16 8 Id. at 49. 9 Tracy McVeigh, We don’t want our burqas back: women in Afghanistan on the Taliban’s return, the guardian, January 12, 2013, http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2013/jan/13/burqa-women-afghanistan-taliban- return. [Hereinafter McVeigh, We don’t want our burqas back]. 10 UNCEDAW Report at 25. 11 Id. at 51. 12 Id. at 60. 13 Id. at 50. 14 Allie Torgan, Acid attacks, poison: What Afghan girls risk by going to school, CNN.com, August 2, 2012, http://www.cnn.com/2012/08/02/world/meast/cnnheroes-jan-afghan-school. [Hereinafter Torgan, Acid attacks]. 15 McVeigh, We don’t want our burqas back. 16 Allie Torgan, Despite deadly risks, Afghan girls take brave first step, CNN.com, September 26, 2012, http://www.cnn.com/2012/09/26/world/asia/cnnheroes-afghan-schoolgirls. [Hereinafter Torgan, Despite deadly risks]. 1.17. “We still have 1.2 million girls of school age who do not have access to schools,” said Catherine Mbengue, UNICEF Country Representative in Afghanistan.17 2. Afghanistan’s government has violated Article 1018 of the CEDAW, which mandates the creation of equal opportunities for children to attend school, by failing to create a safe environment for girls to attend school.
Load more

Recommended publications
  • The U.S. Presence in Afghanistan Post–2014: Views of Outside Experts
    i [H.A.S.C. No. 113–58] THE U.S. PRESENCE IN AFGHANISTAN POST–2014: VIEWS OF OUTSIDE EXPERTS COMMITTEE ON ARMED SERVICES HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES ONE HUNDRED THIRTEENTH CONGRESS FIRST SESSION HEARING HELD SEPTEMBER 19, 2013 U.S. GOVERNMENT PRINTING OFFICE 82–964 WASHINGTON : 2014 For sale by the Superintendent of Documents, U.S. Government Printing Office, http://bookstore.gpo.gov. For more information, contact the GPO Customer Contact Center, U.S. Government Printing Office. Phone 202–512–1800, or 866–512–1800 (toll-free). E-mail, [email protected]. COMMITTEE ON ARMED SERVICES ONE HUNDRED THIRTEENTH CONGRESS HOWARD P. ‘‘BUCK’’ MCKEON, California, Chairman MAC THORNBERRY, Texas ADAM SMITH, Washington WALTER B. JONES, North Carolina LORETTA SANCHEZ, California J. RANDY FORBES, Virginia MIKE MCINTYRE, North Carolina JEFF MILLER, Florida ROBERT A. BRADY, Pennsylvania JOE WILSON, South Carolina ROBERT E. ANDREWS, New Jersey FRANK A. LOBIONDO, New Jersey SUSAN A. DAVIS, California ROB BISHOP, Utah JAMES R. LANGEVIN, Rhode Island MICHAEL R. TURNER, Ohio RICK LARSEN, Washington JOHN KLINE, Minnesota JIM COOPER, Tennessee MIKE ROGERS, Alabama MADELEINE Z. BORDALLO, Guam TRENT FRANKS, Arizona JOE COURTNEY, Connecticut BILL SHUSTER, Pennsylvania DAVID LOEBSACK, Iowa K. MICHAEL CONAWAY, Texas NIKI TSONGAS, Massachusetts DOUG LAMBORN, Colorado JOHN GARAMENDI, California ROBERT J. WITTMAN, Virginia HENRY C. ‘‘HANK’’ JOHNSON, JR., Georgia DUNCAN HUNTER, California COLLEEN W. HANABUSA, Hawaii JOHN FLEMING, Louisiana JACKIE SPEIER, California MIKE COFFMAN, Colorado RON BARBER, Arizona E. SCOTT RIGELL, Virginia ANDRE´ CARSON, Indiana CHRISTOPHER P. GIBSON, New York CAROL SHEA-PORTER, New Hampshire VICKY HARTZLER, Missouri DANIEL B. MAFFEI, New York JOSEPH J.
    [Show full text]
  • Understanding Ethnic-Electoral Dynamics: How Ethnic Politics Affect Electoral Laws and Election Outcomes in Afghanistan
    MOBASHER 4/18/2016 3:11 PM UNDERSTANDING ETHNIC-ELECTORAL DYNAMICS: HOW ETHNIC POLITICS AFFECT ELECTORAL LAWS AND ELECTION OUTCOMES IN AFGHANISTAN *Mohammad Bashir Mobasher After the fall of the Taliban in 2001, Afghanistan began transitioning toward democracy. The democratization, which began with the Bonn Agreement, was very promising for all ethnic groups in Afghanistan. The Bonn Agreement provided that Afghanistan must establish “broad based, gender sensitive, multi- ethnic and fully representative government.”1 As a part of this agreement, Afghanistan adopted a new Constitution in 2004, which established elections as the foundation for representative government and guaranteed that the elections be inclusive, fair, and representative of all groups and regions. Despite this progress in the laws, Afghanistan has not been able to reduce ethnic tensions. In fact, this article shows that ethnic tensions tend to intensify during elections, a result that belies the vision of the Bonn Agreement. After presenting a statistical and qualitative analysis of voting practices across three presidential elections and 26 provinces, this article makes several observations about the role of ethnicity in Afghan presidential elections. These observations are: (1) people of an ethnic community are more likely to vote for a candidate of their own ethnic group; (2) voters from one ethnic group are likely to vote for a candidate from another ethnic group only when they do not have a candidate of their own; (3) cross ethnic voting is more likely to occur in blocs and in exchange for patronage to the elites of voting groups; and (4) candidates and ethno-political elites tend to prioritize their electoral campaigns by ethnic mobilization, manipulation of laws and political bargains rather than by policy development in order to generate votes.
    [Show full text]
  • The a to Z Guide to Afghanistan Assistance 2009
    The A to Z Guide to Afghanistan Assistance 2009 AFGHANISTAN RESEARCH AND EVALUATION UNIT Improving Afghan Lives Through Research The A to Z Guide to Afghanistan Assistance 2009 Seventh Edition AFGHANISTAN RESEARCH AND EVALUATION UNIT Improving Afghan Lives Through Research IMPORTANT NOTE: The information presented in this Guide relies on the voluntary contributions of ministries and agencies of the Afghan government, embassies, development agencies and other organisations representing donor countries, national and international NGOs, and other institutions. While AREU undertakes with each edition of this Guide to provide the most accurate and current information possible, details evolve and change continuously. Users of this guide are encouraged to submit updates, additions, corrections and suggestions to [email protected]. © Copyright Afghanistan Research and Evaluation Unit, January 2009. All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, recording or otherwise without prior written permission of the publisher, the Afghanistan Research and Evaluation Unit. Permission can be obtained by emailing areu@ areu.org.af or by calling +93 799 608 548. Coordinating Editor: Cynthia Lee Contacts Section: Sheela Rabani and Noorullah Elham Contributors: Ahmadullah Amarkhil, Amanullah Atel, Chris Bassett, Mia Bonarski, Colin Deschamps, Noorullah Elham, Susan Fakhri, Paula Kantor, Anna Larson, Sheela Rabani, Rebecca Roberts, Syed Mohammad Shah,
    [Show full text]
  • The Political Economy of Education and Health Service Delivery in Afghanistan
    The Political Economy Of Education and Health Service Delivery In Afghanistan January 2016 Afghanistan Research and Evaluation Unit Issues Paper The Political Economy Of Education and Health Service Delivery In Afghanistan AREU January 2016 ISBN: 978-9936-8044-5-6 (ebook) Editing: Victoria Grace Cover photos (Top to bottom): Child receives polio drops as part of the campaign to immunise children under the age of five. Girls and boys playing in school playground. Students checking their result sheets. Doctors from the orthopaedic section of Wazir Akbar Khan Hospital visiting the patients. (Photos by Gulbudding Elham) AREU Publication Code: 1517E This publication may be quoted, cited, or reproduced only for non-commercial purposes and provided that the source is acknowledged. The opinions expessed in this publication are those of the contributors and do not necessarily reflect those of the World Bank or Afghanistan Research and Evaluation Unit. Where this publication is reproduced, stored, or transmitted electronically, a link to AREU’s website (www.areu.org.af) should be provided. Afghanistan Research and Evaluation Unit 2016 About the Afghanistan Research and Evaluation Unit The Afghanistan Research and Evaluation Unit (AREU) is an independent research institute based in Kabul. AREU’s mission is to inform and influence policy and practice by conducting high-quality, policy-relevant research and actively disseminating the results, and by promoting a culture of research and learning. To achieve its mission AREU engages with policymakers, civil society, researchers and students to promote their use of AREU’s research and its library, to strengthen their research capacity, and to create opportunities for analysis, reflection, and debate.
    [Show full text]
  • Embassy Kabul US Embassy Diplomatic Cables Wikileaks
    Embassy Kabul US Embassy Diplomatic Cables WikiLeaks Viewing cable 06KABUL3934, If you are new to these pages, please read an introduction on the structure of a cable as well as how to discuss them with others. See also the FAQs Reference ID Created Released Classification Origin 2006-09-03 2010-12-02 UNCLASSIFIED//FOR Embassy 06KABUL3934 08:08 21:09 OFFICIAL USE ONLY Kabul Appears in these articles: http://www.spiegel.de VZCZCXRO3979 PP RUEHDBU RUEHIK RUEHYG DE RUEHBUL #3934/01 2460836 ZNR UUUUU ZZH P 030836Z SEP 06 FM AMEMBASSY KABUL TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 2240 INFO RUCNAFG/AFGHANISTAN COLLECTIVE RHEHAAA/NATIONAL SECURITY COUNCIL WASHINGTON DC RUEAIIA/CIA WASHINGTON DC RHEFDIA/DIA WASHINGTON DC RUEKJCS/OSD WASHINGTON DC RUEKJCS/SECDEF WASHINGTON DC RHMCSUU/JOINT STAFF WASHINGTON DC//JF/UNMA// RHMCSUU/JOINT STAFF WASHINGTON DC//J3// RHMFIUU/HQ USCENTCOM MACDILL AFB FL RHMFIUU/HQ USCENTCOM MACDILL AFB FL RHMFIUU/JICCENT MACDILL AFB FL RHMFIUU/COMSOCCENT MACDILL AFB FL RUEHNO/USMISSION USNATO 2936 RUEHGV/USMISSION GENEVA 6265 RUEHUNV/USMISSION UNVIE VIENNA 1616 UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 05 KABUL 003934 SIPDIS SENSITIVE SIPDIS STATE FOR SA/FO, SA/A, S/CR, SA/PAB, S/CT, EUR/RPM STATE PASS TO USAID FOR AID/ANE, AID/DCHA/DG NSC FOR AHARRIMAN OSD FOR BREZINSKI CENTCOM FOR CG CFC-A, CG CJTF-76, POLAD ... Viewing cable 07KABUL1132, ONDCP DIRECTOR WALTERS’ MARCH 17-20 VISIT TO If you are new to these pages, please read an introduction on the structure of a cable as well as how to discuss them with others. See also the FAQs Reference ID
    [Show full text]
  • World Affairs Councils Leadership Delegation to the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan
    World Affairs Councils Leadership Delegation to The Islamic Republic of Afghanistan March 24 – March 31, 2012 Our Thanks The delegation gratefully acknowledges the generous support of Ambassador Ryan C. Crocker, without whom this trip would not have occurred. He gave very generously of his time, of which, while there, we quickly learned he has precious little. We also would like to thank his Public Affairs team, particularly Eileen O’Connor, Donna Welton, and Antoinette Hurtado, who also were more than generous with their time and expertise, as well as the support of the State Department and its Bureau of International Information Programs. Our delegation is also grateful to President Hamid Karzai, who warmly welcomed us to his Palace. We appreciate his hospitality and candor during our briefing with him. We would also like to acknowledge the many Afghans in the public and private sectors who met us for a very candid exchange of views, accomplishments, challenges and aspirations. Finally, publication of this Trip Report would not have been possible without the generous underwriting of the World Affairs Council of Dallas/Fort Worth and particularly the time and talent of Martha Powell, Director of Administration. The printing of this report was generously donated by Hunt Consolidated, Inc. A Red Sox fan in Kabul. Ambassador Ryan Crocker with Mimi Gregory. Support of this mission was provided by the U.S. Department of State's Bureau of International Information Programs Contents Purpose of Mission ......................................................................................................................................
    [Show full text]
  • Convalescing the Socio-Political Fabric : Envisioning Afghanistan Post 2014
    AFGHANISTAN: Convalescing the Socio-Political Fabric FES OCCASIONAL PAPER SERIES BY Dr. Monika Chansoria ENVISIONING AFGHANISTAN POST 2014 PERSPECTIVES AND STRATEGIES FOR CONSTRUCTIVE CONFLICT RESOLUTION FROM THE NEIGHBOURHOOD 1 AFGHANISTAN: Convalescing the Socio-Political Fabric Recovering from the ruins of more than three notwithstanding, even the socio-political fabric decades of conflict, Afghanistan today stands of Afghanistan is fast waning. The worst fallout at the crossroads seeking desperate measures of an all out erosion of a state’s social (and to rediscover its identity primarily through the socio-political) fabric would be civil war—which precepts of nation-building and strengthening would be disastrous particularly when the world of state structures. The need for Afghanistan has invested so much in the past decade to to address nation-building arises more so keep the nation afloat and made positive efforts with the aim of devising a more inclusive towards reconstruction of Afganistan. Further, approach towards integrating all factions of its polarisation of the Afghan society along ethnic/ population—which remain heavily fractured and tribal lines would plunge not just Afghanistan but segmented at present, thus impacting upon the the entire region into murkier gloom. Fortifying overall development policy of the nation. The the pillars of social democracy is a demanding ethnic fabric of the Afghan society is so diverse long-term task which seeks mass participation that people seem to have lost connect with the and improved transparency with an objective concept of nationhood and national integration of cementing the democratic foundations of a and seek identity in the name of an ethnic nation-state.
    [Show full text]
  • Afghanistan Policy Page 21 May a One-Page Brief from the Afghanistan Congressional Communications Hub on a Major 2010 Issue Concerning U.S
    Afghanistan Policy Page 21 May A one-page brief from the Afghanistan Congressional Communications Hub on a major 2010 issue concerning U.S. policy and engagement in Afghanistan. National Consultative Peace Jirga 29 May 2010 Participation Logistics and Processes The total number of participants will be about 1500. Attendees will include: Participants will arrive in Kabul three All Members of Parliament days ahead of the Jirga, with their Representatives from different tribes (majorities and minorities), races and regions names made public the day prior to One person from each district of Afghanistan (total 360) invited in consultation with district the event. The following day, they will residents and government authorities be briefed on the procedure for the Representatives from civil society and cultural and scholarly associations three-day Jirga. Afghanistan’s Cleric (Ulama) Shura On the afternoon of May 29, the A minimum of 30 ‘influential women’, in addition to female MPs and other female participants will be divided into 30 participants committees, each comprising 50 Approximately 150 other people including cabinet members and presidential advisors, UN members. representatives, foreign diplomats and ambassadors and other high-ranking officials will On the second day, the participants participate as observers; they will not have the right to vote. will decide which militant groups should be contacted for talks, and by Selection of Participants whom. Committee members will then Provincial governors and district governors invite tribal elders to elect one popular and well- present their reports to the whole educated person among them to participate in the Jirga. The elected person must belong to assembly on the final day with the the tribe which makes up the majority of the population in the area.
    [Show full text]
  • Religious Institution Building in Afghanistan: an Exploration
    Independent • International • Interdisciplinary PRIO PAPER 7 gate Hausmanns Address: Visiting Norway Oslo, NO-0134 Grønland, 9229 PO Box Peace Research Institute Oslo(PRIO) Religious Institution Building in Afgha- Religious Institution Building in nistan: An Exploration Afghanistan: An Exploration Visiting Address: Hausmanns gate 7 7 gate Hausmanns Address: Visiting Norway Oslo, NO-0134 Grønland, 9229 PO Box Peace Research Institute Oslo(PRIO) (CSCW) War Civil of Study the for Centre The findings in this report are Section three outlines a num- stitutions’, which is available mainly based on interviews ber of alternative models for from www.prio.no. conducted with madrasa and institution building in the Af- government representatives in ghan madrasa sector. 2010. Section four brings out the Section one takes a closer look conclusions and proposed at the current status of madra- next steps. sas registration, the govern- ment motivations and strategy This PRIO Paper forms part of for introducing the measure a project entitled ‘Religious ISBN: 978-82-7288-383-5 978-82-7288-383-5 ISBN: www.prio.no and how it is received by the Institution Building in Afgha- madrasas. nistan: An Exploration’, which is funded by the Royal Norwe- Section two outlines and dis- gian Ministry of Foreign Af- cusses the key elements in a fairs. The project has also pro- madrasa reform and identifies duced a PRIO Policy Brief en- the main opportunities and titled ‘Building Trusts and In- challenges to reform. Cover Photo: M. Osman Tariq Tariq Osman M. Photo: Cover Mohammed Osman Tariq Mohammed Osman Tariq Peace Research Institute Oslo (PRIO) Religious Institution Building in Afghanistan: An Exploration Mohammed Osman Tariq 2 | Religious Institution Building in Afghanistan Peace Research Institute Oslo (PRIO) Hausmanns gate 7 PO Box 9229 Oslo NO-0134 Oslo, Norway Tel.
    [Show full text]
  • The Re-Election of Hamid Karzai
    January 2010 Haseeb Humayoon AFGHANISTAN REPORT 4 THE RE-ELECTION OF HAMID KARZAI Front Cover Photograph: President Hamid Karzai walks down the carpet as he is welcomed to the Afghan National Police Training Center Kabul, Afghanistan. Photo by ISAF Media. All rights reserved. Printed in the United States of America. No part of this publication may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopy, recording, or any informa- tion storage or retrieval system, without permission in writing from the publisher. ©2010 by the Institute for the Study of War. Published in 2010 in the United States of America by the Institute for the Study of War. 1400 16th Street NW, Suite 515 Washington, DC 20036. http://www.understandingwar.org Haseeb Humayoon AFGHANISTAN REPORT 4 THE RE-ELECTION OF HAMID KARZAI ABOUT THE AUTHOR Haseeb Humayoon is a Research Analyst at the Institute for the Study of War (ISW). He analyzes political developments inside Afghanistan and Pakistan, the U.S. military and civilian efforts in Afghanistan, and the political strategy and information operations of the insurgency and counterinsurgency. Prior to joining ISW, Haseeb Humayoon worked on several Afghanistan-based projects with youth groups, advocacy organizations, and think-tanks. From July to September 2009, he served as a Communications and Operations Advisor to the domestic election observers in Afghanistan, the Free and Fair Election Foundation of Afghanistan. In Washington, Mr. Humayoon has worked with the Middle East Institute (MEI) on Afghanistan and Pakistan research. He co-authored, with MEI scholar Dr. Marvin Weinbaum, the "Intertwined Destinies of Afghanistan and Pakistan,” a widely read chapter in The Future of Afghanistan (A.
    [Show full text]
  • Afghanistan Review
    1 26 May 2010 AFGHANISTAN REVIEW Inside This Issue Economic Stabilization Governance & Participation This document is intended to provide an overview of relevant sector events in Afghanistan from 19 May - 25 May 2010. More Humanitarian Assistance comprehensive information is available on the Civil-Military Overview Infrastructure (CMO) at www.cimicweb.org. Hyperlinks to original source material Justice & Reconciliation are highlighted in blue and underlined in the embedded text. Security Social Well-Being For further information on CFC activities related to Afghanistan or inquiries about this publication, please contact the Afghanistan Team Manager: Valeria Davanzo, [email protected] or the Afghanistan Editor: Amber Ram- sey, [email protected] ECONOMIC STABILIZATION Matthew Hall, [email protected] / +1 757-683-5273 Back to top An ABC News broadcast reports that the US military gated and for high-profit fruit and saffron, farmers is refocusing its attention on Afghan drug traffickers must think about additional resources for process- rather than poppy-producing farmers who depend ing and marketing, which many have little or no on the lucrative crop to survive. Soldiers in Kandahar access to. province are now working with local farmers to pro- mote alternative crops; however they have cut back There are several reports suggesting development military pressure on farmers to destroy their poppy programmes aimed at invigorating Afghan agricul- fields to prevent from alienating or further impover- ture may be seeing some success. Local Shamshad ishing the farming communities. The military now TV reports that the wheat harvest in Helmand prov- targets drug traffickers who process and resell the ince is expected to increase this year due to poppy in the form of opium.
    [Show full text]
  • September 19, 2013
    CONGRESSIONAL Testimony before the TESTIMONY House Armed Services Committee Prepared Statement of Michele Flournoy HASC Testimony on Afghanistan1 Prepared Statement of Michele Flournoy Co-Chair of the Board of Directors, Center for a New American Security September 19, 2013 The United States can still achieve its strategic objectives in Afghanistan if it maintains and adequately resources its current policy course — and if our Afghan partners do their part, including by successfully navigating the shoals of their presidential election and transition in 2014. This judgment is based on the impressive progress of the Afghan security forces, the significant strides made in areas such as agriculture, health and education, and the promising next generation of Afghans who are poised to gain greater influence over their country’s future. However, the United States and its international partners would risk snatching defeat from the jaws of something that could still resemble victory if, due to frustration with President Hamid Karzai or our own budgetary pressures, we were to accelerate our disengagement between now and 2014 or under-resource our commitment to Afghanistan after 2014. In the meantime, it is important that Washington and Kabul clarify and solidify their commitment to an enduring partnership as soon as possible. If the United States were to announce the intended size and missions of the U.S. forces planned for the post-2014 period, it would greatly reduce Afghan fears of abandonment and put the pressure on the Afghan government to agree to an acceptable Bilateral Security Agreement (BSA). It would also greatly reduce incentives for hedging behavior in Afghanistan and Pakistan and contribute to a constructive atmosphere for the campaigns leading up to the crucial April 2014 Afghan presidential election.
    [Show full text]