Update of the Situation in Afghanistan and International Protection Considerations June 2005 – Restricted Use & Circulation Restricted Use and Circulation Update on the Situation in Afghanistan and International Protection Considerations This report has been produced by UNHCR from information obtained from a variety of publicly available sources, analyses and comments. The report is intended for reference for those involved in the asylum determination process and concentrates on the issues most commonly raised in asylum claims lodged in various jurisdictions. The information contained does not purport to be either exhaustive with regard to conditions in the country surveyed nor conclusive as to the merit of any particular claim to refugee status or asylum. Incomplete, inaccurate or incorrect information cannot be ruled out. The inclusion of information in this report does not constitute an endorsement of the information and the views of third parties included in the report. Neither does such information necessarily represent statements of policy or views of UNHCR or the United Nations. United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) Geneva June 2005 1 Update of the Situation in Afghanistan and International Protection Considerations June 2005 – Restricted Use & Circulation Table of Contents List of Acronyms............................................................................................................. 5 I. The Situation in Afghanistan................................................................................ 6 1. General Background ...................................................................................... 6 2. Political Developments .................................................................................. 8 The Transition Process .................................................................................. 8 The Emergency Loya Jirga .......................................................................... 10 The Constitutional Loya Jirga and the Constitution.................................... 11 The Presidential Elections ........................................................................... 13 Preparations for Parliamentary Elections................................................... 15 The New President and Nomination of Cabinet........................................... 17 Political Parties ........................................................................................... 18 The Justice System ....................................................................................... 20 3. The Security and Human Rights Situation................................................... 22 General......................................................................................................... 22 The Presence and Role of International Security Forces ............................ 24 The Formation of Afghan Security Forces................................................... 25 Disarmament, Demobilization and Reintegration ....................................... 27 Commanders ................................................................................................ 28 Transitional Justice...................................................................................... 29 4. The Socio-Economic and Humanitarian Situation....................................... 31 Food Security ............................................................................................... 32 Health and Drinking Water.......................................................................... 32 Education ..................................................................................................... 33 Mines and Unexploded Ordinance .............................................................. 33 Land and Housing........................................................................................ 34 The Situation in Urban Centers ................................................................... 36 The Situation of Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) ................................ 37 5. Return of Afghans from Neighbouring and Non-Neighbouring Countries...................................................................................................... 37 Assisted Voluntary Repatriation Summary .................................................. 38 Returns From Iran and Pakistan ................................................................. 39 Returns From Non-Neighbouring Countries ............................................... 40 General Considerations on Return .............................................................. 41 II. International Protection Considerations With Regard to Afghan Asylum-Seekers and Refugees............................................................................ 43 1. General Considerations................................................................................ 43 2. Considerations for Specified Groups Relevant to the Determination of Refugee Status Under Article 1A(2) of the 1951 Convention Relating to the Status of Refugees ............................................................... 44 Afghans Perceived as Critical of Factions or Individuals Exercising Control Over an Area .................................................................................. 44 2 Update of the Situation in Afghanistan and International Protection Considerations June 2005 – Restricted Use & Circulation Afghans Associated with the People’s Democratic Party of Afghanistan .................................................................................................. 45 Journalists.................................................................................................... 47 Afghans Associated With the Taliban or Other Groups Opposed to the Current Transition Process.................................................................... 48 Afghans in Areas Where They Constitute an Ethnic Minority..................... 49 Afghans Belonging to Religious Minorities (Ismailis)................................. 50 Afghans Belonging to Religious Minorities (Hindu/Sikh)............................ 50 Converts ....................................................................................................... 51 Women of Specific Profiles .......................................................................... 52 Homosexuals ................................................................................................ 55 Afghans Working for International Organizations and International Security Forces ............................................................................................ 55 Landowners.................................................................................................. 56 3. Considerations Concerning Exclusion on the Basis of Article 1 F of the 1951 Convention Relating to the Status of Refugees............................. 56 Members of the Security Forces of the Communist Regimes....................... 57 Specific Commanders and Members of Afghan Armed Factions and Militia Forces............................................................................................... 58 Specific Members and Commanders of the Taliban Movement................... 58 4. Considerations Relating to Complementary Forms of Protection ............... 59 5. Humanitarian Considerations....................................................................... 61 Unaccompanied Females............................................................................. 61 Single Parents With Small Children and Without Bread-Winner................ 61 Unaccompanied Elderly............................................................................... 61 Unaccompanied Children ............................................................................ 62 Victims of Serious Trauma (Including Rape)............................................... 62 Physically Disabled Persons........................................................................ 63 Mentally Disabled Persons.......................................................................... 63 Persons with Medical Illness (Contagious, Long Term or Short Term)............................................................................................................ 63 6. Internal Flight or Relocation Alternative..................................................... 66 7. Considerations Relating to Cessation on the Basis of Article 1 C (5) of the 1951 Convention................................................................................ 68 Annex 1 – Afghan Refugees, Asylum Seekers and Returnees: Global Trends ....... 71 A. Refugee Population...................................................................................... 71 B. Asylum Applications................................................................................... 72 C. Asylum and Refugee Status Determination................................................. 73 D. Others of Concern to UNHCR..................................................................... 73 Annex 2 – List of Candidates (With Two Candidates for Vice-Presidents Each) for the Presidential Elections and Election Results............................... 78 Annex 3 – Short Biographies of the Members of the Afghan Cabinet..................... 81 Annex 4 – List of Political Parties, Unofficial Translation of Their Names to English and the Status of Registration With the Ministry of Justice (November 2004).................................................................................................