Civil Society and Human Rights Network(CSHRN)
In August 2004, 24 human rights organizations registered the Civil Society and Human Rights Network in the Ministry of Justice and according to the general assembly of (CSHRN), the Network registered in February 2011 with the Ministry of Economy with the official name of Civil Society and Human Right Organization (CSHRO). We are organized as a nationwide network of 82 civil society organizations representing broad segments of the Afghan society in Kabul and in eight provinces. Our members work in a variety of areas such as women’s issues, minorities, peace, political rights, transitional justice, radio, and TV production, printed media, but we are all bound together by our common commitment to the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and our common determination to promote human rights and to consistently apply rights-based approaches to what we do.
We firmly believe that Afghanistan can become a society based on democracy and the rule of law in accordance with human rights. This belief has become our vision so accordingly, we expect our society to become a nation, where all people are aware of their rights and where they dare to claim them through the rule of law.
We are currently very engaged in:
- Promoting the role of women in peace, stability and security
- Conflict transformation
- Reduction of domestic violence
- Access to Information
- Minorities
We want to establish a capable human rights movement and to increase the understanding and the respect for human rights and the rule of law. It is an ambitious task we have taken upon us, and our tools are modest. We engage in dialogues, we organize symposiums, conferences and workshops as we have experienced that the most sustainable path to improvement is by mutual acknowledgement, inclusion and exchange of views. We firmly believe that rule of law can only be realized in an environment of a vibrant rights-based civil society and on citizens’ access to participate in the governance of the country in safety and dignity. It is the right of our people to enjoy full access to the fundamental freedoms and to strive for the improvement and realization of social and economic rights.
Our network has been systematically built up since its embryonic start in 2002, and its establishment as a network in 2004. We have a thorough planning as the basis of our activities with strategic, participatory, and thoroughly democratic approach. We are accountable and transparent, and our members all have full access to network information. We work within the framework of our Constitution, and the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.
The Civil Society and Human Rights Network consists of 58 Afghan organizations which are active in the promotion of human rights. The member organizations have so far all their main offices in Kabul but have representatives also in other provinces of Afghanistan. Besides its member organizations, CSHRN works together with over one hundred partner organizations in different regions of Afghanistan.
The overall decision making body of the network is the General Assembly, which consists of the representatives of all member organizations. It develops and updates the strategy CSHRN has chosen to develop a strong human rights movement in Afghanistan.
In addition, the General Assembly conducts at least one meeting annually, where it discusses the activities carried out by CSHRN during the past year and elects the CSHRN’s Board.
Through our nationwide network structure, we have achieved an unparalleled outreach, considering that we are just one organisation. We are for instance in current contact to a broad Afghanistan’s geographical areas such as Bamyan, Herat, Balkh, Nangarhar, Ghor, Nimroz, Jawzjan, Badakhshan, Kapisa, Laghman, and Noristan provinces. We manage to work under circumstances where security considerations both politically and in the very physical sense must be included in all activities at all times. Our nationwide presence proves that our knowledge on human rights, of our strategic approach and of our ability to enter into a dialogue are valuable and essential for our work under difficult circumstances.
Our key achievements over the past years are as below:
- Contextualized human rights training manuals
- Debates on human rights concepts among member organizations, state institutions, intellectuals and traditional leaders
- Human rights training seminar and workshops for staff of member organizations and others
- Cooperation and coordination among civil society organizations, other key players such as AIHRC and the international community
- A weekly human rights radio program “ The Voice” produced with “Good Morning Afghanistan”
- A weekly human rights page in the family magazine “Kilid”
- CSHRN bi-monthly magazine “Angaara” targeting persons and institutions working professionally with human rights, civil society and democratization
- Draft laws for improvement of the legislative framework on key issues related to human rights gaps
- A concept for the process of promoting and passing of draft laws based on the principles of thorough documentation, public participation and constructive dialogue with key decision makers in government and parliament
- CSHRN’s statements on current events and situations of human rights relevance
- CSHRN’s country report “Afghan Religious Minorities: Victims of Negligence” published in the South Asia Collective
Facebook Page
FAQ
In August 2004, 24 human rights organizations registered the Civil Society and Human Rights Network in the Ministry of Justice and according to the general assembly of (CSHRN), the Network registered in February 2011 with the Ministry of Economy with the official name of Civil Society and Human Right Organization (CSHRO). We are organized as a nationwide network of 82 civil society organizations representing broad segments of the Afghan society in Kabul and in eight provinces. Our members work in a variety of areas such as women’s issues, minorities, peace, political rights, transitional justice, radio- and TV production, printed media, but we are all bound together by our common commitment to the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and our common determination to promote human rights and to consistently apply rights-based approaches to what we do. We firmly believe that Afghanistan can become a society based on democracy and the rule of law in accordance with human rights. This belief has become our vision so accordingly, we expect our society to become a nation, where all people are aware of their rights and where they dare to claim them through the rule of law. We are currently very engaged in:
- Promoting the role of women in peace, stability and security
- Conflict transformation
- Reduction of domestic violence
- Access to Information
- Minorities
We want to establish a capable human rights movement and to increase the understanding and the respect for human rights and the rule of law. It is an ambitious task we have taken upon us, and our tools are modest. We engage in dialogues, we organize symposiums, conferences and workshops as we have experienced that the most sustainable path to improvement is by mutual acknowledgement, inclusion and exchange of views. We firmly believe that rule of law can only be realized in an environment of a vibrant rights-based civil society and on citizens’ access to participate in the governance of the country in safety and dignity. It is the right of our people to enjoy full access to the fundamental freedoms and to strive for the improvement and realization of social and economic rights.
Our network has been systematically built up since its embryonic start in 2002, and its establishment as a network in 2004. We have a thorough planning as the basis of our activities with strategic, participatory, and thoroughly democratic approach. We are accountable and transparent, and our members all have full access to network information. We work within the framework of our Constitution, and the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.
The Civil Society and Human Rights Network consists of 58 Afghan organizations which are active in the promotion of human rights. The member organizations have so far all their main offices in Kabul but have representatives also in other provinces of Afghanistan. Besides its member organizations, CSHRN works together with over one hundred partner organizations in different regions of Afghanistan.
The overall decision making body of the network is the General Assembly, which consists of the representatives of all member organizations. It develops and updates the strategy CSHRN has chosen to develop a strong human rights movement in Afghanistan.
In addition, the General Assembly conducts at least one meeting annually, where it discusses the activities carried out by CSHRN during the past year and elects the CSHRN’s Board.
Through our nationwide network structure, we have achieved an unparalleled outreach, considering that we are just one organisation. We are for instance in current contact to a broad Afghanistan’s geographical areas such as Bamyan, Herat, Balkh, Nangarhar, Ghor, Nimroz, Jawzjan, Badakhshan, Kapisa, Laghman, and Noristan provinces. We manage to work under circumstances where security considerations both politically and in the very physical sense must be included in all activities at all times. Our nationwide presence proves that our knowledge on human rights, of our strategic approach and of our ability to enter into a dialogue are valuable and essential for our work under difficult circumstances.
Our key achievements over the past years are as below:
- Contextualized human rights training manuals
- Debates on human rights concepts among member organizations, state institutions, intellectuals and traditional leaders
- Human rights training seminar and workshops for staff of member organizations and others
- Cooperation and coordination among civil society organizations, other key players such as AIHRC and the international community
- A weekly human rights radio program “ The Voice” produced with “Good Morning Afghanistan”
- A weekly human rights page in the family magazine “Kilid”
- CSHRN bi-monthly magazine “Angaara” targeting persons and institutions working professionally with human rights, civil society and democratization
- Draft laws for improvement of the legislative framework on key issues related to human rights gaps
- A concept for the process of promoting and passing of draft laws based on the principles of thorough documentation, public participation and constructive dialogue with key decision makers in government and parliament
- CSHRN’s statements on current events and situations of human rights relevance
- CSHRN’s country report “Afghan Religious Minorities: Victims of Negligence” published in the South Asia Collective
Facebook Page
FAQ
In August 2004, 24 human rights organizations registered the Civil Society and Human Rights Network in the Ministry of Justice and according to the general assembly of (CSHRN), the Network registered in February 2011 with the Ministry of Economy with the official name of Civil Society and Human Right Organization (CSHRO). We are organized as a nationwide network of 82 civil society organizations representing broad segments of the Afghan society in Kabul and in eight provinces. Our members work in a variety of areas such as women’s issues, minorities, peace, political rights, transitional justice, radio- and TV production, printed media, but we are all bound together by our common commitment to the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and our common determination to promote human rights and to consistently apply rights-based approaches to what we do. We firmly believe that Afghanistan can become a society based on democracy and the rule of law in accordance with human rights. This belief has become our vision so accordingly, we expect our society to become a nation, where all people are aware of their rights and where they dare to claim them through the rule of law. We are currently very engaged in:
- Promoting the role of women in peace, stability and security
- Conflict transformation
- Reduction of domestic violence
- Access to Information
- Minorities
We want to establish a capable human rights movement and to increase the understanding and the respect for human rights and the rule of law. It is an ambitious task we have taken upon us, and our tools are modest. We engage in dialogues, we organize symposiums, conferences and workshops as we have experienced that the most sustainable path to improvement is by mutual acknowledgement, inclusion and exchange of views. We firmly believe that rule of law can only be realized in an environment of a vibrant rights-based civil society and on citizens’ access to participate in the governance of the country in safety and dignity. It is the right of our people to enjoy full access to the fundamental freedoms and to strive for the improvement and realization of social and economic rights.
Our network has been systematically built up since its embryonic start in 2002, and its establishment as a network in 2004. We have a thorough planning as the basis of our activities with strategic, participatory, and thoroughly democratic approach. We are accountable and transparent, and our members all have full access to network information. We work within the framework of our Constitution, and the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.
The Civil Society and Human Rights Network consists of 58 Afghan organizations which are active in the promotion of human rights. The member organizations have so far all their main offices in Kabul but have representatives also in other provinces of Afghanistan. Besides its member organizations, CSHRN works together with over one hundred partner organizations in different regions of Afghanistan.
The overall decision making body of the network is the General Assembly, which consists of the representatives of all member organizations. It develops and updates the strategy CSHRN has chosen to develop a strong human rights movement in Afghanistan.
In addition, the General Assembly conducts at least one meeting annually, where it discusses the activities carried out by CSHRN during the past year and elects the CSHRN’s Board.
Through our nationwide network structure, we have achieved an unparalleled outreach, considering that we are just one organisation. We are for instance in current contact to a broad Afghanistan’s geographical areas such as Bamyan, Herat, Balkh, Nangarhar, Ghor, Nimroz, Jawzjan, Badakhshan, Kapisa, Laghman, and Noristan provinces. We manage to work under circumstances where security considerations both politically and in the very physical sense must be included in all activities at all times. Our nationwide presence proves that our knowledge on human rights, of our strategic approach and of our ability to enter into a dialogue are valuable and essential for our work under difficult circumstances.
Our key achievements over the past years are as below:
- Contextualized human rights training manuals
- Debates on human rights concepts among member organizations, state institutions, intellectuals and traditional leaders
- Human rights training seminar and workshops for staff of member organizations and others
- Cooperation and coordination among civil society organizations, other key players such as AIHRC and the international community
- A weekly human rights radio program “ The Voice” produced with “Good Morning Afghanistan”
- A weekly human rights page in the family magazine “Kilid”
- CSHRN bi-monthly magazine “Angaara” targeting persons and institutions working professionally with human rights, civil society and democratization
- Draft laws for improvement of the legislative framework on key issues related to human rights gaps
- A concept for the process of promoting and passing of draft laws based on the principles of thorough documentation, public participation and constructive dialogue with key decision makers in government and parliament
- CSHRN’s statements on current events and situations of human rights relevance
- CSHRN’s country report “Afghan Religious Minorities: Victims of Negligence” published in the South Asia Collective
Facebook Page
FAQ
CSHRN is an umbrella for civil society organizations that work for human rights, democracy, respect for the rule of law, and for a state committed to a culture of human rights. CSHRN was established in August 2004 through the collaboration of 28 human rights NGOs in Kabul city.
CSHRN calls itself a network because it coordinates and collaborates among human rights organizations in order to develop a realistic strategy for strengthening human rights in Afghanistan. Thanks to the network member organizations, which include different types of organizations, a wide circle of interested partners can be activated in order to advance human rights in Afghanistan. The main goal of the network is to promote human rights and to strengthen civil society in Afghanistan. Therefore, the doors of the network are open to those organizations that are interested in cooperating for this purpose. CSHRN also promotes human rights within state institutions in collaboration with the state. Likewise, CSHRN provides the conditions for a constructive dialogue among civil society and state institutions with regard to human rights issues.
The Afghan Independent Human Rights Commission (AIHRC) is a national human rights institution. The mandate of this organization is to monitor and to promote human rights and to report human rights violations. In Afghanistan, where human rights violations are very severe and frequent, civil society organizations can play an important role in promoting and monitoring human rights. Therefore, CSHRN was established to support human rights and to strengthen the role of NGOs in the promotion of human rights. Consequently, CSHRN is a coordination hub for civil society organizations, which works in a complementary way to AIHRC for the promotion of human rights in Afghanistan.
CSHRN promotes human rights in Afghanistan through working with NGOs, state institutions, and academic circles. From the beginning on, CSHRN has involved state institutions in a dialogue as well as in capacity building programs. CSHRN works specifically with those state institutions that are daily involved in human rights in Afghanistan, such as the Police, the Ministry of Women Affairs, the Ministry of Justice, the Supreme Court, the General Prosecution Office and the Ministry of Culture and Information.
During the first two years, CSHRN only carried out activities in Kabul, but at the same time, it started to pave the way for its activities in the provinces. From August 2005 onwards, CSHRN organized some educational programs in the provinces. CSHRN is currently operating in eight provinces of the country such as Balkh, Bamyan, Ghor, Nimroz, Jawzjan, Badakhshan, Noristan, and Nangerhar provinces.
CSHRN is a hub for human rights organizations. That is why only NGO’s that work for the promotion of human rights can become members of the network. However, CSHRN works with a number of individual intellectual, who form an expert circle. They support the network during consultative meetings and gatherings. They equally participate in the general assembly of the network, but they are not entitled to vote. The membership for the network has been free of charge so far.
CSHRN is a democratic organization with the General Assembly as its highest organ. The General Assembly, consisting of all the member organizations, meets once a year in order to approve the annual activity report of the network. The Steering Committee is democratically elected by the General Assembly. During the year, the Steering Committee monitors the activities of the network. The network has an executive secretariat, that implements the programs of CSHRN. Sayed Hussain Anosh, the Executive Director; Hazratkhan Hoshmand, the Head of the Finance and Administration section, Hassan Ali Faiz, the Research Director; Abdul Rahman Yasa, the Research and Policy Officer; Massoud Adarakhsh, the Communication Officer; and Atiqullah Ahmadi, the Web-Designer and IT Officer. CSHRN works in accordance with democratic principles and in a transparent and accountable way.
CSHRN is supported by various international organizations and foreign embassies such as Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency (Sida), Open Society Afghanistan (OSA), Minority Rights Group Europe (MRG), World Organization against Torture (OMCT), FORUM-ASIA, and the Netherlands Embassy in Kabul. With the cooperation of its donors, CSHRN provides regularly financial reports about its activities in a transparent and accountable way. However, CSHRN is an independent organization that designs its own strategy, its goals, vision, and mission. The financial and the activity reports are available for all member organizations.
CSHRN cooperates with the Danish Institute for Human Rights (DIHR) and the Society for Threatened Peoples Switzerland (STP), two professional human rights organizations. Mr. Malek Mohammad Sitez, a human rights expert from DIHR and Mrs. Regula Hafner, an expert in the field of capacity building from STP, are the advisors of the network and provide international expertise.
Question and Answer
What is CSHRN?
Why dose this organization calls itself a network?
CSHRN calls itself a network because it coordinates and collaborates among human rights organizations in order to develop a realistic strategy for strengthening human rights in Afghanistan. Thanks to the network member organizations, which include different types of organizations, a wide circle of interested partners can be activated in order to advance human rights in Afghanistan. The main goal of the network is to promote human rights and to strengthen civil society in Afghanistan. Therefore, the doors of the network are open to those organizations that are interested in cooperating for this purpose. CSHRN also promotes human rights within state institutions in collaboration with the state. Likewise, CSHRN provides the conditions for a constructive dialogue among civil society and state institutions with regard to human rights issues.
What is the difference between AIHRC and CSHRN?
Does CSHRN work with the State?
Does CSHRN work only in Kabul?
What are the membership procedures of CSHRN? Can an individual citizen become a member of the network?
Who is the president of the network?
CSHRN is a democratic organization with the General Assembly as its highest organ. The General Assembly, consisting of all the member organizations, meets once a year in order to approve the annual activity report of the network. The Steering Committee is democratically elected by the General Assembly. During the year, the Steering Committee monitors the activities of the network. The network has an executive secretariat, that implements the programs of CSHRN. Mr. Mohammad Naim Nazari is the Coordinator, Mr. Wazir Ahmad Khorami the Head of the Capacity Building Section, Mr. Ahmad Sayer Lalee the Head of the Finance and Administration section, Mrs. Gul Bashra the Officer in charge of the Educational Unit and Mrs. Frozan Arezo in charge of the Resource Center. In the regions, Dr. Niamatullah Hamdard is the coordinator for the eastern regions, Mr. Soroush Kazemi for the northern and northeastern regions and Mrs. Aziza Khairandish for the western regions. CSHRN works in accordance with democratic principles and in a transparent and accountable way.
Who are the donors of the network?
Have international experts been involved in building the capacities of the network in Afghanistan?
CSHRN cooperates with the Danish Institute for Human Rights (DIHR) and the Society for Threatened Peoples Switzerland (STP), two professional human rights organizations. Mr. Malek Mohammad Sitez, a human rights expert from DIHR and Mrs. Regula Hafner, an expert in the field of capacity building from STP, are the advisors of the network and provide international expertise.
History of CSHRN
The development of CSHRN can be divided into four phases:
Identification phase: July 2002 – July 2004
During the identification phase, the Danish Institute for Human Rights (DIHR) together with local partners was analyzing the situation of human rights and civil society in Afghanistan. Through dialogue and brainstorming, ideas were developed on what could be done to strengthen human rights in the country. DIHR conducted three identification missions to Afghanistan during this period. At the same time, two capacity building programs for women organizations were organized.
1. Phase: August 2004 – June 2006
During this period, the structure of the network was organized and first activities in the field of human rights carried. It was in its establishment as well as in its professional development by DIHR and in specific fields also with the support of the Society for Threatened Peoples (STP). The necessary funding was mostly provided by the Danish Government (DANIDA); the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC) provided very specific funding for the first human rights manual.CSHRN as a network among 25 Afghan human rights and civil society organizations with proper statutes was established in August 2004. In this phase, CSHRN concentrated on capacity building and public awareness raising in the field of human rights as well as coordination among the different devil society and human rights organizations. It developed a human rights radio program and several publications and training material on human rights for this purpose. Due to the still limited capacities of the network as well as the member organisations, the activities were concentrated in Kabul, although already human rights activists from the regions got invited. Around 60 organisations were members of the network during this phase.
2. Phase: July 2006 – December 2008
In this phase, a major focus was put on expanding the activities of CSHRN to the eastern, the northern and the western part of Afghanistan and coordination facilities were established in Herat, Mazar-e-Sharif and Jalalabad.An overall strategy for the network was established in order to provide a framework for the activities of the network that makes it effective in the reaching its goals. This strategy has been continuously further developed during the second phase.
The fields of work continued to be concentrated on coordination and capacity building. Besides thematic issues, also institutional capacity building took place during this phase. The coordination was expanded not only to include human rights organizations, but also coordinate between civil society and state institutions. Work had also started in indirect advocacy, through influencing new laws to be in accordance to international human rights standards and to work with parliamentarians and media. The professional for the network was provided by DIHR and STP, the funding by DANIDA and SDC.3. Phase January 2009 to December 2011
During this phase, the work on capacity building will be stronger focused women rights and on monitoring and reporting about the implementation of human rights in Afghanistan. The coordination will be further strengthened in the central area of Afghanistan and the coordination and cooperation with ACSF and AIHRC will be further clarified and made effective. Efforts in the field of advocacy will include work against family violence and access to information. The publication and media efforts will be continued and further expandedThe professional support is provided for this phase by DIHR, while STP is giving specific input regarding institutional capacities and project management. The overall funds come from DANIDA and SDC, but certain smaller projects are directly funded by additional donors.