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(Brussels, Belgium 4-5 October 2016) On October 4th -5th , the European Union and the government of Afghanistan will co-host the Brussels Conference on Afghanistan .This is an open competition for all Afghan Civil Society activists and advocates throughout the country interested in representing Afghan Civil Society in the conference. Since May 2016, the Civil Society Working Committee (SCWC), composed by a group of NGOs, networks and Civil Society umbrella organizations, is working in close collaboration with the British and Irish Group for Afghanistan (BAAG) to: Enable an Afghan delegation of 10 Civil Society representatives to the BCA Develop the Afghan Civil Society’s position paper at the BCA Enhance Afghan civil society’s advocacy efforts and interactions with the Nation Unity Government and the international community after the BCA. How to apply Interested applicants should comply with the set of criteria detailed below and send their application (CV+ cover letter) to the SCWC secretariat by 00:00 hrs, 17 August 2016 Applications should be sent by email to the secretariat to the following email addresses: civilsociety.bca@gmail.com  and civilsociety@yahooweb.com Selection process Ten representatives will be selected. To ensure transparency, the selection jury will be assigned by the Civil Society Working Committee and composed of representatives from the Civil Society. The Jury will be observed by two additional independent bodies: United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA) and the Afghanistan Independent Human Rights Commission (AIHRC). Requirements Through its broad consultation with national NGOs and civil society groups, a set of criteria was developed by SCWC. All civil society applicants are kindly advised to strictly follow the below criteria before sending their applications: Afghan with valid travel document: All CS representatives, who have valid passport (minimum 6 months validity), can apply. Possessing of valid travel documents is the sole responsibility of the applicant.…

Civils Society and Human Rights Network (CSHRN)Position PaperforBrussels Conference on Afghanistan (Oct 4-5) Hassan Ali FaizBackgroundThe 2004 Constitution of Afghanistan, lays strong foundation for protection and promotion of human rights and sets up institutional mechanisms to ensure their protection. Article 58 of the Constitution establishes the Afghanistan Independent Human Rights Commission. Afghanistan is also signatory to seven of nine core international human rights treaties in addition to Rome Statute.Afghanistan has had several distinct human rights achievements in the past fourteen years but with the ongoing security, economic and political transformation - which will have impact on human rights - the hard-won gains are more fragile than ever. If these achievements are not consolidated, it is feared that they may roll back as the overall human rights situation is deteriorating on several fronts.There are clear indications of declining respect for human rights. Alarming level of women rights violations, deteriorating security situation, recurring impunity of abusers, growing corruption, and weakened efficacy of Afghanistan Independent Human Rights Commission indicate waning determination on the part of the government of Afghanistan to respect, protect and fulfill human rights.The most significant human rights problems in Afghanistan include among others, violence against women, civilian casualties, torture and arbitrary detention, abusive security forces, freedom of expression and press; discrimination and internal displacements.………………………………………………Read The PDF

 In the Name of Almighty AllahCSHRN's statement regarding the martyrdom of Tolo TV's staffJanuary 21, 2016Kabul-AfghanistanUnfortunately, the vampire terrorists caused a disaster once again and showed-off their anti-human and anti-Islamic nature. The tragic disaster of Tolo TV brought into grief many families, media and the people of Afghanistan.The Civil Society and Human Rights Network of Afghanistan (CSHRN) besides strongly condemning this unforgivable terrorist attack on the employees of Tolo TV & Kaboora production, considers it an attack on the freedom of expression, Islamic norms and international principles in relation to human rights and international humanitarian law and an explicit crime against humanity.The terrorists should realize that they will get nothing more, but the hate and disgust of the Afghan people and the world for doing such terrorist acts. The Afghan media, civil society and the people of Afghanistan will stand firm against such terrorist attacks.CSHRN requests the Afghan government to as soon as possible recognize the perpetrators of this terrible disaster and submit them to the judicial bodies. In addition, the Afghan government should ensure the safety of the journalists in the country.Unfortunately, there are still some countries that use the terrorist groups as a tool of challenging the peace, stability and security of the region, hence, we repeatedly ask the United Nations and the whole stabilized world to put the required pressure on the regional supporters of terrorism and assist the defenseless people of Afghanistan as per the charter of the United Nations and other International obligations.At the end, once again we express our deepest sympathy with the survivors of the martyrs, the Afghan media community and the suffering people of Afghanistan. We hope paradise for the martyrs of this deadly attack and soon recovery for the wounded ones.In Hope of a free-from terror Afghanistan!

The Asian Forum for Human Rights and Development (Forum-Asia), is the secretariat of the Asia NGO Network on National Human Rights Institutions (ANNI). ANNI has 31 member organizations across Asia working towards the strengthening of NHRIs. ANNI - in accordance with ANNI Reporting Guidelines that were collectively formulated by the ANNI members - launches annual report on the Performance and Establishment of National Human Rights Institutions (NHRIs) in Asia. The Report primarily focuses on issues of independence and effectiveness of the NHRIs and their engagement with other stakeholders such as civil society. For the first time, in 2014, the Civil Society and Human Rights Network (CSHRN) submitted a report on the performance and establishment of Afghanistan Independent Human Rights Commission (AIHRC) The AIHRC as a Constitutional body, has performed commendably amidst a challenging socio-political and security environment during the past one decade. The recent direct appointment of new commissioners by the President has explicitly undermined its independence and effectiveness. The Afghanistan's chapter of the report looks into Independence, Effectiveness and Accountability of the Afghanistan Independent Human Rights Commission. Read The PDF

ICC-SCA Report and Concluding observation on re-accreditation of the Afghanistan Independent Human Rights Commission. To read the report, please click on the link below.

More than 40 countries are carrying their military operations and investigation in Afghanistan. International reports indicate that a large number of civilian including women, children and elders are the victims of such missions in Afghanistan.On the other hand, the opposite insurgents groups use the civilians as their protective shields and unfortunately violating the international humanitarian law extensively.In addition, lack of sufficient information regarding the International Humanitarian Law in the political system induced the advocating role of the civil institutions in relation to the International Humanitarian Law to be marginalized.For promoting and generalizing the international humanitarian law, The Civil Society & Human Rights Network of Afghanistan (CSHRN) will conduct a sequence of awareness and capacity-building programs. For the present time, CSHRN has organized teacher-training programs in the capital Kabul, North, and Northeast, West, Southeast, central and East regions of the country and prepared the Educational Manual of the international humanitarian law that currently available with the civil society institutions.The educational winter school on international humanitarian law that was held at Central Hotel, Shah-e, Kabul, attended by 65 key trainers of CSHRN from Kabul and other provinces who carried out extensive discussion on challenges against the values of the international humanitarian law.According to the participants and based on the international humanitarian law, the Afghan government, the international community and the other involved parties should clearly express their commitments and responsibilities toward the values of the international humanitarian law.The second part of the program was a live music by a talented and young singer, Abdullah Milad Kabiri with high humanitarian messages through music.CSHRN is to conduct widespread educational programs in the field of international humanitarian law in the capital and other provinces soon.

General Assembly is the highest authority of the Civil Society & Human Rights Network of Afghanistan (CSHRN); the General Assembly is comprised of all member organizations from Kabul and provinces. The General Assembly is the policy making structure of the network. The General Assembly is being organized once every two years. The General Assembly evaluates the report that is presented by the network's Executive Secretariat. The General Assembly democratically elects the structures (the Board members, the Statement Committee and the Evaluation Committee) of the CSHRN.At the beginning, the Chairwoman of CSHRN's Board, Ms. Selay Ghafar welcomed all the participants of the General Assembly. Ms. Ghafar reported the General Assembly on the role and activities of the Board during the past two years. Ms. Ghafar appreciated the collaborative relations of the member organizations in promotion of human rights and strengthening of civil society in Afghanistan. According to her, CSHNR is the main human rights network that actively promotes human rights values in Afghanistan. According to Ms. Ghafar during the past two years the Board productively communicated with the member organizations and CSHRN executive structures. It was a good experience for joint and team-working manners. On behalf of CSHRN member organizations, Ms. Ghafar has appreciated the professional and constructive partnership of the Danish Institute for Human Rights (DIHR) with CSHRN programs in Afghanistan. She also appreciated the productive and supportive role of Danish and Swiss government's representatives in Afghanistan.During the recent General Assembly, CSHRN's report was presented by Mr. Naim Nazari, the Executive Coordinator of CSHRN. The report covered the two years activities of CSHRN 2011 -2012. The report elaborated the CSHRN activities in the field of strategic development of CSHRN during the past two years. The report mainly focused on main key result areas as capacity building, advocacy, monitoring,…