Reports

Read more about the article HRD+ Statement on the Occasion of International Women’s Day

HRD+ Statement on the Occasion of International Women’s Day

As a committed institution to women's rights equality, the Human Rights Defender Plus (HRD+) commemorates International Women's Day on March 8th and draws attention to the painful reality of women's lives in Afghanistan. Afghan women have been enduring the worst and most challenging times of their lives due to the spread and increase of poverty, unemployment, despair, uncertainty, lack of social security, and continuous violations of civil and political rights over the past two and a half years. Now that women and their rights are at the center of attention on this important day in the global calendar, the HRD+ presents the following demands:HRD+ urges the international community to include the issue of women's rights as a precondition or at least one of the fundamental issues on their agenda in negotiations regarding Afghanistan.Our demand from the world is to officially recognize gender apartheid as a crimes against humanity. This will lead to the creation and strengthening of effective mechanisms in international law to combat systematic discrimination against women worldwide, including Afghan women.HRD+ calls on monitoring bodies for human rights conventions to pay more attention to the situation of Afghan women than ever before and provide clear and firm recommendations to the international community in this regard.HRD+ urges the UN Special Rapporteur for Afghanistan to search for solutions to inspect and monitor prisons and detention facilities for women in Afghanistan and thereby strive to eliminate or reduce repeated torture and mistreatment against women activists.HRD+ asks all civil institutions, human rights activists, intellectuals, informed personalities, and artists to raise the voices of women for freedom and equality, which, despite the suffocating situation, are still heard in Kabul and provinces, and to support this courageous advocacy.HRD+ insists that national and international media strenuously strengthen the position of women in their current…

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Read more about the article Proposed Criteria for the Participation of Civil Society Representatives in the Doha Conference

Proposed Criteria for the Participation of Civil Society Representatives in the Doha Conference

At the invitation of the Secretary-General of the United Nations, a conference on Afghanistan will soon take place in Doha. It is very important to hold this meeting in the current situation when, on the one hand, human rights violations and lack of accountability have reached their peak and, on the other hand, there is no clear vision for the future. The Human Rights Defenders Plus (HRD+) welcomes both the holding of this conference and the invitation of representatives of civil society and human rights defenders to this conference. To maintain transparency and strive for greater impact, it asks that the following criteria be considered when selecting civil society representatives:Selection through a clear and transparent channel: The United Nations must have a clear and transparent mechanism for the selection of real civil society representatives inside and outside the country so that those who attend the session on behalf of civil society and human rights defenders have the necessary legitimacy.Full commitment to human rights values: Individuals attending the session on behalf of civil society and human rights defenders must have a firm commitment to human rights values and an acceptable track record in defending these values, and are selected in consultation with civil society bodies and human rights defenders.Lack of political and ideological affiliation: Due to the sensitivity of the topic, persons who have political affiliations and ideological commitments to political and religious movements should not attend this meeting as representatives of civil society and human rights activists.Accountability and regular communication of representatives: The representatives of civil society and human rights defenders at this conferece must have strong communication and the ability to respond to the main body of civil society and be accountable for their actions and responses at the conference.The significant and prominent role of women: Due…

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Read more about the article PROSPECTS OF HUMAN RIGHTS DEFENDERS OF AFGHANISTAN

PROSPECTS OF HUMAN RIGHTS DEFENDERS OF AFGHANISTAN

Conference on the Prospects of Afghan HRDs held in Berlin, Germany on 10th of December 2023 which also coincided with International Human Rights Day and the 75th Anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.https://youtu.be/ybtmWYNVvGQOn 10th of December 2023, a conference titled “Series of Strategic Dialogue of Afghan HRDs: First Round in Berlin on the Prospects Afghan HRDs” was held in Berlin, Germany. The event was organized by Human Rights Defenders Plus (HRD+) with the support of Yaar e. V. Organization, World Organization against Torture (OMCT) and Civil Society and Human Rights Network (CSHRN).Seventy prominent human rights defenders from Afghanistan, gethring from various countries were invited to this conference. The event was focused on examining the current state of human rights in Afghanistan and to provide solution oriented discussion on the issues. In the opening remarks Zia Mobbalegh Director of Yaar e. V. Organization and Steering Committee member of HRD+ welcomed the participants, explained the conference and explained the why it is important to keep the human rights agenda alive.Rechard Benneth UN Special Rappourtuer on the situation of human rights in Afghanistan addressed the importance of the event and responded to the questions, what have been done so far. What has changed if any. Has the narrative of UN/International community changed after two years. What are some of his plans. And finally, how Afghan HRDs can help the situation. The conference was followed with a panel discussion on four themes providing information on:Future of Human Rights-Oriented Organizations in Afghanistan;Human Rights Defenders and UN HR Mechanisms (SR, Treaty Bodies, UPR);International Support and the Role of International Watchdogs; and,Role of HRDs in promotion and protection of human rights using media and Social MediaThe conference participants were devided into four groups discussing the themetic areas and leading questions were: Group 1…

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Read more about the article Toolkit on Countering Hate Speech in Afghanistan

Toolkit on Countering Hate Speech in Afghanistan

Worldwide, the increasing use of hate speech is posing challenges to inclusive democratic participation as well as access to critical rights, such as freedom from discrimination and violence. Recognizing the need to engage civil society, media and other electoral stakeholders in countering hate speech in Afghanistan, this toolkit serves as a resource guide for how to effectively counter hate speech while protecting the right to freedom of speech and protection. The toolkit contains an introduction to international principles as well as domestic legislation related to countering hate speech; global best practice examples; and practical strategies and steps for countering hate speech in country. Click to download pdf More Interviews: Civil Society Report on Implementation of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities February 20, 2017 Annual Report National Unity Government’s Reconciliation with Gulbuddin Hekmatyar The prospects for peace, justice and human rights in Afghanistan Civil Society and Human Rights Network Afghanistan November 26, 2016 Reports The 8th General Assembly of CSHRN February 18, 2015 Annual Report CSHRN UPR Report 2014 February 17, 2015 Annual Report 1 2 3 4 … 11 Next

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Civil Society Report on Implementation of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities

ABOUT THIS REPORT This report on implementation of the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD) presents the perspectives and views of civil society with regard to Afghanistan’s compli­ance with its obligations under CRPD. This report has been compiled from consultation with government institutions, civil society or­ganization either working for persons with disabilities or persons without disability, focus group discussions, individual and collective interviews and expert group discussions. In the development of this report civil society submissions and reports released by national and international organiza­tions have also been exploited. The issues raised in this report and gaps highlighted in government compliance with the CRPD should be considered in the context of Afghanistan. ------------------------------------------------------------- To read the report, please click on the link below.

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National Unity Government’s Reconciliation with Gulbuddin Hekmatyar The prospects for peace, justice and human rights in Afghanistan Civil Society and Human Rights Network Afghanistan

Context Peace talks with the Taliban and other insurgent groups who are fighting the Afghan government, has been the essential part of Afghan government policy since 2001. Despite the efforts of nearly one a half decades and many political and financial investment for peace process, violent conflict has been intensified leaving enormous military and civilian casualties. Issue of peace talk with the Taliban is frequently raised in winter (No-war season) by media, but without tangible results, another war season arrives and the Taliban continue to fight Afghan government and people with more power and casualties. In spite of more than a decade of efforts to reconcile with the Taliban and reach sustainable peace, it seems no tangible result and even no positive prospect for peace and stability. However, National Unity Government (NUG) signed a peace agreement with Mr. Hekmatyar recently which apparently signals a practical step towards peace process and reconciliation. Despite having wide media coverage, it has indicate less concerns neither about victims of conflict nor views of Afghan civil society and human rights peace activists. The recent peace agreement and extra order of president to implement it along with comparing to the Afghan government’s international human rights commitments and obligations have raised questions, concerns and arguments for civil society, human rights organizations and also the victims of human rights violation. Therefore, Afghan civil society organizations and human rights activist want to discuss and open up a dialogue on issues related to the recent peace agreement. The international human commitments of Afghan government in one hand and negligence of the victim’s rights in recent peace agreement, women’s participation in the peace process, prospects for national reconciliation and peace in the country as well as the consequences of political, security and negligence of human rights values in the…

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The 8th General Assembly of CSHRN

The 8th general assembly of the Civil Society & Human Rights Network (CSHRN) was conducted by the presence of its member organizations in Kabul on 10th Feb, 2015. General Assembly is the highest decision-making authority of CSHRN that is organized once every two years, in which the member organizations are deciding and planning about the strategic issues of the network as well as electing the triple committee’s members via a democratic election. At the beginning of the program, M.Naim Nazari, the executive director of CSHRN talked about the achievements of the network and praised the constructive coordination and cooperation of its member institutions. He asked the member organizations to make more and more efforts for monitoring the human rights situation and joint advocacy for improving the human rights situation in the country. Mr. Nazari added that, the Civil Society & Human Rights Network with the assistance of its member institutions was able to publish nine educational manuals on human rights during 2014. He also mentioned some important and valuable reports that have been prepared and submitted to its relevant agencies by CSHRN during 2014. He concluded that these crucial reports are the Universal Periodic Review (UPR), the annual report on human rights situation in Afghanistan and Monitoring report on the functions of the Independent Human Rights Commission of Afghanistan to ICC. The executive director of CSHRN has also mentioned the functions and activities of CSHRN in the field of coordination, capacity-building, monitoring the human rights situation, advocacy and public awareness. Afterward, Ahmad Seyar Lalee, CSHRN’s program officer, briefed the general assembly regarding the suggestions of the member organizations on amending the strategies of CSHRN and said «for amending the strategy of CSHRN, the strategic frameworks of CSHRN have been compared with the strategies of credible organizations». According to…

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Read more about the article 2014 ANNI Report on the Performance and Establishment of National Human Rights Institutions in Asia

2014 ANNI Report on the Performance and Establishment of National Human Rights Institutions in Asia

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

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