Afganistan

• What is this case study an example of?

  strategies for global governance of human rights in an area of conflict
• Place characteristics...
• Where is Afghanistan?


  South-west Asia
• What is the physical geography like?

  landlocked, largely mountainous
• What is the HDI?

  0.468
• What is the infant mortality rate?

  117/1000 live births
• What is development held back by?

  political instability
• What is the history of the conflict in Afghanistan?

  1. US and NATO allies invaded after 9/11 attacks trying to create democratic governance and remove Al-Qaeda and the Taliban

  2. in August 2021, the USA withdrew troops and the Taliban took over again
• What have been the impacts of the conflict on human rights (pre-Taliban)?

  1. increased civilian and Afghan security forces deaths

  2. domestic violence and inequality towards women

  3. attacks on journalists (freedom of expression)

  4. kidnapping and torture

  5. food security issues fuelled by illegal drug cultivation
• What have been the impacts of the conflict on human rights (post-Taliban)?

  1. Taliban closed down healthcare

  2. creating a gender-segregated society

  3. banned girls from secondary school and women from working

  4. over 1/2 population are hungry

  5. women and children are 1/2 of all casualties

  6. recruitment of children by ISIL-KP
• What % of children NOT in school are girls?

  60%
• Who is working to protect and promote human rights in Afghanistan?

  UN, Afghan Government, Afghan Aid (NGO)
• How are the UN contributing to protecting human rights? ...
• What was established in 2002?


  the UN Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA) by request of the Afghan government
• What are UNAMA's 5 priorities?

  1. protect civilians in conflict

  2. monitor child rights violation

  3. eliminate gender inequality

  4. prevent arbitrary detention

  5. promote peace and reconciliation
• What did UNAMA do in October 2021?

  created a special rapporteur to give effective monitoring and investigations into human rights violations
• What else are UNAMA trying to do? What is the issue with this?

  engage with Taliban to help women's rights- worries this is dangerous and could cause attacks and death
• What is UN habitat doing?

  - upgrading neighbourhoods in the 33 provincial cities and Kabul

  - elects the Community Development Councils (CDCs) and plans are made for specific needs of the area

  - most plans are upgrading of schools, housing, sanitation, healthcare and electricity

  - denial of basic human rights and rapid urban growth has deprived these cities of these services
• In September 2021, how many children did the UN treat for malnutrition?


  20,000
• In September 2021, how many did the UN give food assistance to?

  4 million
• In September 2021, how many did the UN provide with healthcare?

  400,000
• What is an example of an NGO working in Afghanistan to protect human rights?

  Afghan Aid
• How long have Afghan Aid operated?

  40 years
• What do Afghan aid do?

  1. give Afghan communities a voice in their own development and they choose projects based on their needs

  2. work with millions of families in poorest regions

  3. provide cash-for-work in jobs that support development eg. building roads, planting trees

  4. teach farming techniques- 90% of population dependent on farming

  5. help prepare for climate change
• In 2023, how many households did Afghan aid help to prepare for climate change?

  65,000
• In 2023, how many women were provided with jobs?

  400,000
• In 2023, how many received aid?

  500,000
• What are the drawbacks of Afghan aid?

  1. difficult and dangerous to access remote areas- landmines?

  2. NGOs at risk of being caught in conflict- particularly trying to balance gender equality after Taliban takeover

  3. limited long-term impact

  4. cultural norms make it difficult to implement projects aimed at females
• Role of the government...
• What did the Afghan government join in 1992?

  the Economic Cooperation Organisation- to help promote economic growth
• What are the drawbacks of the government's efforts?

  the Taliban have since taken over- reversing all this!
• What else have the Afghan government done?

  1. implemented laws to help improve democratic processes

  2. implemented the Elimination of Violence Against Women Law of 2009

  3. attempts made to remove law that put limit on number of women parliament