3b. Afghanistan: strategies for global governance of human rights in an area of conflict

Question 1

Geography of Afghanistan:

Answer 1

A landlocked, largely mountainous country in Southwest Asia

Question 2

Population of Afghanistan:

Answer 2

As of 2020, population was 38.93 million

Question 3

Life expectancy in Afghanistan:

Answer 3

65 as of 2019

Question 4

GDP per capita:

Answer 4

US$508.81 in 2020

Question 5

Describe Afghanistan’s development:

Answer 5

In 2019, Afghanistan’s HDI was 0.511 (169 out of 189 countries)

Question 6

Describe IMR in Afghanistan:

Answer 6

In 2019, IMR was 46.5 deaths per 1000 live births

Question 7

Describe education:

Answer 7

As of 2013, 5.8% of women over 25 had received secondary education

Question 8

Describe wages:

Answer 8

65% of population live on less than US$2 per day

Question 9

Describe the employment structure of Afghanistan:

Answer 9

As of 2014, 80% employed in agriculture, 10% in Industry, 10% in services

Question 10

How much of Afghanistan did the Taliban control before 2001?

Answer 10

90% of the country – in control since 1996

Question 11

Who are the Taliban:

Answer 11

An ultraconservative political and religious faction that emerged in the mid-1990s

Question 12

Describe the timeline in Afghanistan

Answer 12

• After 9/11, officials identified Islamist militant group Al-Qaeda (Osama Bin Laden) responsible
• Bin Laden is Afghanistan under Taliban protection
• US military intervention to remove Taliban from power and vowed to support democracy
• US Afghanistan War where NATO joined
• 2014 NATO ended combat mission and left security to Afghan Army but 10,000 advisory troops remained
• 2020 US withdrew from Afghanistan – Taliban attack Afghan security forces and civilians
• 15th August 2021 Taliban retake Kabul

Question 13

What are the human rights violations occurring in Afghanistan?

Answer 13

According to Human Rights Watch:

• Increased casualties among Afghan security forces and civilians
• Domestic violence towards women and continued inequality in employment, health and education
• Attacks on journalists and therefore freedom of expression
• Extra-judicial executions
• Kidnappings, detentions and torture
• Food insecurity due to demand for cash crops – fuelled by poppy trade for heroin production

Question 14

What is UNAMA?

Answer 14

UN Assistance Mission in Afghanistan – established by UN Security Council on 2002 to help achieve sustainable peace and development

Question 15

Who was the UNAMA mission working with?

Answer 15

UNAMA and UN High Commissioner for Human Rights were working with Afghan Government and NGOs to strengthen the work of the Afghanistan Independent Human Rights Commission

Question 16

What is UNAMA’s aims?

Answer 16

• Promote respect for human rights laws
• Co-ordinate efforts of organisations and communities
• Promote accountability
• Implement the human rights provisions in the Afghan constitutions and relevant treaties
• Achieve full enjoyment of women’s rights and those of displaced persons and refugees

Question 17

How many displaced persons in Afghanistan?

Answer 17

700,000 newly displaced people in 2021 – 80% are women and children
3.4 million in total

Question 18

How many displaced persons in Afghanistan?

Answer 18

700,000 newly displaced people in 2021 – 80% are women and children
3.4 million in total

Question 19

Example of an NGO in Afghanistan + how they have helped:

Answer 19

Afghan Aid – involved in sustainable rural development strategies and coordinated its work with the UN
44,000 emergency food packages distributed to Afghans
88,000 farmers supported
530 villages supplied with water pumps

Question 20

Describe example of rural community affected by global governance:

Answer 20

Chaghcharan District, Ghor – geographically inhospitable and politically hostile
Huge poverty resulted in family selling livestock

Question 21

What human rights violations have there been in Ghor?

Answer 21

Violations in women’s rights – women not allowed to leave homes and selling of daughters
In 2021, women marched in Ghor province to oppose Taliban

Question 22

How did Afghan Aid helped in Ghor?

Answer 22

Works by coordinating donor funding, the input of the Afghan government and local communities

Question 23

How were rights protected in Ghor?

Answer 23

Economic, social, and political rights are promoted by local groups
EG EU funding and Afghan Aid training introduced effective agricultural practices, reduce risk of disease and by securing safe water and improving hygiene

Question 24

Describe urban neighbourhood affected by global governance:

Answer 24

Neighbourhoods in the 33 provincial capitals and Kabul

Question 25

Describe UN Habitat work in urban areas:

Answer 25

Working to co-ordinate the Afghan government, local governments, community councils and funding from Japanese government

Question 26

Why do urban areas require assistance?

Answer 26

Denial of basic human rights and rapid urban growth in Kabul has deprived communities of local services

Question 27

What forms the basis of the urban projects?

Answer 27

Election of Community Development Councils (CDCs) which includes 200-250 households
EG CDC 11 in District 5 is Jalalabad

Question 28

What issues do CDCs manage?

Answer 28

Plans include upgrading of housing, infrastructure, electricity, sanitation and health care

Question 29

Benefits of CDCs:

Answer 29

Employment opportunities, security of land tenure, greater provisions of shops , improved engagement of women

Question 30

Education figures in 2014:

Answer 30

As of 2014, 6 million children were attending school and 40% of these were girls
NOW the extent is unknown but under Sharia law girls are prohibited – teenage girls not allowed at school