Afghanistan - Conflict and Human Rights

Question 1

Outline the physical geography of Afghanistan.

Answer 1

Landlocked, mountainous, located in Southwest Asia

Question 2

Outline the social geography of Afghanistan.

Answer 2

Very poor, development restricted from political instability and sanctions from USA and UN due to terrorists

Question 3

What was Afghanistan’s Human Development Index as of 2013?

Answer 3

HDI - 0.468

Question 4

What was the Infant Mortality Rate as one 2013?

Answer 4

117 per 1000 live births

Question 5

What percentage of women aged over 25 years received secondary education?

Answer 5

5.8%

Question 6

What is the population of Afghanistan?

Answer 6

30.5 million

Question 7

What percentage of Afghanistan’s population earn less than US$2 per day?

Answer 7

65%

Question 8

What is the largest sector of employment in Afghanistan?

Answer 8

Agriculture

Question 9

Outline the Taliban Insurgency.

Answer 9

Taliban government not recognised as significant, controlled 90% of country pre-2001 but fundamentalist government was overthrown by USA and UN

Question 10

What has happened recently regarding the Taliban’s control of Afghanistan?

Answer 10

Resurgence as US troops were removed resulting in massive human rights violations

Question 11

How have world powers and organisations responded to the recent resurgence of the Taliban?

Answer 11

Initially refused all aid as they did not recognise the Taliban government as legitimate

Question 12

How much of the country is believed to experience “emergency levels food insecurity” as of 2021 according to the UN?

Answer 12

10 out of 11 of Afghanistan’s most densely populated urban areas

Question 13

What is the anticipated poverty rate for Afghanistan in mid-2022?

Answer 13

97%

Question 14

Name five examples of human rights violations under the Taliban.

Answer 14

Disruption to 2014 Presidential election, attacks on journalists to limit freedom of speech, extra-judicial killings, kidnapping and torture, food insecurity due to heroin production rather than edible crops

Question 15

What is the UNAMA and when was it established?

Answer 15

United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan, established by Security Council in 2002

Question 16

What were the main goals of the UNAMA?

Answer 16

Creating sustainable peace, development

Question 17

What are three of the UN’s goals for Afghanistan?

Answer 17

Promote respect for international humanitarian and human rights laws, co-ordinate efforts of all organisations and communities, achieve full employment of rights

Question 18

What laws have been implemented by the Afghan government?

Answer 18

Law on the Duties and Structures of the Independent Elections Commission, Elimination of Violence Against Women Law

Question 19

How has the Afghan government attempted to decrease gender inequality in the country?

Answer 19

Tried to remove the limitation on the number of women in Parliament

Question 20

Name an NGO working in Afghanistan and outline what they are trying to achieve.

Answer 20

Afghan Aid, sustainable rural development strategies

Question 21

Name four other NGOs that are helping in Afghanistan.

Answer 21

Action Aid, CARE International, International Rescue Committee, International Committee of the Red Cross

Question 22

Before the recent insurgence, how many children were in education in comparison to before NGO efforts?

Answer 22

In 2014 6 million children attended school, up from 1 million in 2001

Question 23

How much did access to primary health care increase from 2003?

Answer 23

From 3% to over 50%

Question 24

What has happened to Maternal Mortality Rate since 2001?

Answer 24

It has halved

Question 25

Has the impact of global governance been uniform across the country?

Answer 25

No, rural areas are lagging significantly behind urban areas but there have been improved protection of human rights in all regions

Question 26

Name an example of an inhospitable and isolated area in Afghanistan.

Answer 26

Chaghcharan district, Ghor

Question 27

What are some of the projects being conducted in the Chaghcharan District in Ghor?

Answer 27

EU and Afghan Aid supporting effective agricultural practices, clean water supply, hygiene

Question 28

What were some of the problems in the Chaghcharan District in Ghor?

Answer 28

Increasingly politically insecure, serious gender inequality including selling of daughter, lack of services

Question 29

How has the Chaghcharan District, Ghor benefitted from global governance?

Answer 29

Women are more integrated into society, democratic practices supported by elected community groups, improved infrastructure

Question 30

What are some of the problems faced by neighbourhoods in Kabul?

Answer 30

Human rights neglected due to rapid expansion, lack of services

Question 31

How have NGOs and other organisations improved life in Kabul neighbourhoods?

Answer 31

33 elected Community Development Councils of approximately 250 households each, plans include bottom-up approach eg housing, infrastructure, electricity, sanitation, services

Question 32

How have neighbourhoods in Kabul benefitted from global governance?

Answer 32

Improved engagement of women, employment opportunities, security of land tenure for informal settlements, improved roads