Corporate report

Afghanistan - in-year update December 2015

Published 21 April 2016

The human rights situation in Afghanistan remained a priority for the UK throughout this period. The UK continued to work closely with the National Unity Government (NUG), civil society and through international organisations, such as the UN and the EU, to ensure sustained progress on human rights. Despite efforts by the NUG during the six-month period, human rights in Afghanistan continued to be a cause of concern. Reports during the period highlighted the targeting of human rights defenders, women, journalists, and Hazara people, all set against the backdrop of a continued Taliban offensive throughout the country.

On 5 September, the Senior Officials Meeting follow-up to the 2014 London Conference on Afghanistan took place in Kabul. The meeting was a continuation of high-level meetings initiated at the Tokyo Conference in July 2012. The resulting document, the Self-Reliance for Mutual Accountability Framework (SMAF), committed the NUG to improve access to justice, empower women through increased economic and political participation, and introduce an effective law to eliminate violence against women. The UK will continue to monitor progress against these objectives closely in the run-up to the Brussels Conference in October 2016.

In July, the Afghan National Action Plan on Women, Peace and Security was published outlining the Afghan government’s commitments to improving women’s participation and protection over the next seven years. The UK, in cooperation with the EU Delegation, worked closely with the NUG to ensure the publication of the action plan, and will continue to do so through to its implementation.

On 1 December, the UK participated in the follow-up to the Afghanistan-EU Human Rights Dialogue of 15 June. Discussions covered a range of issues, with the Afghans restating their commitments on women’s rights, children’s rights, torture, access to justice, freedom of expression, and the rights of the socially vulnerable and persons with disabilities. The date of the 2nd Human Rights Dialogue was set for June 2016.

Following a 15-day occupation of Kunduz by Taliban forces in October, a UN report from the UN Office of the High Commissioner of Human Rights presented preliminary findings of arbitrary killings, abductions, assault, and other forms of violence, including threats and widespread criminality and the use of child fighters during the conflict. The ongoing insurgency also impacted on access to education, health and freedom of movement.

Parliamentary elections were originally scheduled to take place in spring 2015. However, delays on defining and implementing electoral reform meant that no election date was set in 2015. Although options for reform were identified, a presidential decree to establish new commissioners in the Independent Election Commission was rejected by Parliament in December. Discussions within the NUG continue. The UK remains committed to supporting democracy in Afghanistan, and to ensuring that the NUG makes progress on commitments to improve elections through effective reform.

In November and December, the UK supported the call to address violence against women through the international “16 Days of Activism Against Gender Based Violence” campaign. The UK strongly supported the White Ribbon Campaign, persuading President Ghani and Chief Executive Abdullah to join the campaign. The White Ribbons were also sported enthusiastically by UK military colleagues: the NATO Resolute Support leadership released a video of their messages against violence against women.

Together with the UN Population Fund (UNFPA), the UK launched a new programme to provide support to survivors of violence through the health sector. The UK will fund the UNFPA to implement its model of “Family Protection Centres” in six provinces, reaching at least 6,000 women per year. These centres will provide initial health, psychosocial, legal services and referrals to women survivors of violence and their families. They will also refer them to other services as needed in an accessible and safe environment.

The “16 Days of Activism” programme culminated on International Human Rights Day with FCO Minister for Afghanistan, Tobias Ellwood, giving a speech at the British Embassy in Kabul, where he met a number of MPs and human rights activists. Mr Ellwood also visited the Afghan National Army Officer Academy (ANAOA).

In November, seven Hazara, reportedly kidnapped by Daesh affiliates in Afghanistan, were killed in Zabul province. This led to protests in Kabul calling for action from the NUG. Hazara continue to be disproportionately targeted by some insurgent groups in Afghanistan, as well as criminal elements. Officials at the British Embassy in Kabul regularly meet senior Hazara representatives in the government of Afghanistan and discuss such issues.