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SCA staff reinforces Afghan Independent Human Rights Commission

Kabul, August 9, 2008

In the province of Nangarhar the Swedish Committee for Afghanistan (SCA) together with the Afghan Independent Human Rights Commission (AIHRC) has started a simple but unique project to detect and prevent violations against human rights.

The goal is to reduce the human rights violations in rural Afghanistan, promote the civil society to act as a watchdog and to advance the work of AIHRC.

Since the SCA operations are specialized in targeting the rural population the staff is ideally positioned, geographically and professionally, for promoting human rights within the context of religious and cultural framework.

Mr. Farid Hassanzadah is the deputy Human Rights and Gender coordinator at SCA:
“The rural area is the reality of Afghanistan. If we want to have a change we need to start in the rural areas.”
The AIHRC have a great capacity in monitoring and advocacy on regional and central level but needs further resources to reach out into the remote rural areas were the majority of the Afghan people live.

In the Nangarhar province SCA is currently implementing large projects within health education, HIV/AIDS, education, disability, water and sanitation. The SCA staff will receive additional training in human rights, awareness raising and reporting.

For more information please contact SCA Info Coordinator Magnus Forsberg
Phone +93 (0)700 078 103

Background:
The idea of using SCA staff as Human Rights delegates has been tested in Taloqan in northern Afghanistan were SCA implemented the concept for the field officers.

The effort gave immediate effect. In one case eleven detainees at a local police detention center in Takhar province were recognized innocent but requested to pay 10.000 Afghani ($200) per person. If not the police would not release them.

The SCA delegates observed and reported this possible case of public human rights violations to the AIHRC Kunduz regional office. The detainees were later freed without having to pay the fee.

Facts:
Example of violations against human rights in Afghanistan:
Public; injustices committed by power brokers.
Domestic; abuse committed within the family
Institutionalized; violations caused by traditional and social-economical structures.

The project in Nangarhar is made possible with funding from the Forum Syd, the umbrella organization for Swedish NGOs. The project period is six month.

Visit the Human Rights and Gender Unit at SCA.