afghanistan case study

case study of strategies for global governance of human rights in one area of conflict to illustrate -

• contributions and interactions of diffrent organisations at a range of scales from global to local, including the united nations, a national government and an NGO

• consequences of global governance of human rights for local communities

Development Indicators 2022: 

Landlocked, mountainous country. 

Low income, poor country where development has been hindered by long periods of political instability. 

HDI 0.511

IMR =  104/1000 live births  (highest in world)

Life Expectancy: 53 years

MMR: 683/100,000 (11th highest)

Women married by aged 18 = 28.3% 

Literacy rate = 37% (52% Male & 22% Female)

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

80% of labour force in agriculture which contributes 31% to GDP

Timeline:

• 1996 - Taliban comes to power following devastating civil war. 

• 2001 - US led bombing of Afghanistan following 9/11 attacks. Anti Taliban forces capture Kabul 

• 2002 - Deployment of foreign peacekeepers (ISAF) 

• 2004 - Presidential election Hamid Karzai (leader of Northern Alliance main anti Taliban force) 

• 2006 - NATO takes over security across the whole of Afghanistan 

• 2009 - 17,000 extra US troops sent to Afghanistan

• 2009 - Karzai reelected President in elections marred by Taliban attacks, poor turnout & claims of fraud. 

• 2009 - Obama announces another 30,000 US troops to Afghanistan. Total now 100,000

• 2012 - NATO summit announces plans to withdraw all foreign troops by end of 2014. 

• 2013 - Afghan forces take over all military and security operations. 

• 2014 - NATO ends combat mission in Afghanistan but tens of thousands of troops remain in support and training roles.

• 2016 - The Taliban control two large provinces in the south of Afghanistan including Helmand 

• 2017 - President Trump commits more troops to Afghanistan to fight the resurgent Taliban

• 2020 - US and Taliban sign an agreement to withdraw all international forces from Afghanistan by May 2021. 

• 2021 - August: Chaotic withdrawal of last remaining troops, diplomats and Afghans who had worked closely with US and NATO forces. 120,000 people are evacuated as Taliban occupy most of Afghanistan including Kabul the capital. President and senior government officials flee Afghanistan handing control to the Taliban. 

• 2022 - 5.9 magnitude earthquake kills 1000, injures 1500 and leaves thousands homeless.

Human rights violations in the country:

• increased casualties from Afghan forces and civilians 

• domestic violence towards women & continued gender inequality 

• disruption of 2014 Presidential election 

• attacks on journalists (freedom of speech) 

• extra-judicial executions 

• kidnapping, detentions and torture

• poor food security fuelled by the poppy cultivation, heroin production and illicit drugs trade 

• gender based violence and discrimination. 

• Human rights violations/issues within Afghanistan were not the justification for the invasion of the country in 2001.

•Intervening with human rights issues within Afghanistan became a mission to win the hearts and minds of the civilian population to gain their trust and support for the new government.

•For NGOs and the UN the US led occupation of the country was an opportunity with relative security, to attempt to address human rights issues within the country.

•The fall of Kabul in 2021 was a significant blow to the international response, but NGOs have been able to remain in the country and continue some of their work.

Human Rights Interventions in Afghanistan:

• The UN in Afghanistan 

• NATO (ISAF) 

• The Afghan Government 

• NGOs e.g. AfghanAid 

The UN in Afghanistan 

Aims are to:

• promote respect for international humanitarian and human rights laws

• co-ordinate the efforts of all organisations and communities to ensure protection 

• promote accountability 

• implement the freedoms and human rights provisions in the Afghan constitution and treaties to which it is party

• achieve full enjoyment of their rights, for women, displaced persons and returning refugees 

The Afghan Government (2001-2021)

• Joined the Economic Cooperation Organisation and the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation to help promote economic growth 

• Passed laws to promote to help improve the democratic process. 

• The Elimination of Violence Against Women Law 2009. 

• Attempts to remove a limit on the number of women who can hold seats in the Afghan Parliament. 

NGO- Afghan Aid 

Hundred of NGOs are registered to work in Afghanisation. 

• Afghan Aid works closely with local communities in rural areas to improve basic human rights. 

DESPITE THE TALIBAN TAKEOVER OF 2021 MANY NGOS ARE STILL WORKING IN AFGHANISTAN AT THE WILL OF THE TALIBAN. 

Consequences of global governance of human rights for communities 

• The Afghan government is supported by international organisation to engage in local community projects 

• This approach is arguably proving to be more effective than other ‘top-down’ programmes since local residents are elected and form their own plans & priorities 

• By 2014 nearly 6 million children were attending school (up from 1 million in 2010) 

• Nearly 40% of which were girls 

• Access to primary health care had increased to over 50% of the population 

• Maternal mortality had halved since 2001

• Average life expectancy increased from 55 (2000) to 61 (2013) 

• Effects are not uniform across the country 

Rural projects in the Chaghcharan district, Ghor  

• Ghor is one of the most geographically inhospitable regions; politically it has become increasingly hostile and insecure 

• Poverty in the Chaghcharan district has led to families having to sell assets such as livestock 

• Basic rights have been neglected by the effects of the conflict including; serious gender inequality, the selling of daughters, limited access to services such as education, sanitation and infrastructure, health and nutrition 

• Afghan Aid is one example of many NGOs working in the field to co-ordinate donor funding, the input of the Afghan government and the world of local communities 

• The world of Afghan Aid has transformed the lives of individuals and local communities 

• Economic, social and political rights are being promoted by local groups brought together to design, implement and realise their own projects. For example, EU funding and Afghan Aid training have introduced more effective agricultural practices, reduced risk of disease by securing safe water supplies and improved hygiene

• Local people bow have greater freedom, women are more integrated in society and local democratic practices have been strengthened by the election of community groups 

Urban neighbourhood projects in Kabul 

• UN Habitat is working to co-ordinate the Afghan government, local government, community councils and funding from the Japanese government to upgrade neighbourhoods in the 33 provincial capitals and Kabul 

• The basis of these projects is the election of Community Development Councils (CDCs) each of which includes about 200-250 households. CDC 11 in District 5, Jalalabad has 2657 residents living in 296 households 

• Denial of basic human rights plus rapid urban growth in Kabul (economic and security motivated rural-urban migration) has deprived local communities of many services 

• The CDCs are locally elected (some of mixed gender) and plans are submitted which reflect specific needs of the area 

• In most CDC areas plans include upgrading of housing, infrastructure, electricity, sanitation, schools, and health care 

• Other benefits are improved engagement of women in the projects, employment opportunities, security of land tenure for informal settlements, improved roads and drainage and greater provision of shops

Evaluation of Effectiveness 

• UN/NATO - supported in military intervention & in rebuilding the country to prevent further HR violations 

• UN - helped peace talks and in setting up new Afghan gov

• Military (US & Afghan Gov) - immediate halt to HR issues as pushed the Taliban out of the country 

• AfghanAid - Longer term sustainable development

• UN/NATO - large scale impact across the whole country - mainly in urban centers 

• AfghanAid - smaller scale localised but significant impact on those communities 

• Without UN/military intervention then other forms of support would not have been possible 

• After 2003 there was a period of relative stability in the country with minimal HR issues 

• 20 year period of global governance allowed Afghan population to see what life could be like, they experienced greater freedoms and so may now feel able to fight for improved HR situation. 

• Global governance from UN/NATO failed as Taliban have retaken power & oppressive government is back in power. They have rolled back many of the advances that had taken place in relation to HR freedoms.