KABUL -- SUMMARY OF U.S. HUMAN RIGHTS PROGRAMS FOR

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 03 KABUL 003207 SIPDIS SIPDIS DEPT FOR SCA/FO DAS GASTRIGHT,SCA/A DRL/SEA, STATE PASS TO USAID FOR AID/ANE NSC FOR JWOOD E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PREL UNGA AF SUBJECT: KABUL -- SUMMARY OF U.S. HUMAN RIGHTS PROGRAMS FOR PRESIDENT,S ROUNDTABLE AT UNGA REF: STATE 125456 ¶1. (U) Per Reftel, Embassy Kabul is providing a summary of Post programs and activities to promote human rights in Afghanistan. This is intended for President Bush's democracy and human rights roundtable to be held at the UN General Assembly on September 25. ¶2. (U) Begin text: -------------- --- Summary of Human Rights Situation in Afghanistan -------------- --- Afghanistan,s human rights record remained poor due to several factors, including a continuing deadly insurgency, and a weak tradition of human rights reflecting both indigenous values and three decades of war. Despite these challenges, the country continues to make progress toward the protection of human rights. This progress has included the establishment of an independent human rights commission, a ministry dedicated to women's values and human rights offices within several other ministries including the Ministry of Interior and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Serious human rights abuses continued, however, including acts of terrorism by insurgents, restrictions on rights of women, press and religious groups, as well as situations in which local security forces and police abused their authority. Child labor was widespread, and there was no evidence that labor laws were enforced. Trafficking in persons remained a problem. -------------- -------------- Senior USG Officials' Efforts to Promote Human Rights -------------- -------------- The Ambassador and other U.S. officials use meetings with Afghan officials to underscore the U.S. democracy, human rights, and good governance message. President Bush and the First Lady traveled to the country in March 2006 and stressed the importance of education and political participation for women and girls. Undersecretary for Global Affairs Paula Dobriansky visited in July 2007 to underscore the need to provide increased opportunities for women. Assistant Secretary for International Organizations Kristen Silverberg visited Afghanistan to underscore USG support for the Ministry of Women,s Affairs at a critical time when it was under review by Parliament. -------------- USG Support for Afghan Women -------------- The United States has integrated women,s issues into virtually all of its programs, aiming to increase women,s political participation, education, economic opportunities, and their role in civil society. In 2007, Post successfully nominated two key contacts for Secretary Rice's inagural International Women of Courage SIPDIS awards. The Embassy lobbied quietly with Parliament leadership to protect the Women's Ministry from possible cuts. Embassy officers regularly meet with Afghan women's rights activists and female policy makers who face threats due to their work in advancing women's rights, and they have provided assistance in specific cases. The U.S. continued to provide support for capacity building to the Ministry of Women,s Affairs and the provincial departments of women's affairs to facilitate the role of the ministry as an effective advocate for women. During the year U.S. assistance ensured the participation of girls in the World Cup Soccer Delegation and arranged for the manager of a successful women,s literacy program to address the Global Conference on Literacy in New York. -------------- Freedom of the Press -------------- During the year the Embassy continued to meet with Afghan KABUL 00003207 002 OF 003 government officials to promote freedom of the press. This included quietly (and successfully) weighing in to discourage restrictive amendments being considered by parliament to the national Mass Media Law. On World Press Freedom Day, the Ambassador released a press statement underscoring the U.S. position on freedom of the press. The USG has also assisted with the creation of 32 independent community-based radio networks and invested in training and business plan development to ensure the sustainability of independent media organizations. Afghan Journalists have traveled to the United States for International Visitor Leadership Programs sponsored by the U.S. Government. -------------- --- Establishing Rule of Law and Fighting Corruption -------------- --- To date the USG has invested $37.5 million dollars to promote rule of law and establish a functioning legal system that meets international human rights standards. This assistance included training and equipping judges, attorneys, and administrators and building that sector,s infrastructure. The United States trained more than 600 judges, rehabilitated 40 judicial facilities, supported the Supreme Court in establishing its own judicial education and training committee, and continued training for employees in the legislative drafting unit of the Ministry of Justice. The United States educated the public about the role of the legal system by distributing approximately 72,000 sets of comic books on legal rights. The United States trained olice on the protection of human rights and community-based policing, with an emphasis on women's and children,s rights. -------------- Assistance to Afghan NGOs and Civil Society -------------- The USG has provided $7 million dollars to establish and build capacity within the constitutionally-mandated Afghanistan Independent Human Rights Commission. USAID has invested $15.5 million into building capacity within the NGO sector to empower civil society to have a voice within Afghanistan. Assistance was provided to establish a legal and regulatory framework for NGOs in addition to a small grants program that provides direct support to NGOs. Assistance was also provided to the Ministry of Economy to create and maintain a public registry of NGOs, which will help the government ensure accountability of the sector though robust implementation of the NGO law. -------------- - Looking Ahead to the Next Democratic Elections -------------- - The USG is an active partner with the Afghan government and international community in the preparations for upcoming Parliamentary, Provincial Council and Presidential elections in 2009 and 2010. This includes assistance to increase the capacity of the Independent Election Commission and working with civil society and other stakeholders on voter registration and education. The U.S. provided training and assistance in the field of information technology and supported a pilot voter registry project. -------------- Promoting Religious Freedom -------------- U.S. officials have worked with the Afghan government, religious leaders and civil society organizations to promote religious tolerance. Several influential clerics and provincial religious scholars participated in an International Visitor Leadership Program examining the role of religious leaders in a democracy, which enabled them to see first-hand the expression of faith in a multi-denominational society, observe the practice of Islam in the United States, and participate in interfaith dialogues to strengthen mutual understanding. -------------- -------------- Building Capacity to Address Trafficking in Persons -------------- -------------- KABUL 00003207 003 OF 003 The United States consistently raised human trafficking issues with the government and civil society. The United States worked with Afghan officials to develop a national anti-trafficking action plan with the government to combat human trafficking in both the short- and long-term. Since 2004, the USG has provided over 800,000 dollars to support completion of Afghanistan,s first ever anti-trafficking legislation and to train officials in the Ministry of Interior, Ministry of Justice, and Attorney General's Office to detect trafficking and arrest and prosecute offenders. -------------- Humanitarian Assistance to Returning Refugees -------------- The United States was the single largest donor to the UN High Commissioner for Refugees, repatriation program, which assisted more than 3.6 million refugees to return to Afghanistan since March 2002 -- 139,804 of whom returned in ¶2006. The United States also assisted returnees by providing NGO grants that facilitated the provision of shelter, water and sanitation services, education, health care, and livelihood opportunities. -------------- Afghan Government's Human Rights Priorities -------------- Afghanistan,s human rights priorities include trafficking in persons, the return of refugees, and the establishment of rule of law. Interference with Afghan refugees in camps in Pakistan continued to be a priority for the host government. The Afghan Independent Human Rights Commission is enshrined and mandated by the 2004 Constitution, and while there is no Human Rights Ministry, there are Ministries for Refugees, Social Affairs, and Women,s Affairs. ¶3. (U) Text ends. WOOD