HEADQUARTERS PRESS BRIEFING BY SPECIAL RAPPORTEUR FOR HUMAN RIGHTS IN AFGHANISTAN

HEADQUARTERS PRESS BRIEFING BY SPECIAL RAPPORTEUR

FOR HUMAN RIGHTS IN AFGHANISTAN

International involvement in Afghanistan had opened the possibility for social, political and humanitarian change to bring Afghans together and rebuild their country, said Kamal Hossein, Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in Afghanistan, in a press conference this morning at Headquarters.

Already before 11 September the situation in Afghanistan was one of deepening crisis, he said.  The devastated economy, the continuing armed conflict, the huge internal displacement, involving over a million people, all contributed to that situation.  There were new refugee flows prior to 11 September, with 200,000 people entering camps near Peshawar.  That indicated the serious situation in the country, particularly the threat of famine.  He had alerted the international community to the threat and made emergency appeals for help.

The events following 11 September had aggravated the situation in regard to humanitarian assistance deliveries -- especially with the withdrawal of international humanitarian personnel because of security concerns, he said.  At the same time, it was now seen that recent developments had brought the prospect for change.  Space had been created that might enable the people of Afghanistan to escape from their difficult situation, in which they were hostages to conflict and poverty.

With the withdrawal of Soviet forces in February 1989, he added, the possibility had been created for all segments of Afghan society to play a part in rebuilding the State, and to be protected from external interference in that endeavour.  But 10 years later, nearly a fifth of the population were refugees.  Those who were left in the country were subject to conflict that targeted civilians, women and children, and was characterized by severe breaches of international humanitarian law.  His reports back to the Human Rights Commission urged an end to the conflict as well as a halt to external interference.  Security Council sanctions had been introduced to try and deter those engaged in the conflict.

Now an international coalition was engaged in Afghanistan, creating a situation where Afghans could come together and where a unified Afghanistan could be returned to the people.  That would be of critical importance in restoring human rights there.  Afghanistan needed a framework change where people of all segments of society could involve themselves in an inclusive participatory process aimed at rebuilding institutions of governance.  Afghans needed to rebuild the social, political and legal institutions necessary for protecting human rights.

The United Nations had a very large role to play as a facilitator of that change, he said.  It was an actor that could shape the evolution of development in Afghanistan, involving people throughout the process.  It had already been stressed that Afghans should own the rebuilding process, but they would need

enormous support and assistance in terms of meeting internal security needs as the transition took place.  The United Nations must ensure that the transition was done in a manner that respected human rights imperatives.  It must see that rebuilding was carried out in an inclusive and participatory manner, maintaining gender balance and allowing all ethnic groups their due role.

He added that Afghanistan was a party to all human rights instruments, so it was not a matter of the United Nations having to impose human rights on Afghanistan.  It was now a question of facilitating and helping Afghans attain what they had always aspired to.

Asked about the effects of Security Council sanctions the humanitarian situation in Afghanistan, Mr. Hossein said the sanctions stipulated that no one from outside should supply arms, ammunition or other materials that could be used in the fighting.  Sanctions did not affect humanitarian assistance.  If there were any side effects that aggravated the humanitarian situation, he would certainly take them into account and report them.

A correspondent then asked Mr. Hossein to speak on two sections of the report he had earlier given to the Third Committee:  part B, dealing with the conduct of military operations; and part C, dealing with United Nations involvement.

On part B, Mr. Hussein said that any use of force was to be regulated by international humanitarian law.  That basically meant that you could not use force in a way that was excessive or indiscriminate, and that due caution should be exercised to avoid civilian loss of life and damage to property.  That was especially important with an international coalition that was against terrorism and was therefore intended to uphold and strengthen the international rule of law.

On part C, he said that United Nations personnel were perceived by the people of Afghanistan in a very positive way.  Because they had provided humanitarian and life-saving assistance, United Nations personnel had been seen as sharing the dangers and hardships that Afghans had faced.  Because of security concerns, humanitarian personnel had been withdrawn from the entire country.  However, not all parts of Afghanistan were in the same condition and he suggested that, in areas were security was better, United Nations staff should be seen to be working with the people to start addressing local needs.

In response to a question on the humanitarian needs of Afghanistan, he said that with winter coming soon the immediate concern was the risk of exposure and the threat of starvation.  The long-term need, however, was giving Afghans the opportunity to rebuild their lives.  That required a massive national reconstruction plan.  In a way the international community owed its support to Afghanistan and should help it in that regard.

He was then asked if there were moderate Taliban who could take part in a future Afghan governing coalition.  Mr. Hossein said that every citizen of Afghanistan had a right to participate in rebuilding, except those who were disqualified by criminal liability.

Hossein Briefing                    - 3 -                   8 November

Asked whether a pause in the bombing during Ramadan would help the humanitarian situation, he said that any negative impact of the military operations needed to be assessed.  That was why he urged that international humanitarian law requirements must be met -- in carrying out any military operation, the needs of civilians must be addressed.

How could women be involved in a new Government in the current situation?  Mr. Hossein replied that 80 per cent of teachers in Afghanistan before the Taliban were women, who were now in refugee camps in Pakistan or Iran.  Those women had had access to education and were committed to playing their part in restoring Afghanistan.  The question was whether their human rights could be restored to them.

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