AfghanistanPublicPolicyResearchOrganization

RightsinAfghanistan:“Human”or“Fundamental”?

October2016ResearchReport

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AcknowledgementsAboutThisPaperThispaperexaminesordinarycitizens’viewsaboutthenotionsofhumanandfundamentalrightsaswellastheactivitiesandimpactsassociatedwiththem.Thepaperidentifieswaysinwhichhuman/fundamentalrightsmaybebestaddressedinAfghanistan,giventhecontextualsensitivitiesandtheunevenapproachtoimplementtheserightssince2001.ThispaperwasmadepossiblethroughfundingfromtheMinistryofForeignAffairs,TheNetherlands.AboutAfghanistanRightsMonitorAfghanistanRightsMonitor(ARM)wasdesignedtomeetthefollowingobjectives:

1. RegularmonitoringofthecurrentconditionsoffundamentalrightsinAfghanistanusingasetofindicatorsbasedoninternationallyrecognizedstandardsformonitoringCivic,SocialandEconomicrights.

2. Informed,pragmatic,andconstructiveadvocacymessagingonfundamentalrightsneeds,basedonempiricaldata,anddeliveredbycivilsocietyactors.

3. IncreasedcapacityandresponsivenessofpublicinstitutionstofundamentalrightsneedsofAfghancitizens.

FormoreinformationonARM,see:www.nac-pp.netAboutAPPROAfghanistanPublicPolicyResearchOrganization(APPRO)isanindependentsocialresearchorganizationwithamandatetopromotesocialandpolicylearningtobenefitdevelopmentandreconstructioneffortsinAfghanistanandotherlessdevelopedcountriesthroughconductingsocialscientificresearch,monitoringandevaluation,andtrainingandmentoring.APPROisregisteredwiththeMinistryofEconomyinAfghanistanasanon-profitnon-governmentorganizationandheadquarteredinKabul,AfghanistanwithofficesinMazar-eSharif(north),Herat(west),Kandahar(south),Jalalabad(east),andBamyan(center).APPROisthefoundingmemberofAPPRO-Europe,registeredinBelgium.Formoreinformation,see:www.appro.org.afandwww.appro-europe.netContact:mail@appro.org.afResearchersTheresearcherswhoworkedonthisreportwere(inalphabeticalorder):FarebaAuob,EnayatBashardost,SamadEbrahimi,TairahFirdous,EhsanullahKhalili,FatimaKhavari,MarziaRahmani,Nazanin,MahmoodOmar,SaeedParto,BaryalaiQayoumi,Razia,MohammadAnwarRahimi,EhsanSaadat,ZarghonaSaify,LemaSakhizai,IsmailZahidandAhmadullahZiar.DanaHolland,LucileMartin,andSaeedPartoauthoredthisreport.APPROtakesfullresponsibilityforallomissionsanderrors.CoverPhoto:EhsanSaadat©2016.AfghanistanPublicPolicyResearchOrganization.Somerightsreserved.Thispublicationmaybestoredinaretrievalsystemortransmittedonlyfornon-commercialpurposesandwithwrittencredittotheauthorandAPPROandlinkstoAPPRO’swebsiteatwww.appro.org.af.Anyotheruseofthispublicationrequirespriorwrittenpermission,whichmaybeobtainedbywritingto:mail@appro.org.af

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TableofContentsBackground ............................................................................................................................ 4

ObjectivesandMethodology.................................................................................................. 4

HumanRightsvs.FundamentalRights:FalseDichotomy?....................................................... 4

HumanRightsinAfghanistan.................................................................................................. 6

FindingsFromEmpiricalData ................................................................................................. 8GeneralViewsAboutHumanRights ................................................................................................ 8HumanversusFundamentalRights .................................................................................................. 9KnowledgeofAfghanLegalProvisionsonHumanRights ................................................................. 9ChangesinAttitudesonHumanRightsOverTime ......................................................................... 11ViewsAboutHumanRightsOrganizationsandPrograms............................................................... 12Government’sResponsibilityinRightsProtectionandPromotion.................................................. 13PerceptionsAboutImpactsofHumanRightsProgramming ........................................................... 14BarrierstoImplementingHumanRights ........................................................................................ 16EnablersinImplementingHumanRights........................................................................................ 17

Conclusion............................................................................................................................ 19

Recommendations................................................................................................................ 20

Appendix:IntervieweeCodesandGuidingQuestions ........................................................... 22

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Background

ThisresearchwasdesignedbasedonfindingsfromabaselineassessmentcarriedoutfortheAfghanistanRightsMonitor(ARM)project.Duringtheassessmenttheresearchersnotedthattherespondentsweresuspiciousandnegativeabout“humanrights.”1Women’srights,inparticular,areoftenviewedwithsuspicionandseenaspromotinganassertiveindividualismamongwomenthatthreatensfamilylifeandendangerswomeninsociety.Humanrightsarealsoperceivedbysometobeaforeign,“Western,”and“infidel”concept,reflectingmoralvaluesthatarenotconsistentwithIslamandthetraditionsofAfghanistan.Atthesametime,however,substantialresearchandprogrammingexperienceinAfghanistanhasdemonstratedthathumanrightsandwomen’srightsarereadilyembracedwhentheyareframedwithinIslam,emphasizepracticalbenefits,andtargetmenandnotjustwomen.2Thispaperdelvesintotheseissuestoprovideinsightintoordinarycitizens’viewsaboutthenotionsofhumanandfundamentalrightsaswellastheactivitiesandimpactsassociatedwiththem.Thepaperidentifieswaysinwhichhuman/fundamentalrightsmaybebestaddressedinAfghanistan,giventhecontextualsensitivitiesandtheunevenapproachtoimplementtheserightssince2001.InterviewswithkeyinformantswerecarriedoutinsixprovincestogaugethelevelofknowledgeabouttheAfghanConstitutionanditsprovisionsforfundamentalrights,perceptionsabouthumanrightsorganizations,viewsabouttheroleofgovernmentinprotectingandpromotinghumanrights,viewsaboutthemainbarriersandfacilitatorsinhumanrightsimplementation,andsuggestionsonhowprogrammingonhumanrightscouldbemoreeffective.

ObjectivesandMethodology

Thisresearchwasdesignedtoaddressthefollowingquestions:• Whataretheelementswithwhich“humanrights”areassociated?• Whoorwhatarethoughttoberesponsibleforgrantingandpromotingrights?• WhoorwhataretheimpedimentsorenablersofrightsinAfghanistan?Primarydatawerecollectedininterviewswith72keyinformantsfromdifferentsectorsinthecentersofBamyan,Herat,Balkh,Nangarhar,Kandahar,andKabulprovinces.3

HumanRightsvs.FundamentalRights:FalseDichotomy?

Humanrightsarecommonlyunderstoodasinalienablerightstowhichapersonisinherentlyentitledsimplybecausesheorheisahumanbeing.Asaconcept,humanrightshavehadtheirimpetusinefforts

1APPRO(2016).AfghanistanRightsMonitor:BaselineAssessment,Kabul:APPRO,availablefrom:http://appro.org.af/afghanistan-rights-monitor-baseline-assessment/

2Seeforexample,APPRO(2015),Afghanistan:MonitoringWomen’sSecurityinTransition(Cycle5),availablefrom:http://appro.org.af/women-in-transition-cycle-5-findings-2/

3SeeAppendixforthecodingusedforkeyinformantsandtheinterviewguidingquestions.

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tosetlimitsonabsoluteauthority,developingthroughhistorytobeincorporatedintothedemocraticpoliticalandsocialdevelopmentagendaandaspirationsaroundtheworld.4Althoughhumanrightsandfundamentalrightsareoftenusedinterchangeably,humanrightsaresometimesviewedashavingamoralconnotation,whilefundamentalrightsare“concretelyimplementedthroughthefabricofanorganizedsocialsystem.”5Philosophicaldefinitionsaside,debateovertheuniversalityorrelativityofhumanrightshasgivenwayinrecentyearstobroadconsensusthatthereisacoresetofrightstowhichallhumanityaspires.Humanrightsnowhaveworldwidereachandareacomponentofdevelopmentassistancesupportandnationalconstitutions,laws,andinternationaltreaties,establishingstandardsofhumandignityforgovernmentsandcommunitiestostrivetowardandabideby.6Humanrightsimplementationinspecificnationalandcommunitysettingsiscomplex.Inmanynationalsettings,theconceptofhumanrightshasneverbeenpartofthesociopoliticaldiscourseembracedbyeitherthestateorsocietalactors.The“localization”processofintroducingandimplementingrightsisthereforeneitherstraightforwardnorwithoutcontention.7Humanrightsimplementationinvolvesliteraltranslationintolocallanguagesandinteractionaltranslationintopre-existingsystemsofmeaning,powerdynamics,andsocialpracticesandinstitutionsincludingreligion,family,andgenderrelationsthatmayormaynotbeconsonantwithhumanrightsprinciples.InCambodia,forexample,rightsorganizationsusedBuddhistideasaboutmoralityandproperbehaviortotranslatethenotionofhumanrightsintoKhmersociety.8TherealsohasbeenscholarlyprogressinarticulatinghumanrightsnormsintermsofIslam.9Constitutionalprovisions,nationallaws,andinternationaltreatyagreementsguaranteeinghumanrightsarenecessarybutinsufficienttoguaranteeinghumanrightsimplementation,especiallyinsettingssuchasAfghanistanwhereruleoflawistenuousandwherethereareculturaltraditionsandcustomarypracticesthatareantitheticaltohumanrights.Inthesecontexts,“knowledgebrokers”or“translators,”whounderstandboththelocalcontextandthehumanrightsagenda,havebeenshowntoplayacrucialroleinindigenizingideasabouthumanrightsinwaysthatmanyinacommunitywillembrace.10Someviewtheseeffectsaspartofthe“culturallegitimation”ofhumanrightswhich,intheAfricancontexthastendedtobeconfoundedbycontendingparadigmsabouthowtogroundnewnationalanduniversalhumanrightsstandardsintotheculturaltraditionsoflocalpeoplewithoutadverselycompromisingeither.11

4Definitionsandclassifications,IcelandicHumanRightsCentre:http://www.humanrights.is/en/human-rights-education-project/human-rights-concepts-ideas-and-fora/part-i-the-concept-of-human-rights/definitions-and-classifications

5Palombella,G.(2006)FromHumanRightstoFundamentalRights.ConsequencesofaConceptualDivision,EUIWorkingPaperLAWNo.2006/34,40p.availableat:http://cadmus.eui.eu/bitstream/handle/1814/6400/LAW-2006-34.pdf?sequence=1&isAllowed=y.

6Beck,C.J.,G.S.Drori,andJ.W.Meyer(2010).Worldinfluencesonhumanrightslanguageinconstitutions:Across-nationalstudy.InternationalSociology,27(4):483-501.

7Ledgerwood,J.andK.Un(2003).Globalconceptsandlocalmeaning:HumanrightsandBuddhisminCambodia,JournalofHumanRights,2(4):531-549.

8LedgerwoodandUn(2003)9Johnston,D.L.(2015).IslamandHumanRights:AGrowingRapprochement?AmericanJournalofEconomicsandSociology,74(1):113-148.

10Merry,S.E.(2006).TransnationalHumanRightsandLocalActivism:MappingtheMiddle.AmericanAnthropologist,108(1):38-51.

11Ibhawoh,B.(2000).BetweenCultureandConstitution:EvaluatingtheCulturalLegitimacyofHumanRightsintheAfricanState.HumanRightsQuarterly,22:838-860.

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HumanRightsinAfghanistan

TheConstitutionofAfghanistan(2004)referencesbothhumanrightsandfundamentalrights.ItsPreamblecitesobservationoftheUniversalDeclarationofHumanRights(UDHR).ChapterTwoliststhe“FundamentalRightsandDutiesofCitizens”in38articles,includingspecificprotectionscitizensaretoenjoysuchasfreedomfromdiscriminationanddueprocessandspecificrightstowhichcitizensareentitledsuchashealthcare,accesstojustice,andeducation.WhilehumanrightsarereferredtoinageneralwayintheAfghanConstitution,fundamentalrightsarearticulatedwithsomelegalspecificity,includingnumerousreferencestolimitsontheexerciseofrightsthataretoberegulatedbylawand/orconductedinaccordancewiththelaw.ThoseengagedinhumanrightsimplementationinAfghanistanfacechallengessimilartothosedescribedforAfrica.TherecouldbecontendingparadigmsforhowhumanrightsandlocalculturaltraditionsshouldbereconciledinpracticeinAfghanistanandpersistentresistancetoaspectsofthehumanrightsagendathatarethoughttoimpingeontheauthorityofamyriadofformalandtraditionalpowerholders,includingmanywhoenjoyimpunityoverpurportedpasthumanrightsabuses.12TheseissuesarefurthercomplicatedintheAfghancontextbypersistentlyweakruleoflaw,legalpluralism,andambiguityoverinterpretationsofbothShari’alawandnationallaw,andbyafragilestatechallengedbycontinualinsurgency,endemiccorruption,andfinancialdependence.13SomealsocontendthatconceivingofhumanrightsinindividualistictermsisculturallyproblematicinAfghanistan,wherefamily,kinshipandqawm(communityortribe)provideidentityandmaterialsecurity,andtakeprecedenceoverindividualdesiresandneeds.AcriticalperspectiveonthemannerinwhichhumanrightshavebeenconceptualizedandimplementedinAfghanistansince2001isbestcapturedinthefollowingquote:

Theclaimofthehumanrightsmovementisthatitsvaluesareuniversal.Yetthisconceptofhumanrightsstemsfromapeculiarlywestern,individualistviewoftheworld.Apersonisseenasanindividualagentandhisorherrightsareconceivedinthoseterms.InAfghanistan,asinmanynon-westerncountries,apersonisembeddedinhisorhersocialenvironment,andrightscanbeconstructedonlyonthisbasis.Atthemostfundamental,theserelationshipsconstitutetheimmediatefamilyandawholenetworkofclosekinshiprelationships;forsometheyalsoconstitutethewidernetworkoftribe.Anyactionbyanindividualtoclaimhisorherrightshastobejudgedinrelationtoitseffectontheserelationships,abalancestruckbetweenwhatisgainedandwhatislost.Decisionsarestructuredlessbywhatyouwantasanindividualthanbywhatyourfamilyneedsorexpectsofyou…Theissueofresponsibilitiestowardsothersstructuresthemoraluniversemorethanclaimstorightsforoneself.AnystrategytoincreasetherightsofindividualAfghansneedstoacknowledgethis,torecognizethatmoraluniversescanbestructuredindifferentwaysthatareequallylegitimate,thoughnotalwayscompatible.14

12Niland,N.(2010).ImpunityandInsurgency:AdeadlycombinationinAfghanistan.InternationalReviewoftheRedCross,92(880):931-950.

13See,forexample,Sadat,M.H.(2011).TheImplementationofConstitutionalHumanRightsinAfghanistan.TheHumanRightsBrief.Washington,DC:AmericanUniversity;Suhrke,A.(2008).DemocratizingaDependentState:TheCaseofAfghanistan.Democratization,15(3):630-648;Schoiswohl,M.(2006).TheNewAfghanistanConstitutionandInternationalLaw:Alove-hateaffair.InternationalJournalofConstitutionalLaw,4(4):664-676;andEnglehart,N.A.(2009).StateCapacity,StateFailure,andHumanRights.PeaceResearch,46(2):163-180.

14Johnson,C.andLeslie,J.(2007).Afghanistan:Themirageofpeace.London:ZedBooks.

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OverthelasthundredyearstherehasbeenacomplexhistoryoflegalandpolicyeffortstomodernizefamilyrelationsandtheroleofwomeninpubliclifeinAfghanistan,withprogressivechangesmadeandenjoyedespeciallybytheyoungergenerationincitiesandtowns,sporadicresistancetolegalintrusionsintofamilydecision-making,thedramaticreversalsimmediatelyfollowingthepost-Sovietinvasionera,andconcertedeffortssince2001toreinstitutebasicrightswithastrongfocusonwomen.15AfterthefalloftheTalibanin2001,themobilizationofahumanrightsframeworkbyinternationaldevelopmentorganizationsandagenciestoestablishjusticeaddedfurthercomplicationtoanalreadycomplexlandscapewhereConstitutionalLawandShari’alawtendtoconflictonsomeofthekeyrights-relatedissues.16Thegenderednatureofthepost-2001interventioninAfghanistan,with“savingAfghanwomen”usedasajustificationforcontinuedmilitarypresenceofforeigntroops,hasprecipitatedbothprogressaswellasbacklashagainstwomen’srightsandhumanrights.17AspolicyreformsinitiallycarriedoutbyWesternactorsdisplayedlittlesensitivitytoAfghanlegaltraditions,“humanrights”cametobeviewedbymanyasaforeignimpositionofnormsunderminingcustomaryandIslamictraditions.Inretrospect,thisresultanttensionappearstobetheoutcomeofconfrontingonesetoffundamentalismwithanother.Despitenumeroussocial,economic,andpoliticalchallengesandproblems,andanabidingresistancetowardimposedsocialchange,thecurrentsituationforimplementinghumanrights`nAfghanistanshowssomepromiseasmanyAfghans,particularlyyouth,areembracingnewrights-basedopportunities(mostnotablyineducation),rejectingnegativeculturaltraditionsandrestrictions,andintheprocess,bringingaboutchangedattitudesandpracticesintheirfamilies,largerkinshipnetworks,andcommunitiesmoregenerally.18Inlightoftheseissues,thisresearchexamineshowhumanrightsandtherelatedconceptoffundamentalrightsareunderstoodandappliedinAfghanistan.ThisincludesdiscerningperspectivesontherecenthistoricalintroductionofhumanrightsintothecountryafterthefalloftheTalibanregimein2001.Particularattentionispaidtotheroleof“knowledgebrokers”intheimplementationofhumanrights,issuesaffectingthe“culturallegitimation”ofhumanrights,andcontendingparadigmsabouthowhumanrightsrelatetosocialchangeandcontemporarysociety.IntheAfghancontext,thereisanarrayofpotentialknowledgebrokerswhocanshapehowhumanrightsareunderstoodandimplemented,rangingfromexternalagentssuchasdonoragenciesandinternationalNGOsthatfundandpromotethehumanrightsagenda,togovernmentofficialsandfunctionarieswhohaveformalauthoritytoimplementhumanrightsprogrammingandrelatedlaws,andtotraditionalsocio-politicalauthoritiessuchasvillageleaders,localelders,andreligiousleaderswhoseviewscanhaveswayoverpublicopinionabouthumanrights.

15Dupree,N.(2004).TheFamilyDuringCrisisinAfghanistan.JournalofComparativeFamilyStudies,35(2):311-331.

16See,forexample,Billaud,J.(2015),KabulCarnival:GenderPoliticsinPost-WarAfghanistan,UniversityofPennsylvaniaPress,Philadelphia:85-86.

17Cortright,D.andK.Wall(Aug2012).AfghanWomenSpeak:EnhancingSecurityandHumanRightsinAfghanistan.Indiana:KrocInstituteofPeaceStudies,UniversityofNotreDame.

18Holland,D.G.andYousofi,H.(2014).TheOnlySolution:Education,YouthandSocialChangeinAfghanistan.Anthropology&EducationQuarterly,45(3):241-259.

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FindingsFromEmpiricalData

GeneralViewsAboutHumanRightsAcrossthesixprovincialsettings,thereisaconsistenttendencytoframeopinionsabouthumanrights,bothpositivelyandnegatively,inrelationtoIslam.ThesourceofrightsisuniformlythoughttoemanatefromGodandtheuniversalityofhumanrightsissaidtobebasedontheequalityofhumanswho,fromanIslamicperspective,arecollectivelythemostsuperiorofallbeings.19Therearetwobroadlydifferingopinionsabouthumanrights,onepositiveandonenegative.Thesedifferencesareillustratedbystatementsmadebytwokeyinformants,afemalesub-nationalgovernmentofficialandaprominentwomen:

Ahumanrightiseveryone’sbornrightandaccesstohumanrightsisessentialforeveryindividual.Thosewhoareilliterateanddonotknowwhathumanrightsmeans,thinkthatthetermcomesfromun-Islamiccountriesandis[therefore]un-Islamic.20

Versus:

HumanrightsareagainstIslamicShari’aandhavebeenimportedtoAfghanistanbyforeigners.[Theconceptof]humanrightshasresultedinincreasedfamilyconflict.Itisaresultoftherecklessnessoforganizationsthatcallthemselveshumanrights’[organizations].21

Education,socialclass,andsocialpositionaresaidtobethedeterminingfactorsdifferentiatingpeople’sviewsonhumanrights.Withtheadvancementofeducationandreductionofilliteracyamongvariouscommunities,someanticipatethatthattherewillbeanimprovementintermsofhowhumanrightsareconceived.Thosewithformaleducationtendtohaveapositiveviewofhumanrightsandmanycoulddetailalitanyofspecificrightsassociatedwiththeconceptofhumanrights.Forexample:

Humanrightstolife,immunityfromharm,politicalparticipation,health,freedomofexpressionandopinion,education,healthyenvironment,benefitsofdevelopment,peace,marriageandfamilyformation,jobsandemployment,choiceoflifelocation…Humandignityisontopoftheserights,somethingthatnoonecandenytopeopleanywhere.22

Atthesametime,however,somewithapositiveviewofhumanrightsappeartohaveminimalunderstandingofitandbelievethatitisatermmostlyusedbyforeigners.23Itisbelievedthatthosewithoutformaleducationorliteracyaremorelikelytoadheretotheopinionsofthetraditionallyconservativeforcesinsocietywhoviewhumanrightsasaformofthreattotheir

19KI-M-KDR-CS-3,KI-M-KDR-Go-1,KI-F-KDR-NG-2,KI-F-Kdr-Go-6,KI-F-Kdr-Go-3,KI-F-Kdr-CS-2,KI-M-KDR-CS-1,KI-M-KDR-Go-2

20KI-F-NSL-GO-421KI-F-BAL-CS-222KI-M-Bam-PI-1,KI-M-Bam-Go-1,KI-M-Bam-Go-2,KI-F-Bam-Go-3,KI-M-Bam-Go-4,KI-M-Bam-Go-5,KI-M-Bam-Go-6,KI-M-Bam-CS-1,KI-F-Bam-CS-2,KI-F-Bam-CS-3,KI-M-Bam-NG-1,KI-M-Bam-NG-2

23M-Her-Go-6,KI-F-Her-CS-2,KI-F-Her-CS-3,KI-M-Her-NG-1,KI-F-Her-NG-2,KI-M-Her-Go-1,KI-M-Her-Go-2,KI-F-Her-Go-3,KI-F-Her-Go-4,KI-M-Her-Go-5

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authorityanda“revolutionagainsttheirruleonpeople.”24Criticsofhumanrightsasaconceptconsistentlyarguethatitresultsinfamilydisputesandconflictbecauseitpromoteswomenturningagainsttheirhusbands.25NegativeviewstendtostemfromcontentionsabouthowtheideaofhumanrightswasintroducedinAfghanistanafterthefalloftheTaliban,specificallywithrhetoricandprogrammingthatfocusedexclusivelyonwomenandwomen’srights:

Humanrightsarerightsconsideredforhumanswithinspecificcommunitiesandhaveageneralmeaning.However,peoplethinkthat‘humanrights’simplymeans‘women’srights’becausecivilsocietyorganizationsonlytalkaboutwomenandwomen’srights,women’sfreedomandwomen’srighttoworkwithmen.26

HumanversusFundamentalRightsAsaconcept,humanrightsisgenerallyviewedasacomprehensiveandnatural“umbrella”encompassingotherspecificrightsandapplyingtotheglobalsphere.InthecaseofAfghanistan,itappearsthatadistinctionismadebetweenhumanandfundamentalrights.Mostintervieweesunderstandfundamentalrightstobespecificandtovaryfromcountrytocountry.Assuch,fundamentalrightsarethoughttoaccordwithlocalreligiousandculturalcontextsandtodifferinIslamicandEuropeancountries.InBalkhandHerat,intervieweesperceivedthesubstantivedifferencesbetweenhumanandfundamentalrightsasbeingonlyinareasthatareagainstIslamicbelief,suchastherighttochooseone’sreligion.27InKandahar,intervieweesassociatedhumanrightswiththeinternationalsphereandfundamentalrightswiththeAfghanConstitution.InBamyan,theintervieweesunanimouslyviewhumanrightsvaluesasformingthebasisoffundamentalrights,whicharespecifictoAfghanistan.28

KnowledgeofAfghanLegalProvisionsonHumanRightsAcrossthesixprovincesintervieweesbelievedthatpeoplehaveverylittleawarenessoftheAfghanConstitutionandlaws,ortheirincorporationoffundamentalandhumanrights.Awarenessissaidtobeespeciallylowoutsideprovincialcenters,duetolowliteracylevelsandinsufficientgovernmenteffortstoinformpeopleabouttheConstitution.AccordingtosomeintervieweesinHerat,awarenessprogramshavebeennonexistentoutsideHeratCity,andeventhere,eventstendtobefocusedonthesamepeople,“includingreligiousleaderswhohavenottransferredtheirknowledgetothepublic.”29SomeintervieweesinBamyanhavetheimpressionthatatleastsomegovernmentofficialsandauthoritiesfearpeople’sawarenessoftheConstitutionandintentionallyneglectincreasingawarenesstopreservetheirownstatusandtoinsulatethemfrombeingheldaccountable.30Moreover,manythinkthatunlesssomeonehasreasontoseekoutthelaw,theydonotseeitasrelevanttothem.31InBamyan,for

24KI-M-Kab-Go-425KI-M-KDR-CS-3,KI-M-KDR-Go-1,KI-F-KDR-NG-2,KI-F-Kdr-Go-6,KI-F-Kdr-Go-3+KI-F-Kdr-CS-2KI-M-KDR-CS-1+KI-M-KDR-Go-2

26KI-M-KDR-Go-2,KI-M-KDR-Go-1,KI-F-KDR-NG-2,KI-F-Kdr-Go-6,KI-M-KDR-CS-1,KI-F-Kdr-Go-3,KI-F-Kdr-CS-2,KI-M-KDF-CS-3

27KI-M-Bal-CS,KI-M-Bal-Go-1/KI-M-Bal-Go-2/KI-F-Bal-Go-3/KI-M-Bal-Go-4/KI-F-Bal-Go-5,KI-M-Bal-Go-6/KI-F-Bal-CS-2/KI-M-Bal-CS-3/KI-M-Bal-NG-1/KI-F-Bal-NG-2,KI-F-Bal-PI

28KI-M-Bam-PI-1.KI-M-Bam-Go-1.KI-M-Bam-Go-2.KI-F-Bam-Go-3.KI-M-Bam-Go-4.KI-M-Bam-Go-5.KI-M-Bam-Go-6.KI-M-Bam-CS-1.KI-F-Bam-CS-2.KI-F-Bam-CS-3.KI-M-Bam-NG-1.KI-M-Bam-NG-2

29KI-F-HER-GO-330KI-M-Bam-PI-1,KI-M-Bam-Go-1,KI-M-Bam-Go-2,KI-F-Bam-Go-3,KI-M-Bam-Go-4,KI-M-Bam-Go-5,KI-M-Bam-Go-6,KI-M-Bam-CS-1,KI-F-Bam-CS-2,KI-F-Bam-CS-3,KI-M-Bam-NG-1,KI-M-Bam-NG-2

31KI-M-Kab-Go-1, KI-F-Kab-CS-2,KI-M-Kab-CS-3,KI-F-Kab-PI-1,KI-M-Kab-NG-1,KI-F-Kab-Go-3

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example,lackofawarenessiswidespreadandevenuniversitystudentsaresaidtohavelittleunderstandingofthenewAfghanConstitution:

Mostpeople,evenuniversitystudents,donotknowabouttheConstitutionbecausetheywerenotexpectedtolearnaboutit.Peoplehavenotreceivedawarenessprograms.Also,beingpoorandconcernedabouthowtogetthenextmealleaveslittleroomforadesiretolearnabouttheConstitution.32

Eventhoughpeople’seducationlevelsareimproving,theawarenessabouttheConstitutionanditsincorporationoffundamentalrightsremainslow.ThisisproblematicbecauseitresultsinthespreadofmisinformationandbiasagainsttheConstitution.Asoneintervieweeobserved,

PeoplehaveverylimitedknowledgeoftheConstitution.Inthe162articlesoftheConstitution,onlytwoorthreeofthemareincontradictiontoIslamicprescriptions.Forexample,accordingtoIslamicteachingswhenapersonsteals,hishandsshouldbecutoff.ThispunishmentisnotmentionedintheConstitutionandpeopleusethisasanargumenttosaythattheConstitutionisanti-Islamic.TheConstitutioncannotbechangedbecauseofjusttwoarticles.ThemajorityoflawsaredevelopedinaccordancewithHanafiteachingsandtheopinionsofIslamicscholars….[But,peopleareunawareofthis].33

Generally,popularviewsabouttheConstitutionandinternationalhumanrightsobligationsareshapedbytheprejudicethatinternationalhumanrightsdonotaccordwithIslam,oftenbasedonignoranceofthefundamentalvaluesofIslam,manyofwhichareconsistentwithinternationalhumanrightsprinciples.SomeintervieweesinHerat,forexample,aresufficientlyfamiliarwiththeUDHRtocontendthatofitsarticles,onlytwo(16and18)comeintensionwithIslamicvalues.Articles16and18refertotherightbyindividualstochoosetheirpartnerinmarriageandtherighttochooseone’sreligion,respectively.34InNangarhar,contradictionsbetweenhumanrightsprinciplesandIslamiclawareidentifiedasdifferencesinthetypeofpunishmentforcertaincrimessuchasShari’adeathpenaltypunishmentforkilling,orcuttingoffhandsaspunishmentforstealing,contrastedtojailsentencesand/orcompensationbasedonmoderncivillaw.TherearealsomajordifferencesbetweencivillawandShari’aoninheritancerightsamongmenandwomen.35Atthesametime,thereissomesignificantawarenessamongpeople’sunderstandingoftheConstitutioninrelationtospecificrights.Forexample,intervieweesinKabulstatedthatpeoplenowknowthattheyhavetherighttovoteandtorunforpoliticaloffice,consideredapositivesteptowardinclusivedemocracy.Peoplearealsosaidtobelesslikelytoacceptinjusticeorcruelty,andareincreasinglyshowingobjectionwhentheyfacediscrimination.36Awarenessappearstobehigheramongthosewhoareeducatedandhavestudiedlaworreligiousstudies.Media’scoveringofrightsandelections-relatedissueshavealsocontributedtoageneralincreaseinawarenessofbasicrightsconsistentwiththeConstitution.

32KI-M-Bam-Go-433KI-F-Nan-PI-1,KI-M-Nan-Go-1,KI-M-Nan-Go-2,KI-M-Nan-Go-4,KI-M-Nan-CS-3,KI-F-Nan-Go-3,KI-M-Nan-Go-5,KI-F-Nan-Go-6,KI-M-Nan-CS-1

34KI-M-Nan-CS-1, KI-F-Nan-CS-2,KI-M-Nan-CS-3,KI-F-Nan-Go-6 KI-F-Nan-NG-1,KI-M-Nan-Go-2, KI-F-Nan-Go-3,KI-M-Nan-Go-4,KI-M-Nan-Go-5,KI-F-Nan-NG-2,KI-M-Nan-Go-1

35KI-M-Nan-Go-1, KI-M-Nan-Go-2,KI-F-Nan-Go-3,KI-M-Nan-Go-4,KI-M-Nan-Go-5,KI-F-Nan-PI-1,KI-F-Nan-Go-6,KI-M-Nan-CS-3,KI-F-Nan-CS-2

36KI-M-Kab-Go-1, KI-F-Kab-CS-2,KI-M-Kab-CS-3,KI-F-Kab-PI-1,KI-M-Kab-NG-1,KI-F-Kab-Go-3

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ChangesinAttitudesonHumanRightsOverTimeDespitewidespreadlackofawarenessaboutthegroundingofhumanandfundamentalrightsintheAfghanlegalsystemandsomepersistentnegativeattitudestowardthem,thesituationnowisviewedbymanyasanimprovementincomparisontothetimebeforethefalloftheTalibanin2001,when“nooneknewabouthumanrights.”37InKabul,femaleintervieweesstatedthatoverallattitudestowardhumanrightshadimproved,despiteskepticismandresistanceamongafairlyhighpercentageofthepopulation:

IfwethinkabouttheperiodofTalibandomination,people…didnotdaretospeakabouthumanrights.Todayoneoutoftwopeoplehavesomeideasabouthumanrightsandmanyviewthemasapositivedevelopment.Nowadaystherearefewernegativeideasabouthumanrights.38

Thereisalsowidespreadbeliefamongthementhattheoverallattitudestowardhumanrightshaveimprovedsincetheywerefirstintroducedafter2001:

Inthepastpeoplehadnoinformationaboutrighrts.Whenevergirlsparticipatedinsociety,peoplewouldsay:“Humanrightshavecometospoilthefamilyanditsvalues,promoteprostitution,ruinpeople’shomes,andspoilreligion.”Buttodaypeoplearemoreawareofhumanrightsashavingtheselegalrightshavehelpedtheminmanycases.39

AmalememberoftheNangarharProvincialPeaceCouncilrecountedhisownrecentattitudinaltransformationovertheissueofgirls’education:

Inthepast,Ididnotletmygirlsgotoschool.NowIknowthatallhumanshavetherighttoeducation.‘Human’meansbothmenandwomen.Thisistheresultofmyawarenessabouthumanrights.Iwasnotawareoftheserightsinthepast.40

InHerat,intervieweesstatedthatpositiveviewstowardhumanrightshadgrownespeciallyamongtheyouth:

Theyounggenerationhasincreaseditsawarenessandunderstanding[ofhumanrights]throughmedia.Theyouthunderstandthatashumans,bothMuslimsandnon-Muslimshavecommonrights.Itistruethat[differentsetsof]lawshavedifferences,butthesedifferencescannotmakeusrejectissuesrelatedtohumanrights.41

Thefactthathumanrightshavebeenexperiencedasusefulinpeople’slivesisoneimportantfactorprecipitatingchangedattitudes.InBalkh,forexample,intervieweesnotedthatpeopleusedtheirrighttofreeassemblytodemonstrateabouttherouteforimportingelectricityfromTajikistan.Thechangeinawarenessofrightsisattributedtotheeffortsofcivilsocietyorganizations,media,andlegalentities.42

37KI-M-Kab-Go-238KI-F-Kab-PI-1,KI-F-Kab-Go-3,KI-F-Kab-Go-639KI-M-Kab-Go-240KI-M-Nan-Go-441KI-M-Her-Go-6، KI-F-Her-CS-2، KI-F-Her-CS-3، KI-M-Her-NG-1,KI-M-Her-Go-2، KI-F-Her-Go-3، KI-F-Her-Go-4,KI-F-Her-PI-1، KI-M-Her-Go-1، KI-M-Her-Go-5,KI-F-Her-NG-2

42KI-M-Kab-NG-1,KI-M-Kab-Go-1

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Atthesametime,thereisevidenceofperceptionsthathumanrightsandsomelocaltraditionsarecontradictory.Peopleareparticularlysensitivetoinstancesinwhichrightsareperceivedto“interferewithfamilymatters.”ArepresentativeofahumanrightsorganizationinBalkhexplained:

Whentheinvolvementofhumanrightsorganizationsinfamilymattershasresultedindivorce,peopleblamehumanrights,asdivorceisnotculturallyacceptable.43

InKandaharpeoplearesaidtohavehadmorepositiveattitudestowardhumanrightsduringtheearlyyearsafter2001.Anegativeattitudetowardhumanrightsbegantodevelopwhenrulingsbyformaljusticeinstitutionswereseenasinterferingwithcustomaryjusticetraditions.44AccordingtoonelegalexpertinKandahar:

Peoplethinkthat‘humanrights’means‘women’srights’.Inthemediatheypublishannouncements[stating]“ifanywomanhasaproblemsheshouldcallthisnumberandwewillhelpthem.”Becausetheseactivitiesareagainstlocaltraditions[ofresolvingdomesticissueswithinthefamily],resistancehasincreased.45

Corruptionandinconsistentimplementationofrights-relatedcasesaresaidtohaveunderminedpublictrustinauthoritieschargedwithprotectinghumanrightsinBalkh.Asoneintervieweeputit,“…whenpeoplearearrestedonissuesrelatedtoviolationsofhumanrights,theircasesarenotfollowedthroughtransparentlyinthelegalsystem.Someoffendersarereleasedthroughinterventionbypowerfulindividualsorbribery.”46

ViewsAboutHumanRightsOrganizationsandProgramsPeople’sattitudesabouthumanrightsorganizationsandprogramsalignwiththeirgeneralattitudestowardhumanrightsasaconcept,somebeingpositive,somenegative,andsomeindifferent.Negativeperceptionsabouthumanrightsasaconceptextendstothepeoplewhoworkforhumanrightsorganizations.InHerat,forexample,thoseworkingwithhumanrightsorganizationsarenotviewedpositivelywithintheircommunities.47ThoseholdingnegativeviewsofhumanrightsorganizationsareeithermotivatedbysuspicionthattheseorganizationsarepropagatingWesternvaluesinconsistentwithbothIslamandlocaltraditions—especiallyaspertainingtowomenandfamilyrelations—and/orbydisappointmentthattheorganizationsandthehumanrightsagendahavenotfulfilledtheirpromises.AcommunityelderinNangarharobserved:

Thosewhoareeducatedandhaveahighlevelofawarenessunderstandhumanrightsandhaveapositiveopinionofhumanrightsorganizations.However,thosewhoareuneducated,illiterateandhavelimited

43KI-M-BAL-NG-144KI-M-KDR-Go-2,KI-F-KDR-Go-3,KI-M-KDR-Go-4,KI-F-KDR-Go-6,KI-M-KDR-CS-1,KI-F-KDR-CS-2,KI-M-KDR-CS-3,KI-M-KDR-NG-1,KI-F-KDR-PI-1,KI-M-KDR-Go-1

45KI-M-KDR-GO-146KI-M-BAL-NG-147KI-F-Her-Go-3، KI-F-Her-Go-4، KI-M-Her-Go-5 ، KI-F-Her-CS-3,KI-M-Her-CS-1,KI-M-Her-NG-1,KI-F-Her-NG-2,، KI-M-Her-Go-1,KI-F-Her-PI-1,KI-M-Her-Go-2,KI-F-Her-CS-2

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awareness,saythat‘humanrights’ispartofaninfidelforeigncultureanddeclarewarontheconceptandtheorganizationsthatpromoteit.48

Moregenerally,thereappearstobegeneralsuspicionwithinmanycommunitiesthathumanrightsorganizationsmisguidewomen.49Nevertheless,manybelievethatviewsabouthumanrightsorganizationshave,overtime,grownmorepositive.InHeart,forexample,whenhumanrightsorganizationsfirstbegantheirworktheywereaccusedofbeingforeignorganizations.Overtime,morepeoplehavecometoviewthemas“nationalorganizations”workingtoimprovepeople’slives.50Positiveviewsabouthumanrightsorganizationsalsostemfromobservationsthattheyhavebeeneffectiveandhaveproducedpositiveresults.InBamyan,forexample,positiveviewsabouthumanrightsorganizationsrelatetotheirsuccessesinhelpingvictimsofhumanrightsabusesaccesstheformallegalsystemanduselegalprovisionstotheiradvantage.51Thesesuccesses,however,aremostlyprevalentinprovincialcenterssinceorganizationalactivityinremote,ruraldistrictsisfarmoredifficult.Theabsenceofhumanrightsorganizationsinthemoreremoteareascontributestothepersistenceofnegativeviewsabouthumanrightsandorganizationsthatpromoteandprotectthem.52Inareaswhereattemptstoupholdhumanrightshavefailed,theperceptionofhumanrightsasanotionandhumanrightsorganizationsappearstobegenerallynegative.Asoneintervieweeputit,“…insteadofsolvingourrealproblems,likeilliteracyandbackwardness,thesehumanrightsorganizationsareseenascontributingtoourfamilyproblems.”53

Government’sResponsibilityinRightsProtectionandPromotionTherearestrongandconsistentviewsthatthegovernmenthastheprimaryresponsibilityforpromotingandprotectinghumanrightsinthecountry.Intervieweesparticularlyembracetheconceptsofgovernmentensuringjusticeforall,freedomfromdiscrimination,andtheeliminationofcorruption.Generally,theyconnectthemaintenanceoftheruleoflawandupholdingtheAfghanConstitution.AsoneintervieweefromNangarharputit:“Wheneverlawisimplemented,justicewillbeservedandhumanrightswillbesecured.”Anumberofintervieweesbelievethatgovernmentshouldactdirectlyandthroughthemediatoincreasepublicawarenessoffundamentalrights.Intervieweesinseveralprovinceslistedanumberofareasinfundamentalrightsinneedofdirectattentionbythegovernment.InBamyan,theseareasarepeaceandsecurity,povertyalleviation,equaldevelopmentforallsocialclasses,lawssupportiveofhumanandfundamentalrights,compliancewith

48KI-M-NAN-Go-249KI-M-NAN-CS-150KI-F-HER-CS-2,KI-F-HER-CS-351KI-M-BAM-NG-2,KI-M-BAM-GO-452KI-M-Bam-PI-1,KI-M-Bam-Go-1,KI-M-Bam-Go-2,KI-F-Bam-Go-3,KI-M-Bam-Go-4,KI-M-Bam-Go-5,KI-M-Bam-Go-6,KI-M-Bam-CS-1,KI-F-Bam-CS-2,KI-F-Bam-CS-3,KI-M-Bam-NG-1,KI-M-Bam-NG-2

53KI-M-Bal-Go-4,KI-F-Bal-Go-5,KI-M-Bal-Go-6,KI-M-Bal-CS-1,KI-F-Bal-CS-2,KI-M-Bal-CS-3,KI-M-Bal-NG-1,KI-F-Bal-NG-2,KI-F-Bal-PI-1,KI-M-Bal-Go-1,KI-F-Bal-Go-3,KI-M-Bal-Go-2

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internationaltreatiesonfundamentalrights,awarenessprogramsontheConstitution,andreformofjudicialorganizations.54InKandahar,intervieweesdescribegovernment’srightspromotionresponsibilitiesasreconstruction,establishingsecurity,developingtheeconomy,deliveringonkeyelectoralpromises,andoversightforactivitiesofhumanrightsorganizations.55Notably,theareasofmoststereotypicalassociationwithhumanrights–women’srightsandviolenceagainstwomen–werenotreferencedbyintervieweesintheircommentsaboutthegovernment’sroleinrightspromotionandprotection.Thereisalsoconsistencyamongintervieweesinthegapperceivedasexistingbetweenwhatgovernmentshoulddotoprotectandpromoterightsandwhatitactuallyhasbeendoing.EffortstoimplementlawsandtheprovisionsoftheConstitutionhavebeeninadequate.Discriminationandcorruptionwithinstateauthoritiesarepointedtoasmajorbarriersinthefulfillmentofrights.56

PerceptionsAboutImpactsofHumanRightsProgrammingTherearenotabledifferencesacrossprovincesinwhatintervieweesviewastheimpactandconsequenceofhumanrightsprogramsandideasintheircommunities.InNangarhar,KabulandBamyantheimpactofhumanrightsisviewedasgenerallypositivewithsomedetractors,whileviewsaresplitalongpositiveandnegativelinesinBalkh,KandaharandHerat.InNangarharpositiveimpactsfromhumanrightsactivitiesaresaidtohaveoccurredinareasaffectingwomen,specificallyinthehandlingofcasesofviolenceagainstwomenandreductioninforcedmarriagesandbaad.57ProgressinNangarharhasbeenmadeinaccessingtherighttoeducationandprotectingtherightsofciviliancasualtiesresultingfromtheactivitiesofgovernmentsecurityforces.58InKabul,theincreaseinpeacefuldemonstrationsandenhancedrelianceonhumanrightsorganizationsinjudicialcasesindicatepositiveoutcomesofeffortsininstitutionalizinghumanrightsandideas.59InBamyan,positiveimpactsarenotedinanumberofareas,includingadvocacy,civicactivities,freedomofexpression,women’sparticipationinelections,womenbecomingpoliticalcandidates,girls’accesstoschool,protectionagainstdomesticviolence,discourseontheuseoftortureinjailsanddetentioncenters,children’srights,women’sengagementwithjudicialorganizations,awarenessofthenegativeresultsofforcedandunderagedmarriage,womeninpublicsectors(education,governmentandmedia),andreducedpatriarchybetweenhusbandsandwives.60However,aswithallotherprovinces,thesepositiveimpactsarelimitedtothecenterandnotinremoteareasinremotedistricts.

54KI-M-Bam-PI-1,KI-M-Bam-GO-2,KI-F-Bam-Go-3,KI-M-Bam-Go-4,KI-F-Bam-Go-5,KI-M-Bam-Go-6,KI-F-Bam-CS-2,KI-M-Bam-CS-3,KI-M-Bam-NG-1,KI-M-Bam-NG-2

55KI-M-KDR-Go-2,KI-F-KDR-Go-3,KI-M-KDR-Go-4,KI-F-KDR-Go-6,KI-M-KDR-CS-1,KI-F-KDR-CS-2,KI-M-KDR-CS-3,KI-M-KDR-NG-1,KI-F-KDR-PI-1,KI-M-KDR-Go-1

56KI-M-Her-Go-2, KI-F-Her-Go-3, KI-F-Her-Go-4, KI-M-Her-Go-5, KI-M-Her-Go-6,KI-F-Her-CS-2, KI-F-Her-CS-3, KI-M-Her-NG-1,KI-F-Her-PI-1,KI-M-Her-GO-1,KI-F-HER-NG-2

57KI-F-Nan-PI-1,KI-M-Nan-Go-2,KI-F-Nan-Go-3,KI-M-Nan-Go-5,KI-M-Nan-CS-3,KI-F-Nan-CS-2,KI-F-Nan-NG-1,KI-M-Nan-Go-4,KI-F-Nan-NG-2,KI-M-Nan-Go-1,KI-F-Nan-Go-6,KI-M-Nan-CS-1

58KI-M-NAN-GO-559KI-F-Kab-PI-1,KI-M-Kab-Go-1,KI-F-Kab-CS-2,KI-F-Kab-Go-6,KI-M-Kab-NG-160KI-M-Bam-PI-1,KI-M-Bam-Go-1,KI-M-Bam-GO-2,KI-M-Bam-Go-4,KI-F-Bam-Go-5,KI-M-Bam-Go-6,KI-M-Bam-CS-1,KI-F-Bam-CS-2,KI-M-Bam-CS-3,KI-M-Bam-NG-1,KI-M-Bam-NG-2

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TwoqualificationsaregiventotheoverallpositiveviewoftheimpactofhumanrightsactivitiesinBamyan.First,humanrightsprogramsandmessagesarenotalwayscomprehensibletopeopleanddonotalwaystakeexistingeducationlevelsintoaccount.Secondly,programsconsidergenderonlyintermsofwomen,whichhasledtocreatingmisunderstandinganddomestictension.Forexample:

…inavillagethehusbandlefthometogotothemountainstobringbackgrassforanimalfeed.Whenhecamebackandaskedhiswifetomakehimsometea,thewiferefusedandtoldhimthat‘men’sandwomen’srightsareequalsoyoumustmaketeayourself.’Withouttheinterferenceofcommunityelders,thiscouldhaveledtodivorce.61

InKandaharandBalkh,therearetwostronglydistinctperspectivesamongintervieweesabouttheimpactofhumanrightsprogrammingandideas.Oneview,whichissaidtobemostprevalentinBalkh,isstronglynegativeandisassociatedforemost,thoughnotexclusively,with“uneducated”people.Fromthisperspective,humanrightspromoteconflict,areagainstlocaltraditions,andrepresent“WesternculturethatisagainstIslamicvalues.”ProponentsofthisnegativeviewbelievethatequalrightsformenandwomenisaWesternconceptandnotanIslamicone,andthathumanrightspromotedisorderwithinfamilies,since“womenrefusetoobeyorders.”62ThisviewisechoedbyakeyinformantinKandahar:

Ithinktheimpactof[humanrights]programshasbeennegative.Theyaremostlyconcentratedonwomen,whichisagainstlocalculture.Mostofthefocushasbeenonfreedomforwomen,theirrighttogoout,andrighttoeducationwhileonlytenpercentoftheprogramsarefocusedonchildren.63

ThesenegativeviewscoexistwithstrongpositiveviewsinBalkhandKandaharabouttheimpactofhumanrightsorganizations.Forthosewithmorepositiveviews,theincreaseinmobilizationagainstinjusticehasbeenanachievementofbothgovernmentandhumanrightsorganizations.64Peoplehavebecomemoreawareoftheirrights,increasinglypermitgirlstoattendschool,andcanaccessjusticeinstitutionsiftheyfaceaproblem–despitecorruptpracticesbysomejusticeofficials.65InHerat,thereisalsoapatternofpositiveandnegativeopinionsabouttheimpactofhumanrightsprograms.However,viewsdivergeinHeratovertheeffectivenessofprograms,withsomecontendingthattheyhaveproducedpositiveoutcomesintheareasoffreedomofspeech,mediapresence,andtherighttoeducation,andothersarguingthatprogramshavenotbeeneffectivebecausetheirimpactshavebeenlimitedtoawarenessraisingandhavebeenimplementedonlyinthecenterandnottheruraldistricts.66Alongsimilarlines,inKandaharthereissomeimpressionthathumanrightsprogramimpactshavebeencompromisedbythepracticeofdistributingaidfundsbasedonnepotism.67

61KI-M-Bam-Go-162KI-F-Bal-PI-1,KI-M-Bal-Go-1,KI-F-Bal-Go-3,KI-M-Bal-Go-4,KI-F-Bal-Go-5,KI-M-Bal-Go-6,KI-M-Bal-CS-1,KI-F-Bal-CS-2,KI-M-Bal-CS-3,KI-M-Bal-NG-1,KI-F-Bal-NG-2,KI-M-Bal-CS-1

63KI-M-KDR-CS-3,KI-M-KDR-CS-1,KI-F-Kdr-CS-264KI-F-Bal-PI-1,KI-M-Bal-Go-1,KI-F-Bal-Go-3,KI-M-Bal-Go-4,KI-F-Bal-Go-5,KI-M-Bal-Go-6,KI-M-Bal-CS-1,KI-F-Bal-CS-2,KI-M-Bal-CS-3,KI-M-Bal-NG-1,KI-F-Bal-NG-2,KI-M-Bal-CS-1

65KI-M-KDR-Go-1,KI-F-Kdr-Go-4,KI-F-KDR-PI-1,KI-F-KDR-NG-266KI-M-Her-Go-1, KI-M-Her-Go-2, KI-F-Her-Go-4, KI-M-Her-Go-5, KI-F-Her-CS-3,KI-M-Her-NG-1, KI-F-Her-NG-2,KI-F-Her-PI-1

67KI-M-KDR-CS-3,KI-M-KDR-CS-1,KI-F-Kdr-CS-2

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BarrierstoImplementingHumanRightsTherehavebeenandcontinuetobeagreatmanybarrierstotheimplementationofhumanrightsinAfghanistan.68Severalbarriers,specificallyoppositionbypowerholdersandthepersistenceofpatriarchyoracombinationofboth,haveresultedinsystemicresistancetoeffortstoinstitutionalizehumanrights.Thisresistanceisgroundedinvestedintereststhatlikelyseethehumanrightsagendaasunderminingtheircontinuing,unquestionedpowerandcontroloverothers.Additionalbarriersstemfromaperceivedandinsomecasesactualreputationofhumanrightsorganizationswhoseadvocacyforrights,particularlyforwomen,wasperhapstoonew,tootargeted,ortooadversarialforbeingbroadlyembraced.Manyamonghumanrightsorganizationsnowrecognizethesystemicresistanceandtheneedformoreengagedadvocacy.Moreabidingsocietalchallengestotheimplementationofhumanrightsincludeilliteracy,insecurity,traditionalconservatism,andthehighlyruralnatureofAfghansociety.69InsecurityandtenuousruleoflawinAfghanistancreateavacuuminwhichinformalpowerholdersincludingarmedoppositiongroupsandpowerfulindividualscantakethelibertyincreating“propagandaagainsthumanrightsprograms,”forexample.70InbothBalkhandNangarharintervieweesreportedthatilliteracyandtheinfluenceofinformalpowerholdersmeanthatpeopleareeasilyswayedbymisinformationabouthumanrightsandtheorganizationsthatpromotethem.71InNangarhar,membersofthearmedoppositiontellpeoplethathumanrightsconsistofaforeign,infidelprogramdesignedagainstIslamicvaluesandforthepurposeofmisguidingwomen.Inthesecontexts,humanrightsorganizationscanfacethreatsandintimidation.InBamyan,wheretherearebettersecurityconditions,informalpoliticalpowerholdersarereportedtoexertinfluenceoverpeople’sacceptanceorpracticeofhumanrights.Threatsandintimidationmayalsocomefromthearmedoppositiongroupsandindividualsingovernmentalentities,specificallythepoliceandjudicialinstitutions.72Humanrightsimplementationfacesahostofotherchallengesinsettingswhereinsecurityisnotsosevere.ThesechallengespertaintotheconservativeandpatriarchalnatureofAfghansocietyaswellasthelingeringimpactofhowhumanrightswereinitiallyintroducedintothecountry.IntervieweesinHeratreportedthattherewasaninitialnegativereactionandsensitivitytowardhumanrightsbecausehumanrightsprojectswerefocusedprimarilyonwomen,leadingtoattemptsbymanywomentoexercisetheirrights,onlytobeconceivedbymenandrespondedtonegativelyandsometimesviolently.73Thelostcredibilityofhumanrightsorganizationsintheearlystagesbecauseoftheirunevenapproachtowardmenandwomenhassincebeenaddressedtosomeextent.Forexample:

68Theseresultsfocusontheimplementationofhumanrightsingeneralandnotontheimplementationofspecificrights,suchasaccesstoeducationorfreedomofspeech,whichwouldinvolveamorespecificanalysisofimplementationbarriersinthosesubstantiveareas.

69KI-F-Nan-Go-3,KI-F-Nan-CS-2,KI-M-Nan-Go-2,KI-M-Nan-Go-4,KI-M-Nan-Go-6,KI-M-Nan-PI-1(Confirmedbymany)

70KI-F-Bal-Go-5,KI-M-Bal-Go-6,KI-M-Bal-CS-1,KI-F-Bal-CS-2,KI-M-Bal-CS-3,KI-F-Bal-PI-1,KI-M-Bal-Go-1,KI-F-Bal-Go-3,KI-M-Bal-Go-4,KI-M-Bal-NG-1,KI-F-Bal-NG-2,KI-M-Bal-NG-1,KI-M-BAL-NG-1

71KI-F-Nan-Go-3,KI-M-Nan-Go-5,KI-F-Nan-Go-6,KI-F-Nan-CS-2,KI-M-Nan-Go-2,KI-F-NAN-PI-1,KI-M-NAN-GO-4,KI-F-Nan-NG-2,KI-F-Nan-NG-1(confirmedbymany)

72KI-F-KDR-Go-6,KI-M-KDR-CS-1,KI-F-KDR-CS-2,KI-M-KDR-CS-3,KI-M-KDR-NG-1,KI-F-KDR-PI-1,KI-M-KDR-Go-1,KI-M-KDR-Go-2,KI-F-KDR-Go-3,KI-M-KDR-Go-4

73KI-M-Her-Go-1,KI-M-Her-Go-2, KI-F-Her-Go-4, KI-M-Her-Go-5,KI-F-Her-CS-3

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Inthebeginning,humanrightsorganizationswerenotveryconsiderateintheirprograms.Theywouldtriggerdiscussionwithpeopleandmakecommentsthatwereagainstpeople’scommonbeliefs.Theypresentedhumanrightsprinciplestothepublicwithoutconsideringpeople’sreligioussensitivities…Thisresultedinanincreasednegativeimageforhumanrights.Atonepoint,humanrightsorganizationsrealizedthattheirmethodshadbeentooaggressivebutunfortunatelyitwastoolatebythenastheyhadalreadylostcredibility.…Nowhumanrightsorganizationfunctiondifferently.Theynolongeractlikerevolutionarieswantingtochangeeverythinginafewdays.Theyfunctionpersistentlyandquietlyandattemptnottoprovokeanyone.74

SimilarlyinBamyan,peopleinitiallyconsideredhumanrightstobean“importedandWesternconcept”andthatwasfocusedonwomenonlyandwascontrarytoIslam.Whileviewsabouthumanrightshaveimprovedinthecenter,thisisnotthecaseintheruraldistrictsofBamyan:

Intheruraldistrictsmostpeopleviewhumanrightsasanimportedconcept.Thisisnotthecaseinthecenterbecausepeoplehaveaccesstomediaandknowhumanrightstobeahumanconceptandsomewanttoinstitutionalizethisconcept.SomereligiousfiguresstillbelievethathumanrightsarepromotedbythosewhostudiedinWesterncountriesandwhowanttodefytheroleofmullahsandreligioninsociety.75

InKandahar,thereisstilllittlewidespreadacceptanceofhumanrightsbecauseof“falseawareness,”afocusonwomen’srights,andassumptionsthathumanrightsprogramsareagainstIslamictraditionsandincontraventionof“thelocalculture.”76Humanrightscanalsoprovokeoppositionbythosewithavestedinterestinthesocialordernotchanging,includingproponentsof“localcultureandtraditionalpractices”thatareantitheticaltohumanrightsandIslamicvalues:

Wewereconstantlycombatinginappropriatetraditionssuchasforcedmarriage,givinggirlsasbaad,underagemarriageandrightstoeducation.Theseactivitiescreatedseriousnegativereactionandresistanceagainstusandagainsttheideaofhumanrights.77

Patriarchy,whichappearstobeattherootofmuchoftheoppositiontoattemptstoinstitutehumanrights,isputforwardasthe“localcultureandtraditionalpractices”bythosewhowanttoopposechange.Thismostlyfalsedichotomybetweenrightsandtraditionalvaluesmakesitextremelydifficultforhumanrightsactivistsandorganizationstooperateandraisesfundamentalquestionsontheshort,medium,andlongertermapproachesinimplementingandprotectinghumanrightsinAfghanistan.78

EnablersinImplementingHumanRightsIntervieweesmakeanumberofsuggestionsabouthowhumanrightsmightbemoreeffectivelyimplementedinAfghanistan.Thesuggestionsincludesubstantiveareasoffocus,channelsofcommunication,meansofimplementation,andtacticalchoices.

74KI-F-HER-PI-175KI-M-Bam-CS-376KI-F-Kdr-Go-4,KI-F-Kdr-CS-2,KI-F-KDR-Go-6,KI-F-KDR-PI-1,KI-M-KDR-Go-2,KI-M-KDR-CS-3,KI-M-KDR-CS-177KI-F-Kab-PI-178KI-F-Kab-PI-1,KI-F-Kab-Go-3,KI-F-Kab-Go-6

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InNangarharandBamyantheadvicetohumanrightsactivistsandimplementersistoreachbeyondprovincialcenterstooutlyingandremotedistricts.Inextendinghumanrightseffortsintothedistricts,manyintervieweesemphasizedtheneedtoworkthroughthemediaandtraditionallocalauthorities,includingreligious,tribal,andcommunityleadersandelders,whohavethemostinfluenceinthesesettings.79MostintervieweesseehumanrightsasgenerallyconsistentwithIslamicprinciplesandargueandexpectthathumanrightsmustbeimplementedinaccordancewithIslamicprovisionsforhumanrights.Forexample,

HumanrightsarementionedintheholyQuran.AllMuslimsrespectIslamiclawandhumanrights.Uneducatedpeople,whoarenotinformedabout[theconceptof]humanrights,orwhatissaidintheholyQuran,undermineeffortstoimplementandprotecthumanrightsandspreadtheliethathumanrightsisaforeignideathatgoesagainstIslamicvaluesandlocaltraditions.….Therefore,humanrightsorganizationsmustimplementawarenessprogramsthroughthemedia,religiousleaders,andtribalelders.Mostpeoplehaveaccesstomedia.Localpeoplepayattentiontothewordsofreligiousleaders.AllprogramsandeventsmustbeimplementedinreferencetoIslamicvaluesandprinciplessothatthosewhohaveanegativeviewofhumanrightsbecomeawareandrespecthumanrights.80

IntervieweesfromNangarhar,Balkh,Kandahar,andHeratalsoemphasizedtheneedforhumanrightstobeimplemented“withconsiderationoflocalcultureandtraditions”asameansto“preventmisunderstandings.”81Therewerealsocallsforamoregradualandless“revolutionary”approach,witha“reducedfocusonwomen”andincreasedfocusoncorruptioninjusticeinstitutionsandthepolice,forexample.82InHeratandBalkh,thereisseentobeaneedtomakehumanrightsmessagingmorecomprehensibletothegeneralpublic,especiallythosewithlimitedliteracyornoliteracy:

Thereshouldbefacilitationofdiscussionsonhumanrightsissuesbyexpertsandcommunityleaderssothatthediscussionshavelegitimacyforthelisteners.Discussionsthatmayprovokenegativereactionsshouldavoided.Humanrightsactivitiesshouldbedevelopedwithconsiderationofandreferencetoreligiousvalues.Thereshouldbeagradualintroductiontohumanrightsissuessothatpeopleareprepared[forchanges]inadvance.83

Intervieweesalsoadvisedagainstthepracticeofimplementinghumanrightsas“projects,”andinsteadimplementingthemascontinuousreformprogramswithregularinformationdisseminationthroughexistingformalandtraditionalstructuresandincorporatinghumanrightsineducationcurriculaandgovernmentministries.84

79KI-F-Nan-GO-380KI-M-Nan-CS-1, KI-F-Nan-CS-2, KI-M-Nan-CS-3,KI-F-Nan-Go-3,KI-M-Nan-Go-4,KI-M-Nan-Go-5,KI-F-Nan-Go-6,KI-F-Nan-NG-1,KI-M-Nan-NG-1

81KI-F-Nan-Go-3,KI-M-Nan-Go-5,KI-F-Nan-Go-6,KI-F-Nan-CS-2,KI-M-Nan-Go-2,KI-F-NAN-PI-1,KI-M-NAN-GO-4,KI-F-Nan-NG-2,KI-F-Nan-NG-1(confirmedbymany)

82KI-F-KDR-Go-6,KI-M-KDR-CS-1,KI-F-KDR-CS-2,KI-M-KDR-CS-3,KI-M-KDR-NG-1,KI-F-KDR-PI-1,KI-M-KDR-Go-1,KI-M-KDR-Go-2,KI-F-KDR-Go-3,KI-M-KDR-Go-4

83KI-F-HER-PI-184KI-M-Bam-PI-1,KI-F-HER-PI-1

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Conclusion

Therearetwoover-archingparadigmscharacterizinghowhumanrightsareunderstoodinAfghanistan,onepositiveandonenegative.Tovaryingdegreesbothparadigmsarepresentinallsixprovincesexaminedinthisresearch.InHerat,forexample,thereisadisproportionatelynegativeviewofhumanrights,whileinBamyantheviewsonhumanrightsarerelativelypositive.ThesourceofallhumanrightsisuniformlybelievedtobeGod,withIslamasthevaluesetthroughwhichtheserightsaregiven.Thisinterpretationofhumanrightsisusedbyproponentsofbothviewstorationalizetheirstance.Thereisalsogeneralunderstandingthatfundamentalrightsarecountryspecific,incontrasttotheuniversalisticnatureofhumanrights.However,veryfewpeoplearefamiliarwiththefundamentalrightsguaranteedtoallAfghansasarticulatedintheConstitutionandrelatedlegislation.Proponentsofthetwoviewsaredifferentiatedintermsofeducationandsocialposition.Acrossallsixprovinces,awarenessabouthumanrightstendstobestrongest(andmostpositive)inprovincialcentersbutthereislittleornoawarenessorunderstandingofhumanrightsintheruraldistricts,leavingpeoplesusceptibletotheinfluenceof“knowledgebrokers”whomayormaynothavepositiveoraccurateviewsabouthumanrightsandhowtheyrelatetoIslamicprinciplesaswellasinternationaltreaties.Theleastcontroversialrightsarethosepertainingtovotingandrunningforpoliticaloffice.Themorecontroversialrightsarethosepertainingtowomenandthefamily.Thisisnotsurprisingconsideringthehistoricalpatternofresistancetopolicyandtop-downreformsfocusedonwomen,marriage,andthefamilyandthedegreetowhichgendernormsandfamilyrelationsfigureintoAfghansociallifeandthesocialorder.85Thoughstillresistedbysome,girls’educationisoneareaofrightsthathasbecomelesscontroversial.Acrossallsixprovincesattitudestowardhumanrightshavebecomemorepositiveovertime,especiallyamongyouth.Thischangeisattributedtospecificrightsbeingofutilityandbenefittopeopleintheirdaytodaylives,suchastherighttopeacefulprotest,freedomofspeech,accesstoeducation,voting,andaccesstojustice.Thisleadstothekeyconclusionthat,forrightstobeinstituted,thereisaneedforactualproofthatrightsarebeneficialtotheindividualsandfamiliesthatembracethem.Instancesofrightsbeingusefulthatpeopleeitherexperienceorhearaboutalsoservetocounteractexperiencesorhearsayaboutrightshavingdestructiveornegativeconsequences,suchastherighttobeprotectedagainstdomesticviolenceortherightforwomentodivorce.Intervieweesuniformlyseegovernmentashavingaleadresponsibilityinimplementingfundamentalrights.However,manyvoicedisappointmentwiththegovernment’seffortsandcommitmenttoprotectingandpromotinghumanrights.Administrativecorruptionunderminesmanyrights,suchasfairnessinaccesstogovernmentservicesandpositions.ManyalsocomplainthatgovernmenthasnotdoneenoughtomakepeopleawareoftheirrightsandknowledgeableabouttheAfghanConstitutionandrelatedlaws.Infact,somesuspectthatcorruptgovernmentofficialsactivelywithholdthisinformationinordertominimizethepotentialthattheserightswillbeusedbythepublictoholdthemaccountable.Attitudesabouthumanrightsorganizationsparallelviewsabouthumanrightsmoregenerally,withbothpositiveandnegativeviews.Thoseholdingpositiveviewsabouthumanrightsorganizationspointtothe

85Dupree(2005),JohnsonandLeslie(2007)

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positiveimpactsthattheyhavehadinanumberofcommunities,particularlyforwomen.Thosewithnegativeviewsabouthumanrightsorganizationsreferencetheirencroachmentonfamilymatters,beinginstructedbyforeigners,ineffectiveness,andpoorreputations.Toconclude,Afghanistan’schallengesinrelationtohumanrightsarenotatalldifferentfromtheexperienceofanumberofothercountries,inAfrica,forexample.86Ontheonehand,humanrightsarelikelytobemoreeffectivelyandfullyimplementediftheyareadjustedtominimizeconflictwithlocalculturalpracticesandtraditions.Ontheotherhand,someadjustmentsmayinherentlycompromisetheintegrityandrealizationofthoserights.Thoseopposedtoinstitutinghumanrightstendtotalkabout“culturaltraditions”and“localculture”butseldomprovidespecificsaboutwhatcultural,religious,orlocalvaluesorprinciplesarebeingviolatedbyintroducingfundamentalhumanrightsinagivencommunity.Andwhilepatriarchyperseisnotdiscusseddirectlybythoseopposedtotheintroductionoffundamentalrights,itisclearthatpatriarchyisprevalentinallthevaguesuggestionsontheimportanceofnotcontradicting“culturaltraditions”and“localculture.”

Recommendations

Thefollowingrecommendationscanbemadebasedonthefindingsfromthisresearch.1.Humanrightsimplementationmustbeviewedasalongtermprocessinvolvingfundamentalsocialchange.MuchoftheoppositiontohumanrightsinAfghanistanemanatesfromassumptionsthattheyarecontrarytoIslamandtotheexistingpatriarchalsocialorder,inwhichmalesdominateandwomenmustfollow.When“culturaltraditions”and“localculture”areinvokedasreasonswhyhumanrightsareproblematic,humanrightsinterventionsmustestablishthespecificculturalorlocalpracticethatisbeingreferredtoestablishtheapproachtobetaken.Forexample,incasessuchasmarriagedecision-making,adaptationofthecultural/traditionalpracticetomoreequalandequitableprinciplesisrelativelyeasierthroughdialogueonthemeritsandbenefitsofchangingpractice.Inothercases,suchasthepracticeofbaadorbadal,itupholdinghumanrightswilllikelynecessitatechangesinorcessationofthesepracticesthroughanumberofincentivessuchaseducationandeconomicsecurity.Manyhumanrightsorganizationsarenowworkinginmoresubtleandless“revolutionary”waystoaddresstheseissues.Itwillbecrucialtounderstandsystematicallywhatlessonscanbelearnedfromthisnewapproach,particularlyintermsofpromotingsocialchangethatisbothculturallyacceptableandconsistentwithahumanrightsagenda.Gradual,strategicchangewillrequirelongerterminvestment,inprogrammingandfunding,ratherthanlimitedtermanddisjointedprojects.2.Government’sroleinandcommitmenttohumanrightspromotionneedstobeconsistent:Administrativecorruptionhasadirectandsignificantimpactonpeople’saccesstoverybasicrights,creatingageneralatmosphereofdistrustinthegovernment.AsignificantnumberofgovernmentofficialsappearinsufficientlycommittedtoupholdingtherightsguaranteedtoAfghancitizensintheConstitutionandrelatedlawsandmanyarenotevenawarethattheyareobligatedtoperformtheirdutiesaccordingtotheruleoflaw.Publicadministrationreformandprofessionaldevelopmentofgovernmentstaff–includingelectedofficials–shouldincorporaterightstrainingandoversightmechanismstosupportandprotectfundamentalrightsofthecitizens.

86Ibhawoh,B.(2000)

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3.Popularawarenessoffundamentalrightsmustberaised:Historically,theimpetusforhumanrightswastoestablishlimitsonabsolutistrule.Withsomevariationacrossnationalsettings,thiswaselaboratedovertimetoincludeprotectionofspecificgroupsandtosetminimumstandardsofdignifiedexistence.InAfghanistan,theideaofrightsassettingminimumstandardsofhumandignityandasestablishinglimitson,anddemandingaccountabilityfrom,governmenthasneverbeenfullyinstituted.Formost,adelimitedversionofhumanrightsprevails.VeryfewpeoplehaveanyawarenessofthefundamentalrightsguaranteedtothemintheAfghanConstitution,includinggovernmentofficials.Mediacampaignsareneededtoexpandawarenessoffundamentalrightsandpromotebasicciviceducationonfundamentalrights,especiallyinmoreremotepartsofthecountry.4.Educatethegeneralpublictoappreciatefundamentalrights:Educationandliteracyappeartobekeyindifferentiatingbetweenthosewhoareawareandsupportiveofhumanrightsandthosewhoarenot.Thosewithlowliteracylevelsandlittleornoformaleducationareparticularlydependentontheopinionsofknowledgebrokerssuchasreligiousauthorities,elders,andothersofinfluence.Effortsshouldbemadetouseradioforincreasingthepublic’sawarenessoffundamentalrights,particularlyinmoreremoteareaswhereliteracyandaccesstoeducationarelow.Atthesametime,effortsshouldbemadetore-educatedknowledgebrokersontheconsistencyoftheirteachingandguidancewithconstitutionalprovisionsforfundamentalrightsofthecitizens.Informaleducation,effortsshouldbemadetoincorporatetheneedforfundamentalrightsofthecitizensasapre-requisiteforacivilsociety.5.Enlistyouthaschampionsoffundamentalrights:Thereisindicationthatyouthismoreinclinedtosupporthumanrightsthanolderpeople,althoughthisissuerequiresfurtherinvestigation.Whatisknownisthatavastmajorityoftoday’syouthhavecomeofageinthelast15years,havebeenabletoattendschoolandgainliteracy,havehadaccesstoinformationthroughinternetandsocialmedia,andareawareofthebenefitsoffundamentalrights.Furtherinvestigationintothepotentialroleofyouthinrightsawarenessraisingnotwithstanding,effortsneedtobemadetoworkwithyouthandtheirmanyorganizationsinpromotingandprotectingfundamentalrightsinAfghanistan.6.Enlisttraditionalauthoritiesaschampionsoffundamentalrights:MostAfghansliveinruralcommunitieswheretraditionalauthoritiessuchasreligiousleadersandcommunityeldershavesubstantialinfluenceoverpublicattitudes.Innovativeapproachesneedtobedevelopedtoengageandre-educatetraditionalauthoritiesontheconsistencyoffundamentalrightswithIslamicprinciples.Theseapproachesmustemphasizetheresponsibilitiesoftheseauthoritiesasleadersandprotectorsoftheircommunitiesinpromotingandprotectingthefundamentalrightsofallcitizens.7.Emphasizepracticalbenefitsofinstitutionalizedfundamentalrights:Informationaboutfundamentalrightsmustbemosteffectivelycouchedintermsthatmakeitclearhowrightshavebeenofpracticalbenefittoindividuals,familiesandcommunities.Therighttovoteinlocalandnationalelections,forexample,isparticularlysalient.TomanymaleandfemaleAfghans,therighttovotebuildsthenecessarybridgebetweenthecitizensandtheirgovernmentalauthoritiesfacilitatinggovernmentlegitimacyandempoweringcitizenstodemandresponsestotheirmanyneedsfromtheirelectedrepresentatives.

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Appendix:IntervieweeCodesandGuidingQuestions

Codes:Non-Government=NGKI-M-Kab-NG-1(KI=Keyinformant,M=Male,Kab=Kabul,NG=Non-government,1=Sequence)KI-F-Kab-NG-2(KI=Keyinformant,F=Female,Kab=Kabul,NG=Non-government,2=Sequence)Government=GoKI-F-Kab-Go-1(KI=Keyinformant,F=Female,Kab=Kabul,Go=Government,1=Sequence)KI-M-Kab-Go-2 (KI=Keyinformant,M=Male,Kab=Kabul,Go=Government,2=Sequence)CivilSociety=CSKI-M-Kab-CS-1(KI=Keyinformant,M=Male,Kab=Kabul,CS=Civilsociety,1=Sequence)KI-F-Kab-CS-2(KI=Keyinformant,F=Female,Kab=Kabul,CS=Civilsociety,2=Sequence)PublicInstitutions=PI KI-F-Kab-PI-1 (KI=Keyinformant,F=Female,Kab=Kabul,PI=PublicInstitution,1=Sequence) KI-M-Kab-PI-2 (KI=Keyinformant,M=Male,Kab=Kabul,PI=PublicInstitution,2=Sequence) GuidingQuestions:1. Howdoyouandyourcommunityviewhumanrights?2. Whatisdifferencebetweenhumanrightsandfundamentalrights?3. Haspublic’sperceptionofhumanrightschangedinyourcommunityovertheyears?Ifyes,how?4. WhataretheprovisionsforfundamentalrightsinAfghanistan’sConstitution?5. Arethereanyhumanrightsprogramsimplementedinyourprovince?Ifyes,whattypesofprogram?6. Whathasbeentheimpactoftheseprogramsinyourcommunity?7. Inyourcommunityhowareorganizationsworkingonhumanrightsviewed?8. Dohumanrightsorganizationscreatetensioninyourcommunity?Ifyes,whattypesoftension?9. Whataretheresponsibilitiesofthegovernmentinprotectingbasicrightsofpeople?