Afghanistan Rights Monitor: Project Synthesis Reportappro.org.af/.../2018/07/2018-07-27-ARM-Project-Report.pdf · 2018. 9. 4. · final project report for ARM. ARM Monitoring Component

AfghanistanPublicPolicyResearchOrganization

AfghanistanRightsMonitor:ProjectSynthesisReport

July2018ProjectSynthesisReport

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AcknowledgementsThisreportwasmadepossiblethroughfundingfromMinistryofForeignAffairs,TheNetherlands.APPROwishestoexpressitssincerethankstoallthosewhoagreedtoparticipateinthisbaselineassessment.ResearchersTheresearcherswhoworkedonthisreportwere(inalphabeticalorder):AhmadShaheerAnil,FarebaAuob,EnayatBashardost,SamadEbrahimi,MohammadEwaz,SifullahHayat,DanaHolland,NafasGullKarimi,EhsanullahKhalili,FatimaKhavari,LucileMartin,MarziaNaqebullah,FawziaNoori,LilomaNoori,MahmoodOmar,SaeedParto,SarahPugh,ZahraQasemi,BaryalaiQayoumi,MarziaRahmani,MohammadAnwarRahimi,EhsanSaadat,MohammadSabir,ZarghonaSaify,LemaSakhizai,FarashtaWakili,AhmadYasir,IsmailZahid.DanaHolland,SaeedParto,andEhsanSaadatauthoredthisreport.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).APPROisafoundingmemberofAPPRO-Europe,registeredinBelgium.Formoreinformation,see:www.appro.org.afandwww.appro-europe.netContact:[email protected]:OrianeZerahAPPROtakesfullresponsibilityforallomissionsanderrors.©2018.AfghanistanPublicPolicyResearchOrganization.Somerightsreserved.Thispublicationmaybestoredinaretrievalsystemortransmittedonlyfornon-commercialpurposesandwithwrittencredittoAPPROandlinkstoAPPRO’swebsiteatwww.appro.org.af.Anyotheruseofthispublicationrequirespriorwrittenpermission,whichmaybeobtainedbywritingto:[email protected]

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TableofContents

Introduction...........................................................................................................................6

ARMMonitoring....................................................................................................................7SituationalContextofFundamentalRightsinAfghanistan................................................................8

MonitoringResults.................................................................................................................9BalkhProvince................................................................................................................................10

CivicRights.........................................................................................................................................10SocialRights........................................................................................................................................11EconomicRights.................................................................................................................................12

BamyanProvince............................................................................................................................13CivicRights.........................................................................................................................................13SocialRights........................................................................................................................................14EconomicRights.................................................................................................................................15

DaikundiProvince...........................................................................................................................16CivicRights.........................................................................................................................................16SocialRights........................................................................................................................................17EconomicRights.................................................................................................................................18

HeratProvince................................................................................................................................19CivicRights.........................................................................................................................................19SocialRights........................................................................................................................................20EconomicRights.................................................................................................................................21

KabulProvince................................................................................................................................22CivicRights.........................................................................................................................................22SocialRights........................................................................................................................................23EconomicRights.................................................................................................................................23

KandaharProvince.........................................................................................................................25CivicRights.........................................................................................................................................25SocialRights........................................................................................................................................26EconomicRights.................................................................................................................................27

KhostProvince................................................................................................................................28CivicRights.........................................................................................................................................28SocialRights........................................................................................................................................29EconomicRights.................................................................................................................................29

KunduzProvince.............................................................................................................................31CivicRights.........................................................................................................................................31SocialRights........................................................................................................................................32EconomicRights.................................................................................................................................33

NangarharProvince........................................................................................................................34CivicRights.........................................................................................................................................34SocialRights........................................................................................................................................35EconomicRights.................................................................................................................................36

NimruzProvince.............................................................................................................................37CivicRights.........................................................................................................................................37

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SocialRights........................................................................................................................................38EconomicRights.................................................................................................................................39

ARMResearch.......................................................................................................................40“Human”vs.“Fundamental”Rights................................................................................................40ReturnMigrationandFundamentalRights.....................................................................................41CulturalTransfersandGenderRelations.........................................................................................42FoodSecurity..................................................................................................................................43ChildLabor.....................................................................................................................................45WomeninGovernment..................................................................................................................46WomeninBusiness–SaffronProduction.......................................................................................47State-CivilSocietyRelations–Kashmir(India)................................................................................48State-CivilSocietyRelations–SouthAfrica.....................................................................................49

ARMTrainingandAdvocacy..................................................................................................51

ReformofAPPRO’sInternalSystems.....................................................................................52

Outcomes,ImpactandSustainability....................................................................................53OperationalEfficiency....................................................................................................................53AccountabilityandTransparency....................................................................................................53NationalAdvocacyCommitteeforPublicPolicy..............................................................................53InternationalWorkshopsonFundamentalRights...........................................................................53Evidence-basedPolicyMaking........................................................................................................54FoundingofGRAD..........................................................................................................................54ConsolidationofAPPRO-Europe.....................................................................................................55PictureBook:PortraitsofHumanRightsinAfghanistan..................................................................55

Conclusion.............................................................................................................................56

Appendix1:MonitoringIndicators........................................................................................58

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Introduction

TheGovernmentofAfghanistanissignatorytonumeroushumanrightstreaties.Thereisgeneraladmissionandrecognition,however,thatprogresstowardsmeetingtreatyobligationshasbeenslowinsuchareasasviolenceagainstwomen,mistreatmentofchildren,rightsviolationsbysecurityforces,unaccountabilityofformalauthorities,neglectofprotractedlydisplacedpersons,limitationsinfreedomofspeechandpersecutionofdissent,andongoingimpunityforformerhumanrightsviolators,amongothers.1Weakgovernancemechanisms,inadequateaccesstoformaljustice,corruptionintheformaljusticesystem,insufficientinstitutionalizationofvariousprotectivelawsandgapsinknowledgeofrightsviolationshavebeenpointedtoasthemaindriversofAfghanistan’sfailuretomeetitshumanrightsobligations.2Inaddition,thefewgainsmadesince2001,particularlyinwomen’srights,areincreasinglyunderthreatwitharesurgenceofviolenceinmanypartsofthecountry.TheexistingAfghanlegislativeframework,thoughnecessary,isnotsufficientforprotectingandpromotinghumanrightsandhumanrightsdefenders.Thereisanurgentneedtocomplementtheregulatoryandlegalprovisionswithongoingmonitoringinformation,publicdiscourse,capacitydevelopment,andadvocacy.Anecessarycomponentforreconcilingrightsaccordingtothelawandrightsinpracticeistheroletobeplayedbycivilsocietyandrightsorganizationsincreatingthecruciallinkagebetweenthestate’sregulatoryprovisionsandthebasicrightsofthegeneralpopulation.ThislinkagewillsetinmotionaprocessofinstitutionalizationofhumanrightsprotectioninAfghanistanthroughongoing,evidence-basedinterfacebetweencivilsocietyandgovernment.AfghanistanRightsMonitor(ARM)wasdesignedtobeimplementedfromOctober2015untilJuly2018byAfghanistanPublicPolicyResearchOrganization(APPRO)withfundingfromtheDutchMinistryofForeignAffairstomeetthefollowingobjectives:1. RegularmonitoringofthecurrentconditionsoffundamentalrightsinAfghanistanusingasetof

indicatorsbasedoninternationallyrecognizedstandardsformonitoringCivil,SocialandEconomicrights.3

2. Informed,pragmatic,andconstructiveadvocacymessagingonfundamentalrightsneeds,basedonempiricaldata,anddeliveredbycivilsocietyactors

3. IncreasedcapacityandresponsivenessofpublicinstitutionstofundamentalrightsneedsofAfghancitizens

4. Improvedandstandardizedfinancial,administrative,andinformationsharingpracticesthroughadoptionofInternationalAidTransparencyInitiative(IATI)standardsandotherformsoforganizationaldatamanagementtostrengthenAPPRO’scapacityinthelongerterm.

ThekeyexpectedoutcomesofARMconcernchangesingovernancepracticesasaresultofevidence-basedandconstructiveadvocacyonfundamentalrightsbycivilsocietyandresponsivenessand

1AmnestyInternational,“Toomanymissedopportunities:HumanrightsinAfghanistanundertheKarzaiadministration”,April2014.

2See,forexample,CommonWealthandForeignOfficeCorporateReport,October2014,at:https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/afghanistan-country-of-concern/afghanistan-country-of-concern

3SeeAppendix1forthelistoftheseindicators.

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informeddecisionmakingbystateauthorities.Toreachoutcomes,ARMwasdesignedwithfourrelatedcomponentsasfollows.• Component1:Establishcurrentconditionsoffundamentalrightsin10provincesinAfghanistanas

at the end of 2015 through a baseline assessment using internationally recognized standards forfundamentalrightsmonitoringunderthethreepillarsofCivic,Social,andEconomicrights.

• Component 2: Build the capacity of civil society actors in monitoring fundamental rights andevidence-basedadvocacy,throughtailor-madetrainingsandregularmentoringandfollowup.

• Component 3: Enhance the capacity of public institutions in receiving advocacy messaging onfundamental rights and developing responsive, informed policies to protect fundamental humanrightsinAfghanistan.

• Component 4: Strengthen andexpandAPPRO’s existing financial, administrative, and informationmanagementandreportingsystems.

ThisreportprovidesasummaryofoutcomesundereachoftheabovecomponentsandservesasthefinalprojectreportforARM.

ARMMonitoring

Component1oftheARMprojectwaslaunchedin2015throughabaselinestudythatestablishedthesituationoffundamentalrightsimplementationinthecountryattheoutsetoftheproject.Overthenexttwoyears,sixmonitoringcycleswereconducted,trackingchangesinfundamentalrightsinrealtime.Also,twocomparativestudiesonSouthAfricaandKashmir(India)andseveralcasestudiesonissuesidentifiedduringthemonitoringwerecarriedoutandwidelydisseminated.AllpublicationstodatewereusedfordevelopingbriefingpapersandpolicybriefsfortheBrusselsconferenceinOctober2016.4Twenty-ninedistrictsintenprovinceswereselectedasmonitoringsites.TheprovinceswereKabul,Bamyan,Daikundi,Balkh,Kunduz,Nangarhar,Khost,Kandahar,Nimruz,andHerat.Theywereselectedbasedontheexistenceofanactivecivilsociety,strongsocialandtribalnetworks,and/ordonorfocus.MajorpopulationcenterssuchasKabulCity,Mazar-eSharif(Balkh),Jalalabad(Nangarhar),KandaharCity,andHeratCityarehosttothebulkofcivilsocietyactivityonfundamentalrightsissuesandthussuitableassitesformonitoringandresearch.TheadditionofKunduz,Khost,andNimruzprovidedacontrasttoprovinceswithmajorpopulationcenters.KhostandNimruz,inparticular,havemaintainedmuchoftheirtribalstructures,offeringopportunitiesforinsightsintotheinterfacebetweenmodernandtraditionalviewsonruleoflawandhumanrights.Conversely,therationalefortheselectionofKunduzwasitsincreasingstateofpolitical,socialandeconomiccrisis,withsocialandtribalstructuresthathavebeenweakenedbyinformalpowerholdersandinsurgency.Similarly,DaikundiandBamyanhaverelativelyactivecivilsocieties,includingsocialnetworksthatcouldserveasplatformsforprotectionandpromotionoffundamentalrights.Qualitativedatawerecollectedusingsemi-structuredindividualinterviewswithkeyinformantsandfocusgroupsrepresentingdifferentsegmentsineachcommunity.Aquantitativesurveywasalso

4Seehttp://appro.org.af/research-field/reports/forreportsfrommonitoringandresearch.Seehttp://appro.org.af/category/briefs/forbriefingpapersandpolicybriefs.

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distributedpriortoeachfocusgroupdiscussionandkeyinformantinterviewinordertocollectindividuallevel,quantitativedatafromparticipants.Table1liststhesourcesformonitoringandresearchdatacollection.Table1:DataSources

ProvincialCenters OutlyingDistricts• Workingwomen,inparticularteachersandEPDprovincialwomennetworkmembers

• Workingmen,includingshopkeepers,farmersandteachers

• Legalorganization• DepartmentofWomenAffairs• DepartmentofJustice• DepartmentofEducation• DepartmentofHealth• DepartmentofLaborandSocialAffairs

• AttorneyDirectorforFightingViolenceAgainstWomen

• DepartmentofHumanRightsinPolice

• UniversityStudent(Male)• UniversityStudent(Female)• Representativesofoneyouth-focusedCSO

• RepresentativesofonewomenfocusedCSO

• Representativesofmediaorganizations/journalists

• RepresentativesofAIHRC• ProvincialCouncilMember(Male)• ProvincialCouncilMember(Female)

• DepartmentofMigration

• Workingwomeninparticularteachersandhousewives

• Workingmen,includingshopkeepers,farmersandteachers

• Onecommunityleader(male)• Oneinfluentialwoman• Huqooq• DepartmentofEducation• DepartmentofHealth• DepartmentofPolice

Dataformonitoringwerecollectedfrommales(277-424individuals)andfemales(278-310individuals)forsixrounds,onceevery4months.

SituationalContextofFundamentalRightsinAfghanistan

TheARMprojectwasdesignedtotrackprogressandsetbacktowardprotectingandextendingfundamentalrightsinAfghanistan,giventhechangingdynamicsoftheconflict,politicaluncertainty,andmountinghumanitarianandeconomiccrises.In2017theUnitedNationsreclassifiedAfghanistanfroma“post-conflictsituation,”withsufficientstabilitytofocusoninstitutionbuildinganddevelopment,toacountry“undergoingconflict”thatshowsfewsignsofabating.5CiviliancasualtiesovertheperiodofARMmonitoringrivaledtheirhighestlevelssincethefalloftheTalibanin2001.RecentpeaceoverturesputforwardbytheAfghangovernmenthavebeenmetwithacoolresponsebytheTaliban,whichalongwithDaesh,continuesitsattacksamidarenewedinfluxofU.S.troops.6Reportedly,slightlymorethanhalfofthedistrictsinAfghanistan(56percent)arepresentlyheldbythegovernment,andtheremainderarecontestedorheldbyinsurgentgroups.Moreover,theTalibanaresaidtobeactivein70percentofthecountry’sterritory.7OvertwomillionAfghansare

5SpecialreportonthestrategicreviewoftheUnitedNationsAssistanceMissioninAfghanistan,ReportoftheSecretary-General,August2017.https://reliefweb.int/sites/reliefweb.int/files/resources/N1723365.pdf

6Seeforexamplehttps://www.reuters.com/article/us-afghanistan-taliban/taliban-pour-cold-water-on-invitation-to-afghan-peace-talks-idUSKCN1GD4LV;https://www.cfr.org/timeline/us-war-afghanistan;https://www.militarytimes.com/flashpoints/2018/03/10/amid-little-scrutiny-us-military-ramps-up-in-afghanistan/

7Seehttps://www.aljazeera.com/indepth/interactive/2016/08/afghanistan-controls-160823083528213.html;andhttps://www.reuters.com/article/us-afghanistan-taliban-study/taliban-active-in-70-percent-of-afghanistan-bbc-study-finds-idUSKBN1FK03C

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estimatedtohavebeendisplacedduetointernalconflict,includinglargenumbersofchildrenandmanyfamiliesexperiencingmultipledisplacements.8HeightenedinsecurityandconflicthavecoincidedwithasharpdeteriorationinthewelfareoftheAfghanpopulation,accordingtorecentresultsfromtheAfghanistanLivingConditionsSurvey(ALCS).9ALCSfindingsfor2016-17foundasubstantialincreaseinthepercentageofthepopulationlivingbelowthepovertyrate,from34percentin2007-08to55percentin2016-17.Thisamountedtoatotalof16millionpeoplelivinginpoverty.TheALCSalsofoundsignificantincreasesinfoodinsecurityaswellaslabormarketdistress,withsubstantialunemployment(24percent),underemployment(20percent),andvulnerableemployment(80percent)characterizedbypoorworkingconditionsandlowpay.Continuedhighfertilityandpopulationgrowthratesarecompoundingalreadyunsustainableconditionsfordevelopmentinthecountry,underminingthecapacityofhouseholdstoescapepoverty.Thesefindingsareechoedina2017reportbytheUnitedNationswhichpointstochronicneedsforfoodsecurityandeconomicassistance–beyondthecurrentlevelsofassistance–foranestimated8.7millionpeopleinAfghanistan.10TheARMprojectwasdesignedandapprovedinrecognitionoftheimportanceofdocumentingchangessimilartothosereportedabovebutatacommunity,ratherthannational,levelwithimplicationsfornationalpolicymakinganddonorprogramming.Themonitoringcyclesrecordedpositiveandnegativechangeswithnuanceddetailsonhowfundamentalrightswerebeingunderminedorcontinuedtobeadvancedinvariouslocalsettingsaroundthecountry.ThenextsectionprovidesasynthesisbasedontheARMbaselineassessmentandsixmonitoringcyclesforeachofthetenprovinces.

MonitoringResults

Thefindingsfrommonitoringaggregatetheoveralldirectionofprogress,regress,orstasisforeachindicatoracrossthemonitoringcyclesforthetenprovinces.Thefindingsaresummarizedintables,onetableforeachprovince,withmonitoringpillars(Civic,Social,Economic,CrosscuttingThemes)andindicatorsundereachpillarintheleft-handcolumn,andstatus(Unchanged,Improved,Deteriorated)intheright-handcolumns.EachcheckinthesummarytablesindicatesthestatusoftheindicatoratthetimeofoneARMmonitoringcycle.Insomecases,thereweremultipletrendsoccurringsimultaneouslyforagivenindicator,resultinginmorethansixchecksinthetallyoftheindicator.Thenumberofchecksinacellindicatestherelativestrengthofthestatusofatrendoverthetwo-yearperiodoftheARMproject.

8UnitedNations(2018).HumanitarianNeedsOverview.HumanitarianCountryTeam(Dec2017).9CentralStatisticsOrganization(2018),AfghanistanLivingConditionsSurvey2016-17.Highlightsreport.Kabul,CSO.

10UnitedNations(Dec2018).

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BalkhProvince

OverthecourseoftheARMprojectinBalkhprovince,therewasnotabledeteriorationinchildren’srights,participationinpublicaffairs,andaccesstohousing,basicfacilities,andemployment(Table2).Administrativecorruptionwasalsoproblematic,althoughtherewasconsistentimprovementinthejusticesector.Table2:SummaryTrends–BalkhPillar/Indicators

StatusUnchanged Improved Deteriorated

CivicRights: RighttoLife,Liberty,Security,andDignity ✔✔ ✔✔✔ ✔✔RighttoEfficientandFairJustice ✔✔✔ ✔✔✔✔✔ Children’sRights ✔✔✔✔ ✔ ✔✔✔✔✔RighttoParticipateinPublicAffairs ✔✔✔✔ ✔ ✔✔✔✔FreedomofOpinionandExpression ✔✔✔✔✔ ✔✔✔ SocialRights: RighttoHealth ✔✔✔✔ ✔ ✔✔

RighttoAdequateHousingandFacilities ✔✔✔✔ ✔✔✔ ✔✔✔

FoodSecurity ✔✔✔✔ ✔✔ RighttoEducation ✔✔✔ ✔✔✔

FamilyRights ✔✔✔ ✔✔

EconomicRights: RighttoWorkandFairnessinEmployment ✔✔ ✔✔✔✔

RighttoDecentWorkingConditions ✔✔✔✔✔✔

CrosscuttingThemes: GenderRelations ✔✔✔✔✔ ✔✔✔ Corruption ✔✔✔✔ ✔✔✔✔✔✔ ✔✔✔

CivicRights

RightstoLife,Liberty,SecurityandDignityofPerson:AttheoutsetoftheARMproject,citizensinBalkhweregenerallysatisfiedwiththeperformanceoftheANP.Thesecuritysituationwasrelativelystable.CommunityviolenceoccurredinKhulmdistrictoveraccesstolandandwater.Informalpowerholderscouldactwithimpunity,underminingthejustresolutionofsomedisputes.OverthecourseoftheARM,despiteanincreaseinconflictandviolenceamongpoliticalparties,theincidenceofcrimeremainedunchangedandtheoverallsecuritysituationremainedstable.TrustintheANPremainedhighwithincreasinglevelsofprofessionalismandgrowingsatisfactionANPperformance.RighttoEfficientandFairJustice:BaselineresultsinBalkhindicatedmuchskepticismtowardtheformaljusticesystem,withmuchbriberyandsubversionofjustice.Womenfacedparticulardifficultiesaccessingjustice.ARMmonitoringcycleresultsshowedquitedramaticimprovementsintheareaofjusticeovertheprojectperiod.Awarenessprogrammingaboutlegalrightsappearstohavemadepositiveimpacts.TherewasincreasingrelianceontheformaljusticesystembybothmenandwomeninBalkhprovince,andimprovedcoordinationbetweenformalandinformaljusticesystems.Improvementswerenotedintheperformanceofformaljusticestaffandunits,whichwasreflectedinthetimelyresolutionofcases.Therewasalsobeenareductioningenderdiscriminationinbothformalandinformaljusticesystems,andjusticeofficialsareincreasinglytreatingwomenbetter.Khulmdistrictwasanexception,however,becausewomentherecontinuedtohavelimitedaccesstoformaljustice.

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Children’sRights:InitialbaselinefindingsshowedthatchildreninBalkhfacedanarrayofrightsviolations,suchasworkingdifficultjobsandbeingdeniedaccesstoeducation.ThesetrendscontinuedandworsenedinoverthecourseofARMcycles.Thesteadyincreaseinchildlaborwasattributedtopoverty,withincreasingnumbersoffamiliescompelledtosendtheirchildrentoworkbecausetheylackalternatives.Manychildrenarethesolebreadwinnersoftheirhouseholds.EarlyARMcyclesalsoshowedsomeincreaseinotherformsofviolenceagainstchildren,includingtherecruitmentofchildrenintoarmedconflicts,althoughthiswasnotnotedinlatercycles.RighttoParticipateinPublicAffairs:RespondentsintheARMbaselinestudyinBalkhwereskepticalaboutelectionsbecauseofproblemswiththe2014presidentialvote.Accesstopublicpositionswasnotbelievedtobefair,butwasinsteadthoughttobecontingentonconnectionsandbribery.ThesetrendscontinuedandworsenedoverthecourseofARMcycles.Somepositiveinterestinjoiningpoliticalpartieswasexpressed,primarilyasameanstosecureemployment.However,therewasalsodecliningoverallinterestinthevirtueofpoliticalparties,whichwereprimarilyviewedasasourceofconflictandviolence.Increasingcorruptionwasbelievedtoundermineaccesstogovernmentemploymentandscholarships.RighttoFreedomofOpinionandExpression:FreedomofexpressionwastenuousinBalkhattheoutsetoftheARMproject,withmanycasesofself-censorship,threats,andintimidationagainstjournalistsandpublicofficials.Someofthispressurewasinternaltogovernment,exactedbyseniorofficialsagainstmorejuniorstaff.ARMcyclesindicatedthatconstraintstofreedomofspeechinBalkhremainedsimilartobaselineresults,withsomemodestimprovementsinpeople’sawarenessoftheAccesstoInformationlawandopportunitiesforpeacefulprotestatpublicgatherings.

SocialRights

RighttoHealth:AccesstohealthcareinBalkhwasamixedsituationaccordingtofindingsfromtheARMbaselinestudy.AccesswasbetterintheMazar-e-sharifthanthedistricts,andbetterformalesthanforfemales.ARMcyclesshowedthataccesstohealthservicesinBalkhdidnotchangeappreciablyoverthecourseoftheprojectandremainedrelativelygood.Accesstoreproductivehealthservicesshowedimprovements,despitecomplaintsofpoorpatienttreatment.Accessalsoimprovedduetotheavailabilityofservicesatnightinhospitalsandtheuseofmobileclinicsinsomeruralareas.Qualityandcorruptionremainedconcernsunderminingfulleraccesstohealthcarerights.RighttoAdequateHousingandFacilities:ThebaselinestudyshowedthatlanddisputeswereforemostconcernsamongrespondentsinBalkh.Thesedisputesoftenincludeddiscriminationagainstwomenininheritanceresolutions.Accesstopublicservices—water,electricity,andsanitation—wasunevenintheprovince,availabletoonlyabouthalfthepopulation.LaterARMcyclesindicatedimprovedaccesstowater,duetothepublicworksdepartmentdiggingadditionalwell.However,accesstoelectricitydeteriorated,mostlybecauseofrisingcosts.IDPsfromneighboringprovinceswerereceivinglittlesupportinaccessingservices.FoodSecurity:RespondentsinthebaselinestudynotedthatbegginghadincreasedinBalkhinrecentyearsandthattherehadbeenlittleformalfoodassistanceotherthanincasesofnaturedisasterorconflict.Incontrast,ARMcyclesshowedmodestimprovementsinfoodsecurityinBalkh.Thoughlimited,wealthybusinessmen,aidagencies(UNICEFandWFP),andgovernmentdepartmentshadprovidedfoodassistancethattargetedIDPsinparticular.

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RighttoEducation:RightstoeducationwereunevenattheoutsetofARM,realizedmorefullyinMazar-e-sharifthaninthedistrictsofBalkh.Familypovertyandtraditionalpracticesregularlyunderminededucationaccessforbothboysandgirls.TherighttoeducationinBalkhremainedonapositivecoursethroughouttheARMproject,includingrelativelygoodoverallaccessandmodestconcernsaboutqualityduetohiringbasednepotismandbribery.FamilyRights:TheARMbaselinestudyresultsindicatedthatviolenceagainstwomenwashighinBalkhattheoutsetoftheproject,particularlyinthedistricts.Theprovincehastwowomen’ssheltersandtwoFRUsaswellasothersupportservices.ARMmonitoringcyclesindicatedthatthenatureandprevalenceofviolenceagainstwomeninBalkhremainedlargelyunchanged,buttherewereimprovementsinwomen’saccesstojusticeandothersupports.

EconomicRights

RighttoWorkandFairnessinEmployment:TheARMbaselinestudyshowedemploymentpossibilitiesinBalkhweremoreprevalentinvocationaltradesthaninindustry,agri-businessormining.Womenfacedparticularchallengesaccessingemploymentandavoidingharassmentatwork.ARMcyclesshowedanincreaseinemploymentopportunitiesinKhulmdistrictduetoimplementationofvariousdevelopmentalprojects.However,inrestofBalkhprovinceunemploymentincreasedoverthecourseoftheARMproject.Jobsweresaidtobeparticularlylimitedforwomenandyouth.OneexceptionwasthePROMOTEprojectthattargetswomenandwasactiveintheprovince.Slightimprovementsinaccesstopaidemploymentoccurredduringcultivationseasons.Thedearthofemploymentopportunitiesresultedinmorecorruptionandnepotismintheemploymentforthefewpositionsthatdobecomeavailable.RighttoDecentWorkingConditions:TherewaslittleactivityinthisareadescribedintheARMbaselinestudyandnochangesdescribedinlatermonitoringcycles.GenderRelations:AlthoughgenderrelationsremainedlargelyunchangedinBalkhoverthecourseoftheARMproject,genderdiscriminationinhealthservicesandaccesstopaidemploymentwasbelievedtohavedecreased.Corruption:AtthebeginningoftheARM,corruptionwasbelievedtobesubstantialinhealthcare,education,andemploymentinBalkh.OverthecourseofARMcycles,thesetrendscontinued.Fundamentalrightswerethoughttoberoutinelycompromisedbycorruptionanddiscriminationbasedongender,ethnicity,andkinship.Employmentscarcityhadprecipitatedanincreaseincorruptionandnepotisminthehiringprocess.Corruptionalsocompromisedaccesstobasicservices,suchaseducation.Oneexceptionwastheformaljusticesector,inwhichincreasesinofficials’salarieswasbelievedtohavereducedincentivesfortakingbribes.

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BamyanProvince

ARMoveralltrendsforBamyanprovinceindicatedlittlechangeinaccesstosocialrightsandservices.Therewere,however,mountingissuesintheareaoffamilyrightsanddeclinesintheoverallsecuritysituation.Inaddition,employmentopportunitiessteadilydeterioratedoverthemonitoringperiod,asdidchildren’srightstoalesserextent.GenderrelationsandcorruptionshoweddividedresultsinBamyan.Onebrightspotwasimprovementsinaccesstoandthefunctionoftheformaljusticesystem(Table3).Table3:SummaryTrends–BamyanPillar/Indicators


CivicRights: RighttoLife,Liberty,Security,andDignity ✔✔✔✔ ✔✔✔ ✔✔✔RighttoEfficientandFairJustice ✔✔✔ ✔✔✔✔ Children’sRights ✔✔✔✔ ✔ ✔✔✔✔RighttoParticipateinPublicAffairs ✔✔✔✔✔✔ FreedomofOpinionandExpression ✔✔✔✔ ✔ ✔✔SocialRights: RighttoHealth ✔✔✔✔ ✔ ✔✔

RighttoAdequateHousingandFacilities ✔✔✔✔✔ ✔✔ ✔✔

FoodSecurity ✔✔✔✔✔ ✔RighttoEducation ✔✔✔✔ ✔✔ ✔✔

FamilyRights ✔ ✔✔✔ ✔✔✔

EconomicRights: RighttoWorkandFairnessinEmployment ✔✔✔ ✔✔✔✔✔

RighttoDecentWorkingConditions ✔✔✔ ✔✔✔

CrosscuttingThemes: GenderRelations ✔✔ ✔✔✔✔ ✔✔✔Corruption ✔✔✔ ✔✔✔✔ ✔✔✔

CivicRights

RightstoLife,Liberty,SecurityandDignityofPerson:TheARMbaselinestudyindicatedanoverallgoodsecuritysituationinBamyan.ThereweremixedviewsaboutthebehaviorandperformanceoftheANP.Disputesoverland,waterandinheritancewerenotuncommon.EnsuingARMcyclesindicatedcontinuedimprovementinpolicebehavior,whichwereattributedtotraining,communitypolicingtechniques,andincentivesforgoodperformance.Insecurityincreasedintheprovince,withincreasedinsurgentactivities.RighttoEfficientandFairJustice:AccesstojusticeattheoutsetoftheARMprojectinBamyanwasunderminedbycorruption,includingexternalpressure,interferencebypowerfulindividuals,andmalebias.Staffshortagesandinsufficientresourcesforjusticeofficialstocarryouttheirdutiesfurthercompromisedthesystem.AccesstojusticeshowednotableimprovementsinBamyanoverthecourseofARMcycles.Corruptjusticeofficialswerereplaced,staffprofessionalismincreased,andanewdepartmenttoaddresswomen’sneedswasestablished.Therewerealsoimprovementsintheinformaljusticesystem.Specifically,women’sdealingswithtraditionaljusticemechanismsincreasedbecauselocalcouncilshavebecomelessinclinedtoforcedecisionsonwomen,whichtheycouldviewasunfairorbiased.

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Children’sRights:ChildlaborhasincreasedinBamyaninrecentyearsduetopoverty,accordingtofindingsfromtheARMbaselinestudy.Otherviolationsofchildren’srightswerelesscommon.Likewise,ARMcyclesshowedincreasedlevelsofchildlaborandsexualabuse.RighttoParticipateinPublicAffairs:TheARMbaselinestudyindicatedthatcitizensinBamyanwereeagertovoteinupcomingelections,despiteawarenessandconcernsaboutthefairnessandcompetenceoftheelectionsystem.Incontrast,laterARMcyclesinBamyanshoweddeclininginterestinparticipatinginelections,withparticulardisgruntlementtowardparliament.Accesstogovernmentpositionsremainedverylowandtherewerenochangesinpeople’s(limited)understandingoruseoftheAccesstoInformationLaw.RighttoFreedomofOpinionandExpression:TherewaswidespreadconcernaboutthesafetyofjournalistsinBamyanattheoutsetoftheARMproject.Womentoofacedsubstantialreputationalrisksforexercisingtheirfreedomofspeech.EnsuingARMcyclesshowedmodestincreasesinthreatsagainstjournalistsandcivilsocietyactivists.

SocialRights

RighttoHealth:HealthserviceswereinsufficientinBamyan,particularlyinremoteareas,accordingtoARMbaselinefindings,withanestimated40percentofthepopulationlackingreasonableaccess.ARMcyclesgavesomeindicationthataccesstohealthservicesfurtherdeclinedinBamyan.Inparticular,medicinedistributiondeteriorated,pregnancytestingremainedlimited,someclinicshadinsufficientfemalenurses,andthesalariesofhealthcareworkerswerenotpaidontime.Improvementwasalsonoted,withsomeadvancesinreproductivehealthandawarenessprogramming.RighttoAdequateHousingandFacilities:Infrastructure,includingaccesstowater,electricity,andsanitation,wasverylimitedinBamyanwhenARMmonitoringwasinitiated.Disputesoverlandownershipwerenotuncommonandweretypicallyduetoreturneescomingbacktotheirhomestofindtheirlandsusurped.Womenfacedsystematicdiscriminationinaccessingtheirinheritancerights.Accesstohousing,waterandelectricitychangedlittleoverthecourseoftheARMproject,exceptforsomehousingassistancetodocumentedreturneesbytheDepartmentofRefugeesandRepatriation.FoodSecurity:BaselineresultsindicatedlittleformalfoodassistanceoccurringinBamyan.ARMcyclesindicatedarelativelystablefoodsecuritysituationintheprovince.However,thereweregrowingworriesthatdecliningsupportprogramsandincreasingunemploymentwillputmorefamiliesatrisk,particularlyduringthewintermonths.RighttoEducation:BaselineARMresultsshowedgenerallygoodaccesstoeducationinBamyan,althoughtherewereproblemswithqualityincludingveryhighteachertostudentratios,poorfacilities,andinadequateinstructionalresources.ARMcyclesshowedacontinuationofthesetrends,withexpansionofaccessindistrictsandeffortstoimprovequality,withvaryingresults.Positivechangesinqualitywereattributedtoanincreaseinthenumberofprofessionalteachersandenhancedprogrammonitoring.InShebardistrict,NGOswerepayingteachers’salariesandpurchasingtextbookstoimprovequality.FamilyRights:ViolenceagainstwomenhadbeenontheupswinginBamyan,accordingtobaselineARMresults,particularlyinruralareas.Supportservices,includingFRUsandshelters,wereavailableinthe

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province.ARMcyclesindicatedbothimprovementsanddeclinesinfamilyrightsinBamyanoverthecourseoftheproject.Althoughtherewereimprovementsinmechanismstoresolvefamilydisputes,therewerealsoincreasesinlanddisputesandassociatedviolence,includingviolenceagainstwomen.Womenwerealsoroutinelydeniedtheirrightstoinheritance.Onthepositiveside,however,womeninBamyanwereincreasinglyawareoftheirrightsandlesswillingtosufferabuse.Policepersonnelattitudetowarddomesticviolencewasalsobelievedtohaveimproved,withcasesbeingtakenmoreseriously.

EconomicRights

RighttoWorkandFairnessinEmployment:Bamyanishighlyagriculturalandthereareveryfewopportunitiesforpaidemployment,accordingtobaselineARMfindings.ARMcyclesshowedthistrendhascontinued,withlittleinvestmentandfurtherdeclinesinsecurityofroadsleadingtotheprovincefurthercompromisingemploymentgrowth,particularlyforeducatedyouth.Developmentandconstructionfundingandprojectshavealsofurtherdeclinedovertheprojectperiod.Corruptionandnepotismunderminefairaccesstothefewpaidemploymentopportunitiesthatdoexistintheprovince.RighttoDecentWorkingConditions:ConditionsintheworkplacedidnotchangeoverthecourseoftheARMprojectinBamyan.Sexualharassmentcontinuedtobeaproblemforfemaleemployees,whoareoftenhesitanttorisktheirjobsbyreportingincidents.GenderRelations:OverthecourseoftheARMproject,therehavebeenreductionsingenderdiscriminationinseveralareas,includingemploymentandaccesstotheformaljusticesystem.Womeninfactarebelievedtoout-competesimilarlyqualifiedmen,incertainemploymentsituations,becauseofpoliciespromotingthehiringofwomen.Alongsimilarlinestherewasevidenceofimprovementinthetreatmentofwomenintheworkplaceandreductionsinsexualharassment.Corruption:AttheoutsetoftheARMproject,administrativecorruptionwasnotconsideredtobeaslargeaprobleminBamyanasitwasinotherprovinces.Oneexceptionwastheeducationsector,whichbaselinefindingsshowedwassubjecttovariousformsofcorruption.Initialfindingsalsoindicatedthatnepotismwascommoninaccessingemploymentintheprovince.Monitoringcyclefindingsshowedimprovementsincorruptioninthejusticeandeducationsectorsduetothereplacementortransferofcorruptofficialsandimprovementsinlinesofaccountabilityandoversight.However,inotherareas,suchasthepolice,employment,healthservices,andelectricityservices,itremainedunchanged.Thiswascontributingtowidespreaddisaffectionabouthighlevelsofcorruption.

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DaikundiProvince

Withtheexceptionofrightstojustice,thereweresteadydeteriorationsincivicrightsinDaikundioverthecourseoftheARMproject.Rightstofreedomofpressandexpressionshowednotabledeclines,forexample.Accesstoemploymentalsodeterioratedsteadily.Socialrightsshowedsomemodestpositiveandnegativechanges(Table4).Table4:SummaryTrends–DaikundiPillar/Indicators


CivicRights: RighttoLife,Liberty,Security,andDignity ✔✔✔ ✔✔ ✔✔✔✔RighttoEfficientandFairJustice ✔✔✔ ✔✔✔✔ ✔Children’sRights ✔✔ ✔✔ ✔✔✔✔✔✔RighttoParticipateinPublicAffairs ✔✔✔ ✔✔ ✔✔✔FreedomofOpinionandExpression ✔✔✔ ✔ ✔✔✔✔SocialRights: RighttoHealth ✔✔✔ ✔✔✔ ✔✔

RighttoAdequateHousingandFacilities ✔✔✔✔✔ ✔✔

FoodSecurity ✔✔✔✔✔ ✔✔RighttoEducation ✔✔✔ ✔✔ ✔

FamilyRights ✔✔✔✔✔ ✔✔ ✔✔

EconomicRights: RighttoWorkandFairnessinEmployment ✔✔✔✔✔✔

RighttoDecentWorkingConditions ✔✔✔✔✔✔

CrosscuttingThemes: GenderRelations ✔✔✔✔ ✔ ✔✔✔✔Corruption ✔✔✔ ✔✔✔✔ ✔✔✔✔✔✔

CivicRights

RightstoLife,Liberty,SecurityandDignityofPerson:BaselinefindingsshowedastablesecuritysituationandmixedopinionsaboutthebehavioroftheANPinDaikundi.ThismixedtrendcontinuedovertheARMcycles,withcontinuingfluctuationsinthesecuritysituation,asaresultofviolence,includingmurders,duetopoliticalconflictbetweenarmedgroups(ratherthananti-governmentelements)andcasesofrobberyandbanditry.ViewsoftheANPalsoremainedmixed,withpositiveindicationsduetoawarenesstrainingprovidedtothepoliceandtheappointmentofanewcommander,yetsuspicionthatthepolicesometimestakesidesindisputesbasedonpoliticalaffiliationandloyalty,andaresubjecttoexternalinterference.RighttoAccessTojustice:CorruptionandexternalinfluencewasbelievedtoundermineaccesstoformaljusticeinDaikundiaccordingtoARMbaselinestudyresults.TherewasamodesttrendtowardimprovedperformanceoftheformaljusticesystemoverARMcycles,resultingfromtheseriousnessofprosecutorsandjudges,changesinpersonnel,enhancementinsalaries,andbettersupervision.Thisincludedimprovementinwomen’saccesstoformaljustice,butdidnotextendtothedistricts.Children’sRights:Atbaseline,childen’srightsinDaikundiwereviolatedroutinelyinnumerousways,mostnotablyhighratesofchildlabor,underagemarriage,denialofrightstoeducation,andbadal(exchangemarriage).OverthecourseoftheARMproject,children’srightsfurtherdeclinedinthe

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province,withincreasingincidenceofchildlaboraswellassexualabuseandunderageforcedmarriage.Childrenwerethevictimsofarmedconflict,buthavenotgenerallybeenengagedascombatants.RighttoParticipateinPublicAffairs:ViewsaboutparticipationinelectionswerepositiveinDaikundiaccordingtoARMbaselinefindings.Nepotism,however,wasbelievedtoundermineaccesstothefewgovernmentemploymentopportunitiesavailable.Thismixedtrendinrightstoparticipateinpublicaffairscontinued,withcontinuingdisillusionmentwithelections,yetgrowinginterestinjoiningpoliticalparties,primarilyasameansofgainingprotection.RighttoFreedomofOpinionandExpression:ChallengestofreedomofexpressionweremodestinDaikundiattheoutsetoftheARMproject.However,overthecourseofARMcyclesthreatsagainstjournalistsandcivilsocietyrepresentativesincreased.Inatleastoneinstance,thesethreatscamefrominfluentialgovernmentemployeesduetojournalistsuncoveringadministrativecorruption.Relatedtothis,therehavebeenincreasingrestrictionsonaccesstoinformationbytheGovernor’soffice.

SocialRights

RighttoHealth:ThequantityandqualityofhealthservicesinDaikundiwerebelievedtobeextremelylow,accordingtoARMbaselinefindings.NGOssupplementedavailableheathcarefacilitiesprovidedbygovernmentintheprovince.ARMcyclesshowedthataccesstohealthcarewasseasonallyaffectedinDaikundi,withbetteraccessinthesummermonths.Despitecontinuingconstraints,somereformshaveimprovedserviceprovision,suchasreplacementofthedirectorofpublichealth,reorganizationofpersonnel,andestablishmentofnewspecialtyunits.Therewerealsoimprovementsinaccesstoreproductivehealthcareinthecenteroftheprovince,althoughthisdidnotextendtothedistricts.RighttoAdequateHousingandFacilities:Concernsoverhousing,lands,andutilitieswerewidespreadinDaikundiatthebeginningoftheARMproject.Theprovincehasnopublicelectricitygrid,veryfewhomesintheprovincehaveseptictanks,andlandandwaterdisputesarecommon.TherewerenoappreciablechangesinthisareaoverthecourseofARMcyclesexceptforaseasonallyaffectedreductionindisputesoverirrigationwater.FoodSecurity:NofoodassistancewasavailableinDaikundiatthetimeoftheARMbaselinestudy.TrendswerelittlechangedoverthecourseofARMmonitoring,withnoimprovementsinfoodaidavailabilityandmostpeopleintheprovincesubsistingonapoordietandenduringregularshort-termshortages.RighttoEducation:ARMbaselinemonitoringindicatedgeneralsatisfactionwiththequantitativeofeducationavailableinDaikundibutproblemswithqualityandaccessinveryremoteareas.ARMcyclesindicatedgrowinginterestinsendingchildrentoschool,includinggirls,intheprovince.However,therewasalsosomedisenchantmentwithschoolingasyoungpeopleseepeoplewitheducationwhocannotfindjobs,andmoreandmoreyoungboysareleavingschooltoseekworkinlargecitiesorothercountries.Theeducationinfrastructuresituationwasalsomixedoverthemonitoringcycles,withmanynewteachersrecruitedbutcontinuingshortagesoftextbooksandschoolfacilities.FamilyRights:AtthebeginningofARMmonitoring,findingsindicatedthatdisputeswithinfamiliesinDaikundimostlyinvolvedinheritance,alimonyordivorce.Variousformsofviolenceagainstwomenregularlyoccurred.Casesofconflictwithinfamiliesweretypicallysettledinformallybyelders.TheprovincehadFRUsandawomen’sshelter.ARMcyclesshowedamixedsituationintrendspertainingto

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familyrightsinDaikundi.Therewasincreasedrelianceontheformaljusticesystemtosettingfamilycases,includingdivorcecasesanddomesticviolencecases.Domesticviolencewasthoughttobeontheriseintheprovincedueinlargeparttoeconomicstresses.

EconomicRights

RighttoWorkandFairnessinEmployment:ARMbaselinefindingsshowedthatemploymentopportunitiesinDaikundiwereextremelyscarce,especiallyforthosewithrelativelyhighereducation.Governmentwasthemainsourceofpaidemployment.ThesetrendsgenerallycontinuedovertheARMcycles.Insecurity,lackofinfrastructureandlackofinvestmentunderminedemploymentgrowth.AsjobshavebecomemorescarceinDaikundi,employmentrelatedcorruptionandotherformsofcriminalactivitywerealsobelievedtobeontherise.RighttoDecentWorkingConditions:OverthecourseoftheARMproject,therewerenochangesinthesafetyandsecurityofemployeesattheworkplace,workingconditions,orininstancesofsexualharassment.GenderRelations:GenderdiscriminationcontinuedinDaikundithroughoutARMcycles.Despiteopennessaboutgirls’education,womenfacedparticulardifficultiesaccessingpaidemploymentandtherewasdeepskepticismthatwomen’sappointmenttogovernmentpositionsislargelysymbolicandtheylackdecision-makingpower.Corruption:AtthebeginningoftheARMproject,administrativecorruptionwasbelievedtobewidespreadinDaikundi.ARMcyclesshowedthatcorruptioninvarioussectorseitherworsenedorremainedthesame.Discrimination,basedongender,ethnicity,orpowerandfamilyrelations,wascommonandregularlyunderminedaccesstobasicrightsandservices.Teachingandothergovernmentpositions,forexample,wereoftenfilledwithlessqualifiedcandidateswiththerightconnections.Theonlysectorsinwhichtherewassomeindicationofreductionsincorruptionweretheformaljusticesystemandhealthcare.

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HeratProvince

ConditionsdeterioratedinHeratforseveralareasofcivicrightsduringtheARMproject,specificallyinrightstolibertyandsecurity,children’srights,andfreedomofexpression.Modestlyimprovedtrendsoccurredinaccesstoeducationandjustice(Table5).Table5:SummaryTrends–HeratPillar/Indicators


CivicRights: RighttoLife,Liberty,Security,andDignity ✔✔✔ ✔✔✔ ✔✔✔✔✔RighttoEfficientandFairJustice ✔✔ ✔✔✔ ✔Children’sRights ✔ ✔ ✔✔✔✔✔RighttoParticipateinPublicAffairs ✔✔✔✔ ✔✔ FreedomofOpinionandExpression ✔ ✔ ✔✔✔✔SocialRights: RighttoHealth ✔✔ ✔✔✔✔ ✔✔

RighttoAdequateHousingandFacilities ✔✔✔ ✔✔✔ ✔

FoodSecurity ✔✔✔ ✔✔✔RighttoEducation ✔✔ ✔✔✔✔ ✔

FamilyRights ✔✔✔ ✔✔ ✔✔

EconomicRights: RighttoWorkandFairnessinEmployment ✔✔✔✔ ✔✔

RighttoDecentWorkingConditions ✔✔✔✔✔ ✔ ✔

CrosscuttingThemes: GenderRelations ✔✔✔ ✔✔✔ ✔Corruption ✔✔✔✔ ✔✔✔ ✔✔

CivicRights

RightstoLife,Liberty,SecurityandDignityofPerson:AttheoutsetoftheARMproject,therewasgeneralsatisfactionwiththeperformanceandbehavioroftheANPandgeneralsecuritysituationinHerat.CommunityviolenceoccurredintermittentlyalongreligiousandethniclinesinHeratCity.Inthedistricts,disputessometimesaroseoverlandandwaterrights.OvertheARMcycles,thesecuritysituationinHeratdeclinedandtherewasanincreaseininsurgentattacksinHeratCity.Theseattackshaveincreasedfearandcontributedtosomedisillusionmentwiththepolice.Therewasalsobeliefthatsomecommunityconflictshadbeenaggravatedbythegrowinginfluenceofpoliticalparties.RighttoEfficientandFairJustice:ARMbaselineresultsindicatedmistrustoftheformaljusticesystem,whichwasviewedasplaguedbycorruptionandsubjecttomanipulationbypowerholders.ARMcyclesshowedgenerallypositivetrendsinthesector.RecentimprovementsintheleadershipandmanagementintheDepartmentofJustice,includingtheappointmentofcompetentcourtofficials,hasbroughtincreasesinaccesstojusticeandthequalityoftheformaljusticesystem.AccessimprovedinHeratCityandthedistricts.However,constraintscontinued,particularlyforwomen,whofaceobstaclesaccessingjusticeineithertheformalorinformalsystem.Therewasalsoacontinuationofdelaysprocessinganddecidingcases,whichhasspurredpeopletodropcasesorresolvethemthroughinformalmechanisms.

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Children’sRights:ChildlaborwasseentobearampantprobleminHeratprovinceintheARMbaselinestudythatwascompoundedbyhighnumbersoforphans.OverthecourseofARMcycles,trendsinchildren’srightscontinuedtodeclineinHerat.Therewereincreasesinchildlabor,childrecruitmentintoarmedconflicts,earlyandforcedmarriages,sexualabuse,andhomelessness.Childrenwerealsobelievedtobeincreasinglyinvolvedinperpetratingviolentcrimes.Servicesforvulnerablechildren,suchasorphanagesandcarecenters,areinsufficienttofillneeds.RighttoParticipateinPublicAffairs:AccordingtotheARMbaselinestudy,therewasmuchskepticismaboutelectionsattheoutsetoftheprojectaswellaswidespreadbeliefthataccesstogovernmentemploymentwasunderminedbydiscriminationandcorruption.ThisskepticismwasunchangedduringARMmonitoringcycles.Therewasalsoanincreaseininterestinjoiningpoliticalpartiesasameanstoincreaseemploymentopportunities.RighttoFreedomofOpinionandExpression:AtthebeginningoftheARMproject,freedomofexpressionwasconsideredriskyinHerat,withoutspokenindividualsandjournalists—aswellastheirfamilies—subjecttothreatsandviolence.ARMcyclesindicatedacontinuanceofthesetrends,withincreasingthreatsanddangersassociatedwithjournalisticandadvocacywork.Publicprotestsalsodeclinedovertheperiod.

SocialRights

RighttoHealth:AccesstohealthserviceswasrelativelygoodinHeratprovinceattheoutsetofARMmonitoring,particularlyinHeratCity.PositivetrendsinaccesstohealthcarewereevidentthroughoutARMmonitoringcyclesinHerat.Improvementsincludedtheopeningofnewhealthfacilities,upgradingemergencyservices,andprovidingbetteraccesstomedicationandvaccination.Mobilehealthclinicshavebeenintroducedandimprovedservicesinruralareas.However,sinceHeratservesnotonlyitsownprovincialpopulationbutalsotheentireWesternregion,agrowingpatientpopulationandshortageofsupplieshasputpressureonthesystemcapacity.RighttoAdequateHousingandFacilities:AccesstowaterandelectricitywasrelativelywidespreadinHeratprovince,accordingtoARMbaselineresults.Disputesoverlandandwaterwerecommon,however,andwomen’srightstolandthroughinheritancewereregularlyundermined.SomeimprovedtrendswereidentifiedinlaterARMmonitoringcycles.AnewlyinauguratedpowerprojectandimprovedirrigationnearHeratCityhaveincreasedaccesstopowerandwater,andreduceddisputes.IDPsalsoreceivedlandallotments,thoughmanystillfacedstrugglestoaccesshousesandservices.Inaddition,therisingcostofelectricityhasreducedaccessformany.FoodSecurity:AttheoutsetoftheARMproject,foodinsecuritywasestimatedtoaffect30percentofthepopulationinHerat.Therewaslittleformalassistanceavailable,butsomeinformalcommunity-basedcharityactivitiesoccurred.ARMcyclesshowedthatfoodsecurityfurtherdeterioratedinHeratasaresultofworseninggeneraleconomicconditions,ongoingconflict,andinsecurity.Foodaidorganizationshaveprovidedsomesupportthoughinsufficienttomeeteveryone’sneeds.RighttoEducation:EducationinHeratprovincewaswellestablishedwhentheARMprojectwaslaunched,andnotablyitwaswidelyacceptedintheprovincethatgirlsshouldattendschoolthrough12thgrade.Therewerealso,however,issueswitheducationqualityandteacherprofessionalism.ARMmonitoringcyclesshowedthesetrendsweremaintained,withfurtherincreasesingirls’participationineducationandimprovementsinqualityasaresultofadministrativereforms,professionaldevelopment

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programsforteachers,andthedistributionofadditionaltextbooks.Twonegativetrendsstemmedfromrisingeconomicpressures,whichwerepromptingsomefamiliestowithholdtheirchildrenfromschool,andfrominsecurityinsomelocations,whichwascausingsomeschoolsforgirlsinareastoclose.FamilyRights:FamilydisputesandcasesofviolenceagainstwomeninHeratweregenerallykeptprivate,accordingtoARMbaselineresults.Publicharassmentofwomenwasanotedproblematthetime.EnsuingARMcyclesshowedincreasesinviolenceagainstwomen.Divorcecaseshadalsoincreasedbutsodidthejusticesector’seffectivehandlingofsuchcases.Also,despiteincreasesinawarenessaboutwomen’srightstoinheritance,disparitiescontinuedandwomenwereincreasinglydisadvantagedininheritancedecisions.

EconomicRights

RighttoWorkandFairnessinEmployment:WorkopportunitieswerelimitedinHeratatthebeginningoftheARMproject,especiallyforwomen.Employmentwasunderminedbyalackofinvestmentaswellaswidespreadcorruption.Thesetrendscontinuedandintensified,withfewemploymentopportunitiesandnonotablechangesininvestment.Widespreadcorruptionanddeterioratingsecuritywerebelievedtohavedeterredbusinessdevelopment.RighttoDecentWorkingConditions:ARMbaselinefindingspointedoutavarietyofproblemsinHeratconcerningworkingconditions,includingharassmentandanabsenceofanyhealthorsafetyprovisionsaswellasinsufficientworkplacefacilitiesforwomen.LaterARMcyclesshowedlittlechangeinthesetrends,exceptforadecreaseintheincidenceofharassmentbasedongender,ethnicityandlanguage.GenderRelations:AnumberofindicatorssuggestthatthestatusofwomenandgirlsinHeratwasimprovingatthetimeoftheARMbaselinestudy,suchasfemale’saccess’stoeducationandwomen’sawarenessoftheirrightsindivorcecases.Genderdiscriminationinaccesstogovernmentjobsandemploymentwasanissue,however.WhilethesepositivetrendscontinuedduringARMmonitoringcycles,sodidthenegativeones.Corruption:ARMmonitoringtrendsshowedthatthesituationwithcorruptioninHeratwasmixed.Itappearstohavedeclinedinthejusticesectorduetotheeffectivenessofeffortstoprofessionalizethesystem,includingthearrestofcourtofficialsforbribery.Therewerealsoimprovementsinelectricityservice(throughinstallationofmeters)andeducation,butproblemsinhealthandotherbasicservices.

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KabulProvince

ARMtrendresultsforKabulprovinceshowconsistentimprovementsinrightstojusticeandsteadydeteriorationsinchildren’srights,accesstoemployment,andtheoverallsecuritysituation.Mostotherindicatorsshowedevidenceofbothimprovementanddeclineoverthemonitoringcycles,withtheexceptionoffoodsecurity,whicheitherdeterioratedorremainedunchanged(Table6).Table6:SummaryTrends–KabulPillar/Indicators


CivicRights: RighttoLife,Liberty,Security,andDignity ✔✔ ✔ ✔✔✔✔✔RighttoEfficientandFairJustice ✔ ✔✔✔✔✔ Children’sRights ✔ ✔ ✔✔✔✔✔✔RighttoParticipateinPublicAffairs ✔✔ ✔✔✔✔ ✔✔✔FreedomofOpinionandExpression ✔✔✔ ✔ ✔✔SocialRights: RighttoHealth ✔✔✔✔✔ ✔✔✔ ✔

RighttoAdequateHousingandFacilities ✔✔ ✔ ✔✔✔✔

FoodSecurity ✔✔ ✔✔✔✔RighttoEducation ✔✔✔✔ ✔✔ ✔

FamilyRights ✔✔✔✔ ✔ ✔✔

EconomicRights: RighttoWorkandFairnessinEmployment ✔ ✔ ✔✔✔✔✔

RighttoDecentWorkingConditions ✔✔✔ ✔✔✔

CrosscuttingThemes: GenderRelations ✔✔✔ ✔✔✔ ✔Corruption ✔✔✔ ✔ ✔✔✔✔

CivicRights

RightstoLife,Liberty,SecurityandDignityofPerson:ARMbaselineresultsforKabulprovinceindicatedgenerallypositiveviewsoftheANP.ThelaterARMcyclescorrespondedtodecliningsecurityconditionsinKabulprovince,whichhadanoverallnegativeinfluenceoncivicrights,particularlyinKabulCity.However,perceptionsoftheANPcontinuedtoimproveoverall.Ethnicandtriballybaseddisputesandtensionswerethoughttobeontheincreaseinlatermonitoringcyclesduetodivisivepolitics.RighttoEfficientandFairJustice:IncomparisontolowsatisfactionlevelswiththeformaljusticesystemattheoutsetoftheARMproject,accesstoformaljusticehasimprovedsteadilyinKabulprovince,thoughmoresointhecitythaninthedistricts.Therehavebeenconsistentimprovementsintheperformanceofformaljusticeofficials,includingtowardwomen,evidencedbyfewercomplaintspublicizedthroughthemediaabouttheformaljusticesystem.Children’sRights:ARMbaselinemonitoringindicatedlittleawarenessofviolenceagainstchildrenandincreasinglevelsofchildlabor.Trendsinchildlabor—andassociateddenialofaccesstoeducation—havecontinued.Continuingincreasesinchildlaboraccountsforthedeteriorationinchildren’srightsinKabulprovinceoverthecourseoftheARMproject.ChildlaborisparticularlypronouncedinKabulCity.Otherformsofviolenceagainstchildrenalsooccurredwithincreasingincidence,specificallydropping

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outofschool,earlymarriage,andrecruitmentintoarmedconflicts.Onepositivechangeintheareaofchildren’srightswasanincreaseinaccesstokindergartensinKabulCity.RighttoParticipateinPublicAffairs:ARMbaselinefindingsindicateddeepskepticismaboutelectionsinKabulprovinceanddisinterestinparticipatinginthefuture.ThesetrendscontinuedoverthecourseofARMmonitoring.Atthesametime,however,increasingnumbers,particularlyofyouth,areinterestedinjoiningpoliticalparties,inpartbecauseofviewsthatthiswillfacilitateaccesstoemployment.Likeotherformsofemployment,accesstogovernmentpositionsinKabulgenerallydecreasedoverperiodoftheARMproject.RighttoFreedomofOpinionandExpression:ContinuingtrendsidentifiedintheARMbaseline,freedomofexpressionandassemblyhasdeterioratedinKabulprovincerecently,duetoincidentsofviolenceagainstjournalistsandsomerestrictionsonprotestgatherings.PublicawarenessoftheRighttoInformationLawremainedlimited.

SocialRights

RighttoHealth:AccesstohealthcareinKabulprovinceremainedgenerallyunchangedovertheperiodofARMmonitoring,althoughtherewereimprovementsinservicesinIstalifdistrict.RighttoAdequateHousingandFacilities:ARMbaselineresultsindicatedhighconcernsinKabulCityoveraccesstowaterandelectricity.Sanitationwaspoor,thoughgenerallyavailable.MonitoringtrendsshowthatconcernsoveraccesstowatercontinuedinKabulCity,althoughtherewereimprovementsinthedistricts.Housingandsanitationweregenerallypoorandunchangedoverthecourseofmonitoring.Latermonitoredindicatedproblemswithelectricitydueinparttoinsurgentactivities.AccesstoservicesforIDPswasmixed.FoodSecurity:AttheoutsetofARMmonitoring,foodinsecuritywasdealtwiththroughinformalcommunity-basedsupportinKabulprovince.However,increasesinfoodinsecuritywereevidentoverthecourseofARMcycleswithfewadditionalinitiativestoalleviatemountingneeds.IncreasingnumbersofIDPscomingtoKabulCitywasfurthercompoundingfoodshortages.RighttoEducation:MonitoringgenerallyshowedthataccesstoeducationinKabulprovincewasconfoundedbyinadequatefacilitiesandcorruptioninthesector,whichaffectedKabulCitymorethanthedistricts.Improvementswereprimarilyevidentinprivateschools.FamilyRights:Therehavebeensteadyincreasesinfamilyconflicts,particularlyoverinheritance,whichweretrendsinitiallyidentifiedintheARMbaselinestudy.AccesstoFRUsandsheltersremainedunchanged.DomesticviolenceanddivorcecaseswerealsoontheriseinKabulCityoverthecourseofARMcycles.

EconomicRights

RighttoWorkandFairnessinEmployment:TheARMbaselinestudyidentifiedanumberofconstraintstoemploymentgrowthinKabulprovince,includinginsecurity,littleinvestment,andadeclineindevelopmentaid.Withafewexceptions,suchasanincreaseinwomen’semploymentinthehealthandjusticesectors,accesstopaidemploymentwasconsistentlylowduringARMmonitoringcycles.Largenumbersofcollegegraduatesareunemployedandthereisalackoffinancialinvestmentinjobcreation.

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RighttoDecentWorkingConditions:SomeimprovementswerebelievedtohaveoccurredoverthecourseoftheARMprojectintheareaofworkingconditions,andsafetywasconsideredsatisfactory. GenderRelations:NodramaticchangesingenderrelationsoccurredoverthecourseofARMmonitoringinKabulprovince,althoughgenderprogramswerebelievedtobemakingapositiveimpact.Corruption:CorruptioncontinuedunabatedinKabulprovinceoverthecourseofARMmonitoringcyclesandwasparticularlyevidentinemploymentandtheeducationsector.However,therewereimprovementscitedinthejusticesectorandbehaviorofthepoliceandjusticeofficials,includingtowardwomen.

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KandaharProvince

OverthecourseofARMmonitoringcycles,therewerenotableimprovementsinKandaharintheareasoffamilyrights,education,securityandpolicing,andgenderrelations.Incontrast,steadilydeterioratingtrendswereevidentinpublicservices,employment,andfoodsecurity.Trendsintheincidenceofcorruptionweredividedbetweendiscernibleimprovementsinsomesectorsanddeclinesinothers(Table7).Table7:SummaryTrends–KandaharPillar/Indicators


CivicRights: RighttoLife,Liberty,Security,andDignity ✔ ✔✔✔✔✔ ✔RighttoEfficientandFairJustice ✔ ✔✔✔✔ ✔Children’sRights ✔ ✔✔✔ ✔✔✔✔RighttoParticipateinPublicAffairs ✔✔ ✔✔✔ ✔✔✔✔FreedomofOpinionandExpression ✔✔✔✔ ✔ ✔✔✔SocialRights: RighttoHealth ✔✔✔ ✔✔✔ ✔

RighttoAdequateHousingandFacilities ✔ ✔✔ ✔✔✔✔✔

FoodSecurity ✔ ✔✔✔✔✔RighttoEducation ✔✔ ✔✔✔✔✔✔ ✔

FamilyRights ✔ ✔✔✔✔✔✔ ✔✔


RighttoDecentWorkingConditions ✔✔✔✔ ✔✔✔

CrosscuttingThemes: GenderRelations ✔✔✔ ✔✔✔✔ ✔✔✔Corruption ✔✔ ✔✔✔✔ ✔✔✔✔

CivicRights

RightstoLife,Liberty,SecurityandDignityofPerson:ARMbaselinemonitoringinKandarharfoundoverallsatisfactionwiththesecuritysituationandperformanceoftheANP,althoughnotwiththeALPthatoperatesintheprovince.Itwasalsofoundthatcommunityconflictsoccurredmostoftenoverrightstoinheritance,water,andland.ResultsfromensuingARMcyclesshowedcontinuingimprovementsinthesecuritysituationandperformanceofAfghansecurityforces,specificallythepolice.ImprovedpublictrustintheANPwasattributedtoanincreaseinthenumberofsecuritycheckposts,betterpoliceleadershipandmanagementtransparency,andenhancedcoordinationamongANPdepartmentsandwithlocalcommunities.RighttoAccessEfficientandFairJustice:WhentheARMprojectwasinitiated,therewasskepticismabouttheformaljusticesystemandlittlerelianceonitduetocorruptionandinefficiencies.ARMmonitoringcyclesindicatedimprovementsinaccesstoformaljustice,includingforwomen.Changeswereattributedtotheeffectsofpublicawarenesseffortsaswellasimprovedorganizationandpracticesofjusticeofficialsandleadership.OnenegativenotedforrightstojusticeinKandaharwasdeteriorationintheprovisionoffairjusticethroughtraditionalinstitutions.

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Children’sRights:FindingsfromtheARMbaselinestudyshowedthatchildreninKandaharfacedanumberofchallengestotheirrightsandwereregularlyexposedtovariousformsofviolence,includingearlyandforcedmarriage,baad,denialofinheritancerights,denialofeducation,andriskofkidnapping.Childlaborwasreportedtohaveincreasedinrecentyears.ARMcyclesfoundcontinuationofthesetrends,withnotablyhighincreasesinchildlabor,earlyandforcedmarriages,deprivationfromeducation,andsexualabuse,dueprimarilytohighratesofpovertyandunemployment.Onthepositivesideofchildren’srightsinKandahar,publicawarenesscampaignshaveresultedindecreasesinschooldropoutsandbetterimplementationofageguidelinesinrecruitmenthasbroughtaboutadecreaseinchildren’srecruitmentintogovernmentsecurityforces.RighttoParticipateinPublicAffairs:ElectionswereviewedwithskepticisminKandaharaccordingtofindingsfromtheARMbaselinestudy.Inaddition,briberyandnepotismwerebelievedtoundermineaccesstogovernmentpositions.ARMcyclesshowedamixedsituationregardingrightstoparticipateinpublicaffairsinKandahar.Therecontinuedtobeskepticismaboutelectionsandhopelessnessaboutaccesstogovernmentpositionsduetocorruptionandnepotism.Ontheotherhand,publicawarenessprogramsoncivicengagementhaveencouragedpeopletoparticipateinpoliticalparties.RighttoFreedomofOpinionandExpression:ARMbaselineresultsshowedthatfreedomofexpressionandbeliefwereseverelylimitedinKandaharandassociatedwithsignificantriskforjournalists,tribalelders,andcivicactivists.ARMcyclesindicatedthatthesetrendscontinued,withthreatsagainstjournalistsandcivilsocietyactivistsremainingamajorconcern.

SocialRights

RighttoHealth:AlthoughaccesstohealthserviceswassaidtobegoodinKandaharCity,accordingtoARMbaselinefindings,itwasquitelimitedinthedistricts.ARMcyclesshowedthatthesetrendsindisparitycontinued,withfurtherimprovementsinhealthcareaccessinKandaharCityandongoingpooraccessandpoorqualityinthedistrictswherehealthcareingeneralandmaternalcareinparticularremainedinadequateornon-existent.ImprovementsinKandaharCitywereattributedtotheimplementationofmonitoringandotheractivitiesthroughtheHealthcareQualityImprovementPartnershipprogram.RighttoAdequateHousingandFacilities:WhentheARMprojectbegan,IDPsinKandaharCitywereexperiencingdifficultiesaccessingbasicfacilities,suchashousing.Otherwise,accesstowater,electricityandsanitationwaslimitedandmoreavailableinKandaharCitythaninthedistricts.AsidefromadecreaseinwaterandlandrelateddisputesearlyinARMcyclemonitoring,generaltrendsinrightstohousingandfacilitiesinKandaharwerenegative,withadeteriorationinaccesstosafewaterinruralareasduetonon-functionalwaterpumpsandpoorrainfall.Electricityprovisionremainedlimited.AndagrowingnumberofIDPsfromHelmandandUruzganputadditionalpressureonalreadyscarceresources.FoodSecurity:ARMbaselinestudyresultsshowedthatfoodinsecuritywasminimalinKandaharatthebeginningoftheproject.However,ARMmonitoringcyclesshowedasharpdeteriorationinfoodsecurity,withsteadydecreasesinaccesstofoodduetoeconomichardshipandinsufficientandsometimecorruptfoodaidprogramming.RighttoEducation:AccesstoeducationatthebeginningoftheARMprojectinKandaharwasbetterforboysthangirls,andmoreavailableinKandaharCitythaninthedistricts.Moreover,poorquality

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facilities,securityconstraints,transportationdifficulties,andadearthoffemaleteacherscompromisededucationinthedistricts.ARMcyclesindicatedacontinuationofthesetrends,withimprovementsineducationaccessandqualityinKandaharCityduetotherecruitmentofspecializedteachersandconstructionofnewinfrastructure,yetlittleprogressinthedistricts.FamilyRights:ARMbaselinestudyresultsindicatedhighlevelsofdomesticviolenceagainstbothwomenandchildreninKandahar.ARMmonitoringcyclesshowedfurtherimprovementsinfamilyrightsinKandahar,includingadecreaseinviolenceagainstwomenduetotheeffectsofpublicawarenessprogrammingaboutfamilyrights.WomenwerebelievedtohaveimprovedaccesstoFRUsaswellasenhancedawarenessoftheirinheritancerights.

EconomicRights

RighttoWorkandFairnessinEmployment:AttheoutsetoftheARMproject,employmentinKandaharwasdecliningduetothewithdrawalofforeigntroopsandanassociatedreductioninconstructionandcommerce.ThesetrendscontinuedoverthecourseofARMcycles,withcontinuingdecreasesinemploymentopportunitiesandbusinessinvestment.Thosewithjobsoftenfearedtheymightbefiredandreplacedbysomeonewithconnectionsthroughnepotism.RighttoDecentWorkingConditions:ARMbaselinefindingsindicatedthatthefewwomenwhoworkoutsidethehomeinKandaharfacepublicharassment.Womenwerealsomorelikelytohavelosttheirjobsduetoeconomicdecline.LaterARMcyclesshowedsomeimprovementsinsafetyatworkplacesespeciallyforwomen.GenderRelations:OverthecourseofARMmonitoringthereweredecreasesingenderdiscriminationintheformaljusticesector.Women’saccesstoemployment,however,continuedtobehighlyconstrained.Corruption:ThereweremixedtrendsinadministrativecorruptionduringtheARMprojectinKandahar.Corruptionreducedintheformalandtraditionaljusticesystems.However,itincreasedintheANP,healthcare,education,andpaidemployment.Nepotismandcorruptioncontinuedtobesignificantobstaclesinfairaccesstogovernmentpositions.Therewasalso,however,beliefthatacombinationofhighlevelanticorruptionprogramming,civilsocietyadvocacy,andincentivesforgoodadministrativeperformanceresultedinsomedeclineincorruption.

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KhostProvince

OvertheARMproject,therewereimprovementsinmostareasofcivicrightsinKhostprovince,withtheexceptionsofchildren’srightsandaccesstogovernmentpositions.Therewasalsoevidenceofdeteriorationinaccesstohealthcareaswellasopportunitiesforpaidemployment(Table8).Table8:SummaryTrends–KhostPillar/Indicators


CivicRights: RighttoLife,Liberty,Security,andDignity ✔✔ ✔✔✔✔ ✔RighttoEfficientandFairJustice ✔✔✔ ✔✔✔✔ ✔Children’sRights ✔✔✔ ✔✔ ✔✔✔RighttoParticipateinPublicAffairs ✔✔ ✔✔✔ ✔✔✔FreedomofOpinionandExpression ✔✔✔✔ ✔✔✔ ✔SocialRights: RighttoHealth ✔✔ ✔✔ ✔✔✔

RighttoAdequateHousingandFacilities ✔✔✔✔✔ ✔✔✔

FoodSecurity ✔✔✔✔ ✔ ✔RighttoEducation ✔✔ ✔✔✔✔

FamilyRights ✔ ✔✔✔ ✔✔✔

EconomicRights: RighttoWorkandFairnessinEmployment ✔✔✔ ✔✔✔

RighttoDecentWorkingConditions ✔✔✔ ✔✔ ✔

CrosscuttingThemes: GenderRelations ✔✔✔ ✔✔✔ ✔Corruption ✔✔ ✔✔✔ ✔✔✔✔

CivicRights

RightstoLife,Liberty,SecurityandDignityofPerson:SecuritywasstableandviewsabouttheANPweregenerallypositiveinKhostatthebeginningoftheARMproject.ARMmonitoringcyclesshowedacontinuationofthesetrends,despitesomediscontentwiththepoorbehavioroftrafficpoliceandpoliticalviolencebetweentworivaltribes.RighttoEfficientandFairJustice:AccesstoandperformanceoftheformaljusticesysteminKhostwaspositive,accordingtoARMbaselinefindings.ThistrendgenerallycontinuedoverARMcycles.Accesstoformaljusticeincreasedforbothmenandwomenduetotheimprovedmonitoringbythegovernmentandtheappointmentofnewjudges.Accessalsoimprovedinthetraditionaljusticesystem,duetoimprovedbehaviorofelders.Children’sRights:AtthebeginningoftheARMproject,therewerefewcasesofviolenceagainstchildreninKhost,althoughchildlaborwascommon.ARMcyclessomeamixofimprovementanddeclinesinchildren’srightsinKhost.Ratesofchildsexualabusecasesdeclinedduetopublicawarenessefforts.However,childlabor,droppingoutofschool,andearlymarriagecontinuedtoincreaseduetohighratesofunemploymentandeconomichardship.RighttoParticipateinPublicAffairs:TherewaslingeringdisappointmentinelectionsinKhostattheoutsetoftheARMprojectduetoproblemswiththemostrecentpresidentialrace.Womenweresaidto

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beparticularlydisaffected.TrendsinrightstoparticipateinpublicaffairsshowedmixedtrendsoverthecourseofARMcycles.Peopleremainedskepticalofelections,buttherewasgrowinginterestinjoiningpoliticalparties,primarilyasameansofsecuringemployment,andimprovedaccesstogovernmentpositions.RighttoFreedomofOpinionandExpression:ThepossibilityofthreatsagainstjournalistsexistedinKhostattheoutsetoftheARMproject,althoughnoincidentshadoccurredintherecentpast.Inaddition,publicinformationcouldbedifficulttoaccess.ARMcyclesshowedthatthesetrendscontinued.TherehadbeenimprovementsinawarenessoftheRighttoInformationLawduetotrainings,althoughthishasnottranslatedintoanincreaseduseofgovernmentinformation.

SocialRights

RighttoHealth:AccesstohealthcareinKhostwasbetterinKhostCitythaninthedistrictsaccordingtoARMbaselineresults.Althoughmobileclinicsexistedtoserveruralareas,securityconcernsamongdoctorsrestrictedtheirutility.ARMcyclesshowedthataccesstohealthservicesfurtherdeclinedduetoinsufficientnumberofdoctorsandnurses.RighttoAdequateHousingandFacilities:Accesstowaterandsolar-enabledelectricitywasgoodinKhostCityatthebeginningoftheARMproject,althoughaccesschallengesaffectedmostdistricts.TherehadalsobeenarecentinfluxofIDPstotheprovince,whichwasputtingpressureonresourcesandservices.ARMcyclesindicateddeclinesindisputesrelatedtowaterandlandinKhostduetoincreasedpublicawarenessandreconciliationeffortassociatedwiththeNationalSolidarityProgram.IDPsaccesstohousingandservicesimprovedduetohumanitarianprogramsbyinternationalagencies.FoodSecurity:AtthebeginningoftheARMproject,therewaswidespreadfoodinsecurityinKhostandnogovernmentorNGOprogramsinoperationtoaddresstheproblem.ThesetrendscontinuedduringtheARMmonitoringcycles,withstillhighlevelsoffoodinsecurityandonlyintermittentassistanceprovidedbygovernmentunits,mosques,andmerchants.RighttoEducation:ARMbaselinefindingsindicatedrelativelygoodaccesstoeducationforchildrenintheKhostCity,butconstraintsinthedistricts,particularlyforgirls.EnsuingARMcyclesshowedfurthergainsineducationaccessforbothboysandgirls,thoughcontinuingconcernsoverquality,includinginadequatecredentialsformanyteachers.FamilyRights:CasesofviolenceagainstwomenandgirlsinKhost,includingforcedmarriage,denialofeducation,underagemarriage,beatings,non-paymentofalimonyandbadalweregenerallyhandledthroughtheinformaljusticesystem,accordingtoARMbaselineresults.LaterARMcyclesindicatedthatdomesticviolenceintheprovincehasdecreasedduetotheeffectsofpublicawarenessprogramsinthemediaandreligiousmessaginginmosques.However,women’sinheritanceanddivorcerightscontinuedtobehamperedandtherewerestillnowomen’ssheltersintheprovince.

EconomicRights

RighttoWorkandFairnessinEmployment:ARMbaselineresultsindicatedthataccesstopaidemploymentinKhostwasunderminedbyalackofjobs,securityproblemsandcorruption.ARMcyclesshowedthesetrendscontinuing,withfurtherreductionsinaccesstopaidemploymentduetoacessationofaidprojectsandgrowinginsecurity.

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RighttoDecentWorkingConditions:Discriminationbasedonkinship,ethnicityorpowerinaccessingpaidemploymenthasdeclinedinKhost.However,governmentemployeesandthosewhoworkforNGOshavebeenthreatenedbyoppositiongroups,whichincreasedinsecurityintheworkplace.GenderRelations:GenderrelationsremainedgenerallyunchangedinKhostoverthecourseoftheARMproject,exceptfordecreaseddiscriminationinaccesstogovernmentpositionsandeducation.Corruption:ARMbaselineresultsshowedthatcorruptionwasbelievedtobecommonplaceinKhostacrossgovernmentdepartmentsaswellasintheformalemploymentsector.ARMcyclesshowedbothimprovementsanddeclinesinadministrativecorruption.Consistentimprovementswerenotedinthepoliceandformaljustice,duetochangeinleadership,thetransferandreplacementofcorruptemployees,andenhancedmonitoring.Increasesincorruptionwerenotedforhealthservices,accesstowaterandelectricity,paidemployment,andtheeducationsector.

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KunduzProvince

KunduzfacedacutesecurityproblemsduringtheARMproject,indicatedbythefallofKunduzCitytwotimestotheTaliban.TrendsinfundamentalrightsinKunduzshowedimprovementsinfoodsecurityandhousingandfacilities,duelargelytohumanitariananddevelopmentresponsestoacutesecuritythreatsintheprovince.Therewasalso,however,consistentdeteriorationinchildren’srights,freedomofexpression,andaccesstoemployment.Levelsofcorruptionbothimprovedinsomesectorsanddeterioratedinothers(Table9).Table9:SummaryTrends–KunduzPillar/Indicators


CivicRights: RighttoLife,Liberty,Security,andDignity ✔✔ ✔✔✔✔ ✔✔✔✔RighttoEfficientandFairJustice ✔✔✔✔ ✔✔ Children’sRights ✔✔ ✔✔ ✔✔✔✔✔RighttoParticipateinPublicAffairs ✔✔✔✔✔ ✔FreedomofOpinionandExpression ✔✔✔ ✔✔✔✔✔SocialRights: RighttoHealth ✔✔✔ ✔✔ ✔

RighttoAdequateHousingandFacilities ✔✔✔✔ ✔✔✔✔ ✔

FoodSecurity ✔✔ ✔✔✔✔ ✔RighttoEducation ✔✔✔ ✔ ✔✔

FamilyRights ✔✔✔✔✔ ✔✔

EconomicRights: RighttoWorkandFairnessinEmployment ✔ ✔✔✔✔✔

RighttoDecentWorkingConditions ✔✔✔✔✔ ✔

CrosscuttingThemes: GenderRelations ✔✔✔✔ ✔ ✔✔Corruption ✔✔✔ ✔✔✔ ✔✔✔

CivicRights

RightstoLife,Liberty,SecurityandDignityofPerson:TheARMprojectbeganinKunduzduringaperiodofheightenedsecurityproblemsstemmingfromtheTaliban’songoinginfluenceafteritstakeoverofKunduzCityinlate2015.Despitethis,ARMbaselinefindingsshowedgeneralsatisfactionwiththeANP,althoughnotablynegativeviewsoftheALP.EnsuingARMcyclesincludedthesecondtakeoverofKunduzCitybytheTalibaninOctober2016,includingacutecrisisinthesecuritysituation.CivicrightsinKunduzgenerallycontinuedtobechallengedbythevolatilesecuritysituation.DespitehighlevelsofTalibanactivity,policeperformancewasstillviewedpositively.TrustintheALPremainedlow.RighttoEfficientandFairJustice:BaselineARMresultsshowedhigheruseandlevelsoftrustintheinformaljusticesysteminKunduzthanintheformalsystem,withbothsystemshighlysusceptibletotheinfluenceofpowerholdersandinclinedtobebiasedagainstwomen.Talibancourtswerealsousedinsomeareas.LaterARMcyclesshowedlittlechangeinthejusticesectorinKunduzandcontinuedpreferencesforthetraditionaljusticesystem.Children’sRights:ThoughphysicalviolenceagainstchildreninKunduzwasrare,accordingtoARMbaselinefindings,earlymarriagewascommonandseldomviewedasaproblem.Initialfindingsalso

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indicatedconcernthatworkingchildrenwerevulnerabletoexploitationandabuse.ARMcyclesindicatedincreasedlevelsofchildlabor,primarilyintheagriculturalsector,aswellasincreasedrecruitmentofchildrenintoarmedconflicts.RighttoParticipateinPublicAffairs:Citizens’viewsaboutelectionsinKunduzweremixedattheoutsetoftheARMproject.Althoughsomeweredisillusioned,otherscontinuedtobelievethatparticipationinfutureelectionswasimportant.ARMcyclesshowednochangesinthisarea,mostlybecauseofpersistentinsecurity.OnepositiveintheareaofpublicaffairswasachangeindistrictlevelleadershipinImamSahibandAliAbadbasedonopen,competitiveprocedures.RighttoFreedomofOpinionandExpression:ThevolatilesecuritysituationinKunduzhadcreateddangersforthoseseekingtoexercisefreedomofexpression,accordingtoARMbaselinefindings.Therehadbeenahighincidenceofthreatsandviolenceagainstjournalistsandsocialactivists.ThesetrendsfurtherintensifiedoverthecourseoftheARMproject,withahighlevelofthreatfacedbyjournalistsandothersengagedinfreedomofexpression.

SocialRights

RighttoHealth:Despitesomeaccessproblemsinremoteareas,healthcareinKunduzhadrecentlyexpandedandimprovedaccordingtoARMbaselineresults.ARMcyclesshowedthatthesetrendscontinued,withsomeadditionalpressuresonhealthcarefacilitiesinKunduzCityduetotheinfluxofindividualsfromoutlyingareasseekingservicesandthedepartureofdoctorsfromtheprovinceduetoinsecurity.RighttoAdequateHousingandFacilities:AtthebeginningoftheARMproject,electricitywasgenerallyavailableinKunduzCity,withwateravailableonlyfromwellsorrivers.Conflictoverland,water,andinheritancewerecommonplaceandoftenlong-lasting.ARMcyclesshowedacomplicatedandmixedsituationwithaccesstohousingandfacilitiesinKunduz.Disputesoverlandandwatercontinued,however,mountinginsecurityalsodisruptedsomeofthisstrife.AninfluxofIDPsintoKunduzCitywasmetwithadditionalhumanitarianprogrammingbygovernment,donoragencies,andNGOs.Newpowerlineconstructionimprovedelectricityaccessinsomelocations,whilewaterprojectsalsoimprovedaccesstowaterinsomeruralareas.FoodSecurity:ARMbaselineresultsindicatedmountingfoodinsecurityinKunduz.NeedswerebeingaddressedthroughemergencyassistanceprovidedbyNGOs.GovernmentassistancewaslimitedtoIDPs.ARMcyclesindicatedanincreaseinfoodaidprogramminginKunduzduelargelytoheightenedconflictandhumanitariancrisisintheprovince.BoththeAfghangovernmentanddonoragencieswereinvolvedinthisassistance.RighttoEducation:AccesstoeducationinKunduzCitywasgenerallygoodforbothboysandgirlsatthebeginningoftheARMproject.Accesswasalsoreasonablygoodinthedistrictcentersoftheprovince.ARMcyclesshowedthateducationcontinuedtobeavailableinKunduzCity,butbecamemorerestrictedespeciallyforgirlsinruralareasduetomountinginsecurityintheprovince.Thequalityofeducationremainedlowduetonepotisminemploymentandlackoftextbooksandotherresources.FamilyRights:ARMbaselineresultsindicatedwidespreadviolenceagainstwomeninKunduz,particularlyinthedistricts.LaterARMcyclesshowedfurtherdeteriorationinfamilyrights,withinsecurityintensifyingconflictswithinfamiliesandbetweengroups.

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EconomicRights

RighttoWorkandFairnessinEmployment:KunduzhadfewemploymentopportunitiesattheoutsetoftheARMproject.Jobsthatwereavailableweretypicallyfilledthroughnepotismandbribery.Womenfacedparticularchallengesinthelabormarketandweresubjecttoharassmentandabuse.ARMcyclesshowedthatthesetrendsintensified,withinsecurityfurtherunderminingemploymentopportunities.RighttoDecentWorkingConditions:WorkingconditionsremainedunchangedinKunduzoverthecourseoftheARMproject.GenderRelations:Insecurityunderminedwomen’sandgirl’saccesstoopportunitiesinthepublicsphereinKunduz.TheiraccesstoeducationandformaljusticedeterioratedoverthecourseoftheARMproject.However,genderdiscriminationwasbelievedtobelowintheprovince,exceptinpoliticalparties.Corruption:ARMbaselinestudyfindingsindicatedproblemswithcorruptionintheeducationsectorandwithaccesstoemploymentinKunduz.OverthecourseoftheARMproject,corruptionintheformaljusticesectordecreasedduetoincreasesinsalariesofjusticeofficials.Inothersectors,however,corruptionincreasedorcontinuedunabated.

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NangarharProvince

ThemostdiscernibletrendsinNangarharoverthecourseoftheARMprojectweresteadyimprovementintherighttoeducationanddeteriorationinpaidemployment.Rightstoefficientandfairjusticealsoshowedimprovement.Trendsinotherareasofrightsweremoremixed(Table10).Table10:SummaryTrends–NangarharPillar/Indicators


CivicRights: RighttoLife,Liberty,Security,andDignity ✔ ✔✔✔ ✔✔✔✔✔RighttoEfficientandFairJustice ✔ ✔✔✔✔ ✔✔Children’sRights ✔✔ ✔✔✔✔✔ ✔✔✔✔RighttoParticipateinPublicAffairs ✔✔✔✔ ✔✔✔ ✔FreedomofOpinionandExpression ✔✔✔ ✔✔ ✔✔✔SocialRights: RighttoHealth ✔ ✔✔✔✔✔

RighttoAdequateHousingandFacilities ✔✔ ✔✔✔ ✔✔✔✔

FoodSecurity ✔✔✔✔✔ ✔RighttoEducation ✔✔ ✔✔✔✔✔

FamilyRights ✔✔ ✔✔✔ ✔✔


RighttoDecentWorkingConditions ✔✔✔✔ ✔✔

CrosscuttingThemes: GenderRelations ✔✔✔ ✔✔✔ ✔Corruption ✔✔✔✔✔ ✔✔ ✔✔✔

CivicRights

RightstoLife,Liberty,SecurityandDignityofPerson:WhentheARMprojectbegan,thesecuritysituationinNangarharwasgrave,withrelativesecurityonlyinJalalabadandafewnearbydistricts,includingthoseincludedintheARM.Therewas,however,generalsatisfactionwiththeANPandapprovalofpolicebehaviorwiththepublic.Disputesoverlandandwaterwerecommon.LaterARMcyclesshowedavolatilesecuritysituationinNangarhar,withpoliticalconflictstemmingfromthepeacedealwithHizbi-Islami,andAfghansecurityforcesretakingseveraldistrictsheldbyinsurgents.Despiteattacks,theANPcontinuedtobejudgedfavorablybecauseofitseffortstopushbackagainstinsurgents.Thepolicewerealsopraisedforinterventionstopreventboysfromharassinggirlsinthestreets.RighttoEfficientandFairJustice:TheformaljusticesectorwasnotheldinhighregardinNangarharatthebeginningoftheARMproject.Corruptionwithinjusticeunitsandsecuritythreatsagainstjusticeofficialsunderminedpublicconfidenceinrightstojustice.ARMcyclesindicatedimprovedaccesstojustice.Corruptofficialswerereplaced,thebehaviorofjusticeofficialsimproved,andwomen’saccesstojusticeimprovedduetoawarenessprogramming.Children’sRights:ARMbaselineresultsindicatedthatviolenceagainstchildrenoccurredinNangarhar,althoughitwasseldomreported.Inaddition,childlaborwasbelievedtobeontherise.ARMcyclesshowedmixedresultsforchildren’srightsintheprovince.PublicawarenessprogramsbygovernmentandNGOscontributedtosomeimprovementsintheincidenceofearlyandforcedmarriage,sexual

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abuse,andchildren’saccesstoreformcentersandorphanages.TheDoLMSAimplementedaprogramtosupportfamilieswhosefatherwasabsentthatenabledchildrentoattendschoolratherthandroppingouttowork.Despitethiseffort,however,theincidenceofchildlaborcontinuedtogrowduetowidespreadpoverty,unemploymentandinsecurity.Therewereincreasesinchildren’srecruitmentintoarmedconflictbyDaesh.RighttoParticipateinPublicAffairs:ARMbaselineresultsshowedthatinterestinexercisingrightstovoteremainedstronginNangarhar,despitecomplaintsaboutrecentelections.ARMcyclesshoweddeclinesinviewsaboutelectionsinNangarhar.However,women’saccesstopublicemploymentgrew,particularlyintheeducationsector.Therewasalsoincreasinginterestinjoiningpoliticalpartiesasameanstoadvanceemploymentopportunities.RighttoFreedomofOpinionandExpression:WhentheARMprojectbegan,gravethreatsexistedagainstthoseexercisingfreedomofexpression,particularlyjournalists,socialactivists,andpublicintellectuals.ThelatercyclesofARMmonitoringrevealedanaccentuationofthistrend,withassassinationsandanattackonthenationaltelevisionoutletresultinginthedeathsofseveralemployeestargetingthosespeakingoutagainsttheinsurgency.OnepositivewasimprovementinunderstandingoftheAccesstoInformationLaw.

SocialRights

RighttoHealth:AccesstohealthcareintheJalalabadwasgood,accordingtoARMbaselineresults,althoughseverechallengestoaccessexistedinmostdistrictsintheprovince.ARMcyclesshowedthattherecruitmentofnewstaffandconstructionofinfrastructureimprovedaccessandqualityinthesector.ImprovementsextendedtothedistrictsofSurkhrudandKamawherenewhealthcenterswereestablished.RighttoAdequateHousingandFacilities:AccesstoelectricityandotherpublicserviceswerebeingstressedinNangarharwhentheARMprojectwaslaunched,dueprimarilytoaninfluxofIDPsintotheprovince.Electricitywasofparticularconcern.ARMcycletrendsshowedmixedresultsforhousingandfacilitiesinNangarhar.Landconflictsescalatedovertheprojectperiodanddemandforelectricitycontinuedtobehigherthansupply.AninfluxofreturneesfromPakistanalsostretchedaccesstobasicservicesincludingwater,electricityandshelter,thoughsomeassistancewasbeingprovided.Wateraccessincreased,however,duetonewdamsanddeepwells.FoodSecurity:FoodinsecuritywasasignificantandgrowingprobleminNangarhar—estimatedtoaffect40%ofthepopulation—whentheARMprojectbegan.TheonlyassistancebeingprovidedatthetimewasbyUNHCRtoIDPs.Thesetrends,bothinneedsandinmodestassistanceprovision,continuedunchangedduringtheARMcycles.RighttoEducation:AlthougheducationinfrastructurewaswelldevelopedinNangarharatthetimeoftheARMbaselinestudy,therewerefewfemaleteachers,whichreducedaccessforgirls.Insecuritytoohadtakenatolloneducationaccess.ARMcycleresultsindicatedthateducationtrendsconsistentlyimprovedinNangarharoverthecourseoftheproject.Theseimprovementswereattributedtoincreasesinthenumberofteachersemployed,thedeliveryofprofessionaldevelopmentworkshopstoteachers,andnewcurricula.Therewas,however,concernthatqualityhasnotkeptpacewiththeincreasingnumbersofteachersandstudentsandcontinuedconstraintsongirls’schoolattendanceinruralareasduetothelongdistancesbetweenhomeandschool.

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FamilyRights:ARMbaselinefindingsshowedthatnumerousformsofviolenceagainstwomen,includingforcedmarriage,denialofeducation,baad,badal,physicalabuse,andwithholdingresourceswereperpetratedagainstwomeninNangarhar,particularlyinthedistricts.Womenwerealsoregularlydeniedtheirinheritancerights.AnumberofFRUswereinoperationintheprovinceatthetime,althoughtherewaslittleawarenessaboutthem.OverthecourseoftheARMprojectthereweresomeimprovementsinfamilyrightsinNangarharincludingadecreaseinviolenceagainstwomen,increaseinwomen’saccesstoshelters,andincreaseinpublicawarenessofwomen’sinheritancerights.Thesechangeswereattributedtotheeffortsofmedia,civilsociety,religiousleadersandmosques.

EconomicRights

RighttoWorkandFairnessinEmployment:TherewaslittleopportunityforpaidemploymentinNangarharwhentheARMprojectbegan,andverylittlebusinessinvestment.ThesetrendscontinuedandintensifiedovertheARMcycles.Employmentcontinuedtodecline,withincreasinginsecurityintheworkplaceduetoinsurgentthreats.Therewasgrowingconcernaboutdonorprogramsending,resultinginfurtherreductionsinemployment,particularlyforwomen.RighttoDecentWorkingConditions:WhentheARMwaslaunched,harassmentofwomeninemploymentandpublicsettingsmoregenerallywasrampant.Throughouttheproject,insecurityintheworkplacewaswidespread.DuetoinsurgentattacksandthreatspeoplefeltincreasinglyinsecureworkingforthegovernmentandNGOs. GenderRelations:TrendsingenderrelationsweremixedinNangarharoverthecourseoftheARMproject.Women’saccesstoformaljusticeimprovedanddiscriminationagainstwomeninaccesstogovernmentjobsdecreased.Fewotherpositivechangeswerenoted,however.Corruption:AttheoutsetoftheARMproject,corruptionwaswidespreadinNagarharinanumberofgovernmentdepartments,includinghealth,education,customsandotherunitsresponsibleforrevenuecollection.OvertheARMproject,therewereimprovementsinreducingcorruptionintheformaljusticesector,duetoimprovedsupervision,newleadership,andemployeeevaluation.Inothersectors,corruptioncontinuedorworsened.Corruptionandnepotismalsocontributedtounderminingfairaccesstopaidemployment.

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NimruzProvince

AccesstojusticeandtheperformanceofjusticeofficialsshowednotableimprovementsoverthecourseofARMmonitoringinNimruz.Therewerealsoimprovementsinrightstohealthandeducation.Otherareashadmixedtrendsorremainedgenerallyunchanged.Thisincludedaccesstoemployment,whichwaslowattheoutsetoftheARMprojectandremainedlowthroughthedurationofmonitoring(Table11).Table11:SummaryTrends–NimruzPillar/Indicators


CivicRights: RighttoLife,Liberty,Security,andDignity ✔ ✔✔✔✔ ✔✔✔✔RighttoEfficientandFairJustice ✔ ✔✔✔✔✔✔ ✔Children’sRights ✔ ✔✔ ✔✔✔✔RighttoParticipateinPublicAffairs ✔✔✔✔ ✔✔✔ ✔FreedomofOpinionandExpression ✔✔✔✔✔ ✔ ✔✔SocialRights: RighttoHealth ✔ ✔✔✔✔✔

RighttoAdequateHousingandFacilities ✔✔✔✔✔ ✔ ✔✔

FoodSecurity ✔✔✔ ✔✔✔RighttoEducation ✔✔ ✔✔✔✔✔

FamilyRights ✔✔✔ ✔✔ ✔✔✔✔

EconomicRights: RighttoWorkandFairnessinEmployment ✔✔✔✔ ✔✔

RighttoDecentWorkingConditions ✔✔✔✔✔ ✔✔

CrosscuttingThemes: GenderRelations ✔✔✔ ✔✔✔ ✔Corruption ✔✔✔✔✔ ✔✔ ✔✔✔

CivicRights

RightstoLife,Liberty,SecurityandDignityofPerson:WhentheARMprojectbegan,thesecuritysituationinNimruzwasgenerallygoodandtherehadbeenrecentimprovementintheperformanceoftheANP.OverthecourseofARMcycles,thesecuritysituationinNimruzdeclinedsharply.TherewereincidentsofpoisoningstudentsandclashesbetweenANPandinsurgents,leadingtopolicecasualties.Insurgentattackswereincreasinglyworryingtoresidents,whofearedroadminesandattacksonpublicinfrastructure.Trustinthepoliceincreasedoverthisperiod.Improvedpoliceperformancewasattributedtotraining,bettersupervision,andmoresystematicfollow-uptocases.RighttoEfficientandFairJustice:ThereweremixedviewsaboutthestatusofaccesstojusticeinNimruzaccordingtoresultsfromtheARMbaselinestudy,withlesssatisfactionintheprovincialcenterthanthedistricts.OverARMcycles,therewereconsistentimprovementstoaccesstoformaljustice,whichwereattributedtotheappointmentofanewheadoftheprovincialcourtandimprovedperformanceofjudicialstaff.Children’sRights:Children’srightsdeterioratedintheleaduptothelaunchoftheARMprojectinNimruz.ChildlaborandearlymarriagewereparticularlycommonaccordingtoARMbaselinefindings.ARMcyclesindicatedcontinuingincreasesofchildlabor.Ontheotherhand,improvementsinthe

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formaljusticesystemextendedtochildrenwhohaveimprovedaccesstojustice,juvenilehomes,andrehabilitationcentersintheprovince.RighttoParticipateinPublicAffairs:ARMbaselineresultsindicatedskeptismwithelectionsandcompromisedaccesstogovernmentemploymentduetowidespreadnepotismandbribery.ARMcyclesshowedsomeimprovementsinpublicattitudestowardparticipationinfutureelections.Therewasalsosomeimprovementinfairaccesstogovernmentpositions,particularlyforwomen,duetotheGovernor’sefforts.RighttoFreedomofOpinionandExpression:FreedomofexpressionwasgenerallygoodintheprovincialcenterofZaranjattheoutsetoftheARMproject,withgoodcooperationbetweenmediaandthepublic.Inthedistricts,however,therehadbeencasesofthreatsagainstthoseexercisingthisright.ARMcyclesindicatedthatawarenessoftheAccesstoInformationlawimprovedduetomediacoverageandconferencesheldbytheDepartmentofInformationandCulture.However,threatsagainstthoseexercisingrightstofreespeechandexpressionincreased,includingtargetingofreligiousleaders.

SocialRights

RighttoHealth:AccesstohealthcarewasgoodinZaranjatthebeginningoftheARMproject.Incontrast,availabilityandqualityofhealthserviceswereinsufficientinthedistrictsduetothegrowingpopulation.TherewereconsistentimprovementsinaccesstohealthcareinNimruzoverthecourseofARMcycles.Thisincludedimprovedbehaviourofdoctorsandothermedicalstaffaswellasexpansionsofmobilehealthteamsforruralareasandimprovedreproductivehealthservices.Theseimprovementswereattributedtotheappointmentofanewhealthdirectorfortheprovince.RighttoAdequateHousingandFacilities:WhentheARMprojectbegan,therewerehousingshortagesandconstraintsontheavailabilityofwaterandpowerinNimruz.ARMcyclefindingsindicatedthatalthoughtherewerecapacityincreasesinwateravailabilityandelectricityproductioninNimruzthatcostswereprohibitiveforalargenumberofresidents,limitingaccessdespiteenhancedavailability.HighcostshavealsocontributedtotheincidenceofwaterandlandrelatedconflictsinNaranj.FoodSecurity:ThefoodsecuritysituationinNimruzwhentheARMprojectbeganwasstable,withtraditionalcommunity-basedsupportsavailabletotheneedy.However,laterARMcyclesindicatedanincreaseinthenumberofpeopleaffectedbyfoodinsecurityintheprovince,withoutsufficientexpansionoffoodaidprograms.RighttoEducation:AccesstoeducationwasrelativelygoodinNimruzwhentheARMprojectbeganandtheprovincewasnotableinhavingveryhighnumbersoffemaleteachers,whoinfactoutnumberedthenumberofmaleteachersemployedintheprovince.Therewere,however,stillconstraintsonaccesstoeducationinthedistricts.ARMcyclesindicatedthatthesetrendscontinuedinNimruzduetothehiringofqualifiedteachers,schoolrehabilitationefforts,andestablishmentofanewuniversity.FamilyRights:ARMbaselinefindingsshowedthatdomesticviolencehadincreasedinNimruzintheyearsjustpriortotheprojectcommencing.Inaddition,otherformsofviolenceagainstwomenwerecommon.ThereisoneFRUandonewomen’sshelterintheprovince.ThesetrendsinfamilyrightscontinuedduringARMcycles,withincreasesindomesticviolenceagainstwomen,attributedtohighratesofunemploymentandaddictionofmen.OnepositivedevelopmentwasenhancedaccesstoFRUs

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duetothehiringoftwofemalestaffintheAttorneyGeneral’sofficewhoseresponsibilitiesfocusonthepreventionofviolence.

EconomicRights

RighttoWorkandFairnessinEmployment:AccesstopaidemploymentwasonthedeclineinNimruzattheoutsetoftheARMproject.ThesetrendscontinuedthroughoutARMcycles,withcontinuinglowlevelsofpaidemploymentopportunities.RighttoDecentWorkingConditions:TherewerenochangesinworkingconditionsinNimruzoverthecourseoftheARMproject.GenderRelations:GenderdiscriminationinNimruzwasbelievedtohavedecreasedinaccesstoformaljusticewithmorewomenaccessingcourtsforvariousissues.Genderdiscriminationalsodecreasedinaccesstoeducationandpaidemployment,althoughveryfewpaidjobswereavailable.Therewasalso,however,anincreaseintheincidenceofforcedandearlymarriages.Corruption:AtthebeginningoftheARMproject,administrativecorruptionwaswidespreadinNimruz,affectingavarietyofsectors,includingthepolice,education,thepassportagency,thejusticesector,healthcare,andemployment.Pooranddiscriminatorytreatmentbygovernmentofficialswasalsocommonplace,particularlyforwomen.OverthecourseofARMcyclestherewasamixedsituationregardingcorruptionrates.Therewassomeprogressincurbingadministrativecorruptioninthesecurityandjusticesectors,whichwasattributedtotrainingofsecurityforces,highprofilearrestsofcorruptjusticeofficials,andmoreequitablerecruitmentpractices.Thehealthsystemcontinuedtoexperiencecorruptionintheformofextrapaymentdemandedforservicesandchannelingpatientstoprivateclinics.Thesituationwasmixedintheeducationsector.

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ARMResearch

Researchwascarriedoutonselectedissuesthatcametolightduringthemonitoringoffundamentalrightsovera3-yearperiod,approximately–fromthelastquarterof2015tothesecondquarterof2018.Thekeyissuesresearchedandthefindingsaresummarizedinthissection.

“Human”vs.“Fundamental”Rights

OverthelasthundredyearstherehasbeenacomplexhistoryoflegalandpolicyeffortstomodernizefamilyrelationsandtheroleofwomeninpubliclifeinAfghanistan,withprogressivechangesmadeandenjoyedespeciallybytheyoungergenerationincitiesandtowns,sporadicresistancetolegalintrusionsintofamilydecision-making,thedramaticreversalsimmediatelyfollowingthepost-Sovietinvasionera,andconcertedeffortssince2001toreinstitutebasicrightswithastrongfocusonwomen.AfterthefalloftheTalibanin2001,themobilizationofahumanrightsframeworkbyinternationaldevelopmentorganizationsandagenciestoestablishjusticeaddedfurthercomplicationtoanalreadycomplexlandscapewhereConstitutionalLawandShari’alawtendtoconflictonsomeofthekeyrights-relatedissues.Thegenderednatureofthepost-2001interventioninAfghanistan,with“savingAfghanwomen”usedasajustificationforcontinuedmilitarypresenceofforeigntroops,hasprecipitatedbothprogressandbacklashagainstthenotionsofwomen’srightsandhumanrights.AspolicyreformsinitiallycarriedoutbyWesternactorsdisplayedlittlesensitivitytoAfghanlegaltraditions,“humanrights”cametobeviewedbymanyasanimpositionofforeignnormsunderminingcustomaryandIslamictraditions.Inretrospect,theresultantdisapprovaltothenotionofhumanrightsinAfghanistansince2001appearstobetheoutcomeofconfrontingonesetoffundamentalism,i.e.,strictcodesofconductforcitizensandsystematicexclusionofwomenfromallaspectsoflife,withanother,i.e.,thereshouldbenonegotiationaboutimplementinguniversalhumanrightsinthepost-2001Afghanistan.VeryfewpeoplearefamiliarwiththefundamentalrightsguaranteedtoallAfghansasarticulatedintheConstitutionandrelatedlegislation.Proponentsofthetwoopposingviewsonhumanrightsaredifferentiatedintermsofeducationandsocialposition.Awarenessabouthumanrightstendstobestrongest(andmostpositive)inprovincialcenters.Thereislittleornoawarenessorunderstandingofhumanrightsintheruraldistricts,leavingpeoplesusceptibletotheinfluenceof“knowledgebrokers”whomayormaynothavepositiveoraccurateviewsabouthumanrightsandhowtheserightsrelatetoIslamicprinciplesaswellasinternationaltreaties.Theleastcontroversialrightsarethosepertainingtovotingandrunningforpoliticaloffice.Themorecontroversialrightsarethosepertainingtowomenandthefamily.Thisisnotsurprisingconsideringthehistoricalpatternofresistancetopolicyandtop-downreformsfocusedonwomen,marriage,andthefamilyandthedegreetowhichgendernormsandfamilyrelationsfigureintoAfghansociallifeandthesocialorder.Thoughstillresistedbysome,girls’educationisoneareaofrightsthathasbecomelesscontroversial.Overtime,attitudestowardhumanrightshavebecomemorepositiveespeciallyamongyouth.Thischangeisattributedtospecificrightsbeingofutilityandbenefittopeopleintheirdaytodaylives,suchastherighttopeacefulprotest,freedomofspeech,accesstoeducation,voting,andaccesstojustice.Thisleadstothekeyconclusionthat,forrightstobeinstituted,thereisaneedforactualproofthatrightsarebeneficialtotheindividualsandfamiliesthatembracethem.Instancesofrightsbeinguseful

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thatpeopleeitherexperienceorhearabout,alsoservetocounteractexperiencesorhearsayaboutrightshavingdestructiveornegativeconsequences,suchastherighttobeprotectedagainstdomesticviolenceortherightforwomentodivorce.Thosewhoapproveofinstitutionalizinghumanrightsmeasuresandvaluespointtothegovernmentashavingaleadresponsibility,whilevoicingdisappointmentwiththegovernment’seffortsandcommitmenttoprotectingandpromotinghumanrights.Administrativecorruptionunderminesmanyrights,suchasfairnessinaccesstogovernmentservicesandpositions.ManyalsocomplainthatthegovernmenthasnotdoneenoughtomakepeopleawareoftheirrightsorknowledgeableabouttheAfghanConstitutionandrelatedlaws.Infact,somesuspectthatcorruptgovernmentofficialsactivelywithholdthisinformationinordertominimizethepotentialthattheserightswillbeusedbythepublictoholdthemaccountable.Attitudesabouthumanrightsorganizationsparallelviewsabouthumanrightsmoregenerally,withbothpositiveandnegativeviews.Thoseholdingpositiveviewsabouthumanrightsorganizationspointtothepositiveimpactsthattheyhavehadinanumberofcommunities,particularlyforwomen.Thosewithnegativeviewsabouthumanrightsorganizationsreferencetheirencroachmentonfamilymatters,beinginstructedbyforeigners,ineffectiveness,andpoorreputations.Afghanistan’schallengesinrelationtohumanrightsarenotatalldifferentfromtheexperiencesofanumberofothercountries,inAfrica,forexample.Ontheonehand,humanrightsarelikelytobemoreeffectivelyandfullyimplementediftheyareadjustedtominimizeconflictwithlocalculturalpracticesandtraditions.Ontheotherhand,someadjustmentsmayinherentlycompromisetheintegrityandrealizationofthoserights.Thoseopposedtoinstitutinghumanrightstendtotalkaboutthesanctityof“culturaltraditions”and“localculture”butseldomprovidespecificsaboutwhatcultural,religious,orlocalvaluesandprinciplesarebeingviolatedbyintroducingfundamentalhumanrightsinagivencommunity.Andwhilepatriarchyperseisnotdiscusseddirectlybythoseopposedtotheinstitutionalizationoffundamentalrights,itisclearthatpatriarchyisprevalentinallthevaguesuggestionsontheimportanceofnotcontradictingculturaltraditionsandlocalculture.11

ReturnMigrationandFundamentalRights

ThemassarrivalofinternationaldevelopmentactorsinAfghanistanafterthefalloftheTalibanin2001andtheopeningupofthemediacontributedtoasuddenexposuretoavarietyandmultiplicityofforeignreferences,practices,anddiscoursesconcerningthequestionoffundamentalrights.Coincidingwiththesedevelopments,reinstitutingthepresenceofwomeninpublicspacesandprotectionofwomeninthedomesticenvironmentfeaturedprominentlyindonoraidprogramminginAfghanistan–whilebeingcontestedexplicitlyandimplicitly.Thecoexistenceof,andoftencompetitionbetween,variousmoralordersassociatedwithhumanrightsinAfghanistanhavebeenhighlightedinanumberofstudies.Thisincludesperceivedandactualcontradictionsbetweeninternationalhumanrightsconventions,Islamicvalues,customarylaw,andoftenheterogeneous“traditional”values.Deeplyheldvaluesongenderrelationshavebeenattheheartofthisdebate,particularlyastheyrelatetonotionsofhonorandnationalidentity.Underpinningthe

11Thefullreport,RightsinAfghanistan,“Human”or“Fundamental”?,isavailableat:http://appro.org.af/publication/rights-in-afghanistan-human-or-fundamental/

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debatesonidentityhasbeenthereturnofmillionsofAfghansfromexile,withthevastmajorityfromIranandPakistan.Asoneofthecountrieswiththehighestnumberofrefugeesabroadsincethe1980s,Afghanistanwitnessedrapidandincrementalreturnsofrefugeesafter2001.In2002anestimated2.3millionAfghansreturnedtotheirhomecountryfromexile.OversixmillionAfghansareestimatedtohavecomebacksince,primarilyfromPakistanandIranwhichcollectivelyhost95percentoftheAfghanrefugeepopulationworldwide.In2016,Afghanistanwasthecountrywiththehighestnumberofreturnees,withover300,000documentedreturnees,thevastmajorityofwhomhadreturnedfromPakistan.AfghanrefugeesinPakistanwerealsosubjectedtoforcedreturnin2017and2018.Manyofthereturneeswerebornabroad,comingtoAfghanistan–someforthefirsttimesincebirth–withhabits,attitudes,references,experiences,andexpectationsdifferentfromthosetraditionallyprevalentinAfghanistan,contributingtoadefactoprocessofre-definitionoftheidentityofreturneesasAfghans.ThosewhohadremainedinAfghanistanthroughouttheMujahedeen-ledwaragainsttheSovietoccupation,followedbytheMujahedeenrule,civilwarandTalibanoccupationandrule,hadacclimatizedtothedraconic,andtraumatic,restrictionsonsocialliberty,particularlyofwomenbutalsoethnicandreligiousminorities.BythetimeofthefallofTalibaninlate2001,womenhadmostlybeenremovedfromthepublicspaceandconfinedtohomelife.ReturnmigrantsfrombothPakistanandIranhadbeenexposedtolifeunderstableconditionswithrelativelybetteraccesstobasicfacilities,functioningandpredictableadministration,andprovisionsfacilitatingwomen’spresenceinthepublicspace.Politicalandgenderequityvaluesandexpectationsofthereturneesweregenerallynon-conformingtotheconditionsinAfghanistan.ThedegreeofintegrationofreturneesinthesocialandeconomicenvironmentofAfghanistan,andthedegreeofacceptanceofimportednormswithinthecommunityinwhichtheysettleuponreturnaffecttheextenttowhichthesenewnormscanbeeffectivelypracticed.TransfersofnormsbyreturnmigrantsfromIranandPakistanarenotasimpletranspositionofalternativenormsandpracticesobservedduringmigrationabroad.Instead,socialnormsarere-interpreteduponreturnandtranslatedintopractice,takingintoaccountthelocalenvironmentpossibilitieswhichencouraged,orobjectedto,theirpractice.Theunderstandingofrights,andthewaytheyarepracticedwithintheAfghansociety,thusneedstobeunderstoodasaproductoftheconfluenceofthethreecategoriesofpopulation,i.e.,returneesfromIran,returneesfromPakistan,andthosewhoneverleftAfghanistan.12

CulturalTransfersandGenderRelations

Focusingspecificallyonhowculturaltransfersaffectperceptionsofwomen’spositionandroleinsociety,thisresearchsoughttoestablishhow,andunderwhichconditions,culturaltransfersthroughreturnmigrationfromIranandPakistanshapegender-basedsocialinstitutionsinAfghanistan.ThemannerinwhichgenderrelationshavebeenevolvinginAfghanistanisafunctiontheinterfacebetweenofreturneeshavingacquiredideas,values,elementsoflifestyleandbehaviorswhileabroad, 12Thefullreport,ReturnMigrationandFundamentalRightsinAfghanistan,isavailableat:http://appro.org.af/publication/return-migration-and-fundamental-rights-in-afghanistan-perceptions-and-practices/

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andhostcommunitiesinAfghanistanconsiderablylessexposedtochange.ExposuretoalternativeviewsandnormshastypicallyledtomanyreturneesquestioningthedominantgenderrelationsandrolesinAfghanistan.Theextentofthisquestioningisdependentonthesocial,culturalandeconomicresourcesofthereturneeswhileawayfromAfghanistananduponreturntoAfghanistan.Accesstoeducationforwomen,inparticular,appearsasakeyfactorinthisexploratoryprocess.InthefirstdecadeoftheIslamicRepublicofAfghanistanafter2001,theeconomicandpolicycontextprovidedwomenwhohadacquirededucationinIranandPakistanwithopportunitiestoworkinthecivilserviceanddevelopmentsectors.Generally,accesstohighereducationandpaidprofessionalworkforwomenchallengesthetraditionallydefinedstrictrolesforwomeninsocietyandcreatesopportunitiesforworkingwomentoclaimapresenceinpublicspace.WhilethisprocessappearstobeageneralfeatureinAfghanurbancenters,thedegreetowhichitoccursisdifferentindifferentgeographicalsettingsandbetweenreturneesfromIranandPakistan.Kabulisthemostconduciveenvironmentforwomen'spresenceinthepublicdomain.Thehighconcentrationofinstitutionsofhigherlearning,governmentanddevelopmentagenciesoffereducatedwomenopportunitiestocontinuetheireducationandhaveaccesstoprofessionalemployment.Bycontrast,inHerat,thereisahigherdegreeofresistancetowomen'sparticipationinthelabormarketandpresenceinthepublicspace,duelargelytoanoverallstrongerprevalenceoftraditionalgendernormsandstricterformsofreligiousobservance.Someoftheprominentbarriersfacedbywomenintheiraccesstothepublicspacearerelatedtoharassmentanddiscriminationatworkandinpublic,andattitudestowardsviolenceagainstwomeninmoregenerally.Theinterpretationofthenotionofhonor,stronglyassociatedtotheabilityofmentoconfinewomentothehomeasameansto“protect”them,isamajorfactorindisallowingwomentofreelyparticipateinthelabormarketorbepresentinthepublicspace.TheincreasingadoptionofthenuclearfamilymodeloverthetraditionalextendedfamilymodelamongreturneesfromIranchallengesthisformofprotectionimposedonwomen,andminimizestheprocessofgettingpermissionfromamalefamilymemberforactivitiescarriedoutoutsideofthehousehold.Ineffect,institutionalizationofthenuclearfamilyamongreturneesincounter-positiontotheextendedfamilyhastosomedegreeredefinedgenderedconceptionsofhonorandvirtue.13

FoodSecurity

FoodsecurityhasbeendeterioratinginAfghanistansince2014,inpartduetoamajordownturnineconomicactivityintheaftermathofthewithdrawalbytheinternationalsecurityforces.Povertyratehassteadilyincreasedwhilethemostrecentestimatesshowthatfoodinsecurityisontherise,withalmostsixpercentofAfghans,around1.6millionpeople,severelyfoodinsecureandanother34percentmoderatelyfoodinsecure.Foodinsecurityisexpectedtocontinuetoincreaseasaresultofongoinginternaldisplacement,returneemigration,economicslowdown,climatechange,andadepressedlabor

13Thefullreportonculturaltransfersandgenderrelationsisinprint,andwillbeavailableduringthemonthofAugust2018fromAPPRO’swebsite,at:www.appro.org.af

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market.Nearly42percentofurbanhouseholdsareeitherseverelyormoderatelyfoodinsecure.Theequivalentrateforruralhouseholdsis39percent.Inruralareasthelandlessfarmersandsmalllandholdersarethemostvulnerable,whileunskilledworkersincludingdailylaborersandpettytradersaremostaffectedbyfoodinsecurityinurbanandperi-urbansettings.Themostvulnerablegroupsforfoodinsecurityarefemale-headedhouseholds(59percentfoodinsecure),disabledheadedhouseholds(39percentfoodinsecureand25percentseverelyfoodinsecure),andhouseholdslivingintents(74percentfoodinsecure).Whenfoodisdistributedthroughformalorganizations,suchasagovernmentministryorinternationalaidagency,itistypicallytargetedtowardaparticulargroupsuchasorphans,widows,pregnantwomen,childrenwithmalnutrition,theinternallydisplaced.Previousfoodaidprogramshavehadshortdurationsandhavedistributedonlyamodestamountofbasicnecessities,consideredbytherecipientsaswoefullyinsufficienttomeetbasicneeds,particularlyinpoorerprovincessuchasBamyanandNimruzwhereamajorityofthepopulationisextremelypoor.Communityfoodassistanceinruralandurbanareasisundertakensporadically,ofteninconjunctionwithreligiouseventsandsometimesinresponsetoaparticularneedinthecommunityorduetodesirebyawealthypatrontogivecharity.Fooddistributedduringreligiouseventsistypicallyequallydistributedtoeveryone,onafirst-come-first-servedbasisandwithoutconsiderationofrelativeneed.Thebulkofthefoodcharityprovidedbywealthiercommunitymembersisgiventotheneedydirectlywithoutinvolvingthemosqueormullahsinthedistributionprocess.Mosquesandreligiousfiguresalsohavesignificantyetinformalrolesinaddressingtheproblemoffoodinsecurity.Religiousleadersandinstitutionsoftenplayanawareness-raisingroleabouttheissueoffoodinsecurityandencouragemembersoftheircongregationstohelpthoseinneed.Throughtheirsermons,mullahspromoteacultureofassistanceandethosofmutualsupportamongcommunitymembers.Mullahscoordinatewithelderstoidentifytheneedyanddeterminehowfooddonationsshouldbedistributed.Assuch,mullahsplayakeyroleinmatchingassistancefromfoodaidagencieswithfamiliesinneed.Thisrolevariesfromprovincetoprovince.Mullahsuniformlyclaimtohave–andarealsothoughtbyotherstohave–goodknowledgeofthesocio-economicstatusandneedsofthoseintheircommunities.Theygainthisknowledgebecausecommunitymembersattendmosquetogetherandmullahssometimesvisitfamilyhomes,therebyobservingtheirconditionsfirsthand.Thoseinneedalsosometimesshareinformationabouttheircircumstanceswithmullahsandrequesthelpthroughthem.Thoughmullahscanassumerolesinaddressingtheproblemoffoodinsecurity,theydosoveryoftenorevenlyacrossdifferentprovinces.Foronething,mosquesdonothavededicatedfundsforprovidingfoodaiddirectlytothoseinneed,whilemosqueauthoritiesviewthemselvesasrecipientsofaidfromordinarypeople,thewealthy,theMinistryofHajjandReligiousAffairsandothersforfood,fuel,electricity,carpets,andconstructionandrepairofthemosque.Donationstomosquesaregenerallysoughtandgivenforspecificpurposes.Somemosques,typicallythoselocatedinurbanareas,are“governmentmosques”andobtainsupportthroughtheMinistryofHajjandReligiousAffairs.Othermosquesaresupportedonlythroughcommunitydonations.Coordinationbetweenmullahsandcommunityeldersandwealthiercommunitymembersascharitygiversisthoughttobegood,thoughinformalandadhoc.Therehasbeenlittleopportunityformosquestocoordinatewithformalorganizationsorgovernmentagenciesonfoodsecurity.Foodsecurityanditsmonitoring,whentheyarecarriedout,donotappeartoincludecoordinationorcollaborationwithmosquesormullahsinasystemicorsystematicmanner.

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Oneobstacletomosquesassumingamoreactiveandformalroleinfoodsecurityisthatthisroleisunspecifiedandwhereitisinexistence,itisvoluntaryandadhoc.Mosquesandmullahsarereceptivetoassumingamoreformalroleinfoodprovisionanddistribution,especiallyifsupportedandauthorizedtodosobytheMinistryofHajjandReligiousAffairsorthegovernmentmoregenerally.14

ChildLabor

Childlaborhasphysical,social,andmentalhealthconsequencesforchildrenandmajoreconomicconsequencesforthecountryasawhole.Thereishigherprevalenceofdifferenthealthissuesinworkingchildrencomparedtotherestofthepopulation.Childlaborisassociatedwithhigherprevalenceofmentalandbehavioraldisorders.Schoolattendance,familyincomeandstatus,dailyworkinghoursandlikelihoodofabuse,initsdifferentforms,areassociatedwiththementalhealthoutcomesinworkingchildren.Malnutritionandpoorgrowtharehighlyprevalentamongworkingchildren,compoundedbythenegativephysicalandhealthimpactsoflaboronthechildren.Also,thelikelihoodofbeingsexuallyabusedincreaseswithincreasingworkinghours.Childlaborhasphysicalconsequencessuchasskindiseases,short-termmemoryloss,speechproblems,organdefects,heightreduction,andweightloss.Psychologicalconsequencesincludeatendencyofjealousy,instability,restlessness,depression,fear,pessimismandnegativitywhilesocialconsequencesincludeexclusionfromrecreationalactivitiesanddeprivationfromnurtureandfamilytime.Allstudiesofchildlaborshow,overwhelmingly,thatpovertyisamajordriveroftheproblem.Childrenengagedinworkareoftendeprivedofeducationandthereforemissoutonthelifeopportunitiesthatformaleducationcouldbring.Thereare,inaddition,societalimpactsfromwidespreadchildlabor,suchastheemergenceofwholegenerationsofadultswhohavegrownupdeprivedofbasiclifeskillsanddevelopmentneeds.Thisincreasesthelikelihoodofperpetuatingthecycleofpovertyandvulnerabilitythatfuelschildlabor.Conflictisanothermajordriverofchildlabor.Conflictchangeshouseholdlivelihoodandplanningdecisionsbyremovingcertaintyandpredictabilityandreplacingthemwithimmediate,day-to-daysurvivalinstincts.Assuch,conflictundermineslonger-termeconomicdevelopmentthroughweakeningordestroyingeconomicinfrastructure,processesthatgeneratehumancapital–particularlyeducation–andcertaintyaboutfuture.Conflictalsoforceshouseholdstomakedecisionsforthehere-and-nowandattheexpenseofplanningfororinvestinginfuture,includingchildren’seducation.Otherfactorssustainingchildlaborincludefamilyindebtedness,parents’illiteracyandlackofappreciationofeducation,andparentalperceptionsaboutthebenefitsofworktochildren.Islamsetsmanyguidelinesforbothchildren’sdevelopmentandworkpracticesthatarerelevanttochildlabor,includingrestrictionsforemployersandemployees.Childrenwhoaresufficientlymatureareallowedtowork,butIslamexpresslyforbidsexploitativepracticesbyemployers,childrendoinghazardouswork,andchildren’sworkthatdoesnotcontributetotheireducationaldevelopment.ChildlaborisonriseinAfghanistan.Whilethelegalframeworkprohibitingexploitativechildlaborisreasonablywelldeveloped,thereislittleawarenessofthelawspreventingchildlabor,insufficient

14Thefullreport,Religion,CharityandFoodSecurity,isavailableat:http://appro.org.af/publication/religion-charity-and-food-security-evidence-from-nangarhar-bamyan-and-nimruz/

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appreciationofitsnegativeconsequences,andawidespreadtendencytolooktheotherwayamongthosewhoconsciouslyorforciblyperpetuatechildlabor.

WomeninGovernment

Following2001,Afghanistanbecamethesceneofthelargestgender-focusedinterventionsglobally,withvastresourcesinvestedbytheAfghangovernmentanditsinternationaldonorsintopromotingtheemergenceofwomenasindependentactorsinpolitics,business,decision-makingandcivilsociety.ThegovernmentofAfghanistanhasenteredintoarangeofinternationalanddomesticcommitmentstoadvancetherightsofwomen,includingfosteringtheinclusionofwomeninpost-conflictgovernanceby,forexample,settingquotasforminimumpercentagesofwomen’srepresentationingovernmentinstitutions.Thesecommitmentsandtheestablishmentofquotashaveresultedinwomenoccupying27percentoftheseatsintheNationalAssembly,around20percentoftheseatsintheProvincialCouncils,and26percentofthecivilservants.TheseoutcomeshavebeenbolsteredbythedevelopmentofAfghanistan’sNationalActionPlanonUNSCR1325inJune2015.However,thenumbersrepresentonlypartofthepicture.Whileprogresshasbeenmadetowardmeetinginternationalandnationalobligationsongenderequality,itiswidelyrecognizedthatprogresshasbeenslowanduneveninsuchareasasrepresentativeparticipationofwomeninallfacetsofsociety,preventionofviolenceagainstwomen,protectionofvictimsofgender-basedviolence,andprosecutionofwomen’srightsviolators.Afghanistanisbynomeansaloneinitsfailuretofullymeetitshumanrightsobligations.However,thereadditionalchallengesthatcollectivelypreventincreasesinwomen’srepresentationtowardhigherdegreesofgenderequality.Thesechallengesincludeweakmechanismsofgovernance,inadequateaccesstoformaljustice,corruptionwithintheformaljusticesystemandorganisationsofstate,andinadequateinstitutionalisationandimplementationofmanyoftheprotectivelawsandpoliciesthatdoexist.Further,advancesinrightsprotectionsarenotalwayspermanent.Forexample,amidsttherecentresurgenceofviolenceinmanypartsofcountry,advancesthathavebeenmadeinwomen’srightssincetheearly2000sareincreasinglyunderthreat.Asinotherpartsoftheworld,theexistinglegislativeframeworkinAfghanistan,thoughnecessary,isnotsufficientforprotectingandpromotingwomen’srightsandwomen’srightsdefenders.Tocomplementregulatoryandlegalprovisions,andcompensateforthegovernment’sweaknessesinfulfillingitscommitmentsandupholdingtheruleoflaw,civilsocietymustassumeamuchmorecentralrole.Thiswouldentailclosercooperationamongcivilsocietyandrightsorganizations,andbetweencivilsocietyandgovernmentauthoritiesinprocessesdesignedtosolveproblemsandovercomechallenges,ratherthanallocatethemostblame.Thesenewformsofstate-civilsocietycollaborationshouldbefocusedonimprovingthegeneralworkingconditionsforworkingwomen.Theimprovementsshouldincludeaccesstospecificneedsofthewomensuchaspropersanitation,changingrooms,prayerrooms,transportationtoandfromwork,daycareforworkingmothers,andmechanismstoaddresssexualharassmentatwork.Ataprofessionallevel,improvementssoughtforshouldincludeaccesstospecializedcoursesscholarshipopportunities,computersandcomputerliteracy,andinternetservices–allofwhichwould

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contributetowomen’sprofessionalandtechnicalpreparednesstoassumehigherrankingdecisionmakingpositions.15

WomeninBusiness–SaffronProduction

UnderPillar4ofitsNationalActionPlanonWomen,PeaceandSecurity(NAP1325)ofJune2015,anditsNationalPriorityProgramonWomen’sEconomicEmpowerment(WEE-NPP),endorsedinDecember2016,theGovernmentofAfghanistanhascommittedtomeasurableimprovementsinwomen’seconomicopportunitiesandaccesstoandcontroloverproductiveassetsandincome.Afghanistanhascomparativeandcompetitivestrengthsintheagriculturesector,particularlyinthehorticultureandlivestocksub-sectors.Anestimated80percentofthelaborforceinAfghanistanisemployedintheagriculturesector,withsignificantparticipationofwomen,particularlyintheprimarystagesofproductionandprocessing.Thepresenceandprominenceofwomeninagriculturalactivity,however,diminishesandalmostdisappearsasonemovesupproductionvaluechains.Womencarryoutthebulkofvalue-addingactivitiesinagriculturalproductionatthebottomendofthevaluechainasdomesticchoreswhilethetradingandmarketingoffinishedagriculturalproductsontopofthevaluechainsarecarriedoutalmostexclusivelybymenwhoarealsothemainfinancialbeneficiariesoftheprocess.Women’swork,particularlyatthelowend,ismostlyunpaidwhiletheyarepaidlowerthanmenforcomparablejobsthroughoutthevaluechain.Atthelowerendofthevaluechainwomen’sinvolvementisversatileandflexible,allowingforeconomicallyoptimalthoughsociallyinequitablefemalelaborinput.Twokeyfactorscontributingtotheseinequitablearrangementsaregenderbiasbasedondeeplyingrainedculturalnormsandthehighlyinformalagriculturaleconomy.SaffronisoneoftheagriculturalproductswiththehighestaddedvalueandpotentialforexportinAfghanistanandcompetesinqualitywithproductionfromneighboringIran.In2015,Heratwasproducingmorethan90percentofAfghanistan’ssaffron.Saffronisalsocultivatedinotherprovincesacrossthecountry,tovariousdegrees.InAfghanistan,thecultivationofsaffronhasbeenpromotedsincetheearly1990sbygovernmentandnon-governmentactors.ThroughinitiativessuchastheAfghanistanRuralEnterpriseDevelopmentProgram(AREDP),supportedbytheWorldBankandAfghanistanRehabilitationTrustFund,theGovernmentofAfghanistanhasbeenencouragingandtrainingAfghanfarmersinthecultivationofsaffron,whileNGOssuchastheDanishCommitteeforAidtoAfghanRefugees(DACAAR)havebeenactivelyengagedinthepromotionofsaffroncultivation.Menarelargelyresponsibleforseekinginvestmentandmarketingsaffron.Women’sworkinsaffronproductionisconcentratedintending,harvesting,separating,anddrying.Thegendernormsatplayinthesestagesofsaffronproductionarebasedonthebeliefthatthesetasksaredelicateandrequirepatienceand,assuch,aremoresuitedtowomenthanmen.Thisdivisionoflaborbetweenmenandwomenisreflectiveofengrainedperceptionsofgenderrolesandgenderstereotypes.

15Thefullreport,WomeninGovernment:NeedingMoreThanNumbers,isavailableat:http://appro.org.af/publication/women-in-government-needing-more-than-numbers/

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Thesentimentsaboutequalityofrolesformenandwomenaremixed,thoughmostlyinfavorofwomenbeingrewardedmoreequallywithmenforsimilarwork.Tofacilitatethischange,womenneedsupportinbusinesstrainingandeducationandaccesstocapital.16

State-CivilSocietyRelations–Kashmir(India)

TheareacollectivelyknownasJammuandKashmir(J&K)spreadsoverpartsofCentralAsia,SouthAsia,andEastAsia.JurisdictionallyJ&KconsistsoftheIndian-administeredstateofJammuandKashmir(Jammu,KashmirValley,andLadakh),thePakistani-administeredterritoriesofKashmirandGilgit–Baltistan,andtheChinese-administeredregionsofAksaiChinandtheTrans-KarakoramTract.J&Khasbeeninapolitical,andsometimesmilitary,conflictinvolvingIndiaandPakistan.TherelativeabsenceofavibrantcivilsocietyinKashmirisattributedtotheyearsofviolentconflict,lackoffunctional,transparent,andaccountablestateinstitutions,andthefailureofthepoliticalleadersinIndiaandPakistantoharnesstheenergyofthecitizensforlastingpeace.Sincetheearly2000s,civilsocietyinKashmirhasstartedtoemergeandtoreorientitsagendatoaddressawidespectrumofissues.However,itstillfaceslimitationsinoperationalspace,whichunderminestheeffectivenessofitswork.Thisresearchwascarriedouttoexaminetheimpactofconflictonstate-civilsocietyinrelationtofundamentalrightsinKashmir,India.GiventheuniquepositioningofJ&KwithintheIndianConstitution,theimpactofvariousIndianlawsongoodgovernancehasremainedlimitedinKashmir.Inaddition,thevariousactsandlawsoninsurgencyinKashmirsince1989continuetoactasdeterrentstothedeliveryorfulfillmentofbasicrights.ThisisespeciallyevidentsincethedeclarationofthelateststateofemergencyinJuly2016withanotherflareupintheconflict.Thislatestflareupendedacomparativelyquiteperiodsincethesummerof2010.TheabsenceofapoliticalmechanismforresolvingtheIndia-PakistandisputeoverKashmirhasresultedinthecivilunrestonthestreetsofKashmirandthebeginningsofmilitancygaininglegitimacyamongpeoplewhobelieveDelhiisignoringpoliticalrealitiesinKashmir.NGOsinKashmirmaybegroupedintolocalNGOs(includingcharity-basedorganizations),nationalNGOs,internationalNGOs,andstate-sponsoredNGOs.Thecharitiesthataroseattheonsetofthearmedconflictin1989tohelpthevictimsofviolencegraduallystartedtoorganizethemselvesasprofessionalorganizations.MostofthenationalandinternationalNGOsworkthroughtheseorganizationsinKashmir.AccessforinternationalNGOswantingtoworkinKashmirhasalwaysbeenlimitedanddifficult.TheobligationforinternationalhumanrightsorganizationsoperatinginKashmirtosignMoUswiththegovernmentrestrictstheirmandates.KashmirhasthelowestamountofapprovedinternationalfundinginIndia.INGOsworkinginKashmiraretiedtospecificprojects,attheendofwhichtheyhavetoceaseoperationsinKashmir.IndianagenciesareseenbysomeassponsoringNGOsinKashmirtoadvancetheirownagendasandinterestsandsometimeswiththeaimofneutralizingtheimpactoftheworkbyotherNGOsworkingonfundamentalrightsinKashmir.Manyhavequestionedthecredibility,oradvisability,ofthearmy

16Thefullreportonwomeninsaffronproductionisinprint,andwillbeavailableduringthemonthofAugust2018fromAPPRO’swebsite,at:www.appro.org.af

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runningwelfareprogramsthroughsecondaryorganizationsinthecontextofconflictsincethearmyisviewedasamainprotagonistinthearmedconflict.TheseprogramscarryahighriskofcreatingmistrustofNGOsbythepublic.NGOengagementwiththegovernmentaroundhumanrights,whichinvolvessecurityforcesdirectlyorindirectly,remainssensitiveandhostile.LocalNGOsandhumanrightsactivistshavebeentargetsofharassment,interference,andsurveillancebystateagencies.TheArmedForcesSpecialPowersAct(AFSPA),oneoftheprimaryfacilitatorsofimpunityforsecurityforces,notonlyprotectsthesecurityforcesfromprosecutionforallegedhumanrightsviolations,butalsorequirespriorexecutivepermissionfromthecentralorstateauthoritiesfortheprosecutionofmembersofthesecurityforces.Theseprovisions,called“sanctions”,havebeenusedtoprovidevirtualimmunityforsecurityforcesfromprosecutionforcriminaloffences.Todate,noonefromthesecurityforcesdeployedinJammuandKashmiroverthepast25yearshasbeentriedforallegedhumanrightsviolationsinaciviliancourt.InthepresenceoftheAFSPA,otherlegalprovisionssuchastheRighttoInformationActarerenderedfullyineffectiveforprobingintohumanrightsviolationcasesinvolvingsecurityforcesinKashmir.OneofthepotentiallessonsfromtheKashmiricontextforAfghanistanisthatKashmiriattitudestowardtheimportanceofmaintainingaseculareducationsystemhashelpedKashmiristosustaintheireducationsystem,despitethepressurefromHinduandMuslimreligiousorganizationsandmilitantsinthebeginningofthearmedconflict.Toalargeextent,thesecularapproachtoeducationhaslimitedtheimpactofreligion-basedpropagandafromPakistaniKashmirtoaggravatereligioustensionsinIndianKashmirandthusleavingmuchroomforcontentionsaboutfundamentalrightsundermilitaryruleinIndianKashmir.TheKashmiricasealsohighlightstheissueofconflict-inducedmentaltrauma,similarinmanyrespectstoconflict-relatedmasstraumatizationofAfghans.Thestate,civilsociety,andinternationaldevelopmentorganizationsneedtointegratementalhealthintomainstreamhealthprovisioninAfghanistan,ashasbeendonetosomeextentinKashmir.17

State-CivilSocietyRelations–SouthAfrica

Theconceptof“civilsociety”haslongbeendebatedandcontested,ashastherelationshipbetweencivilsocietyanddemocracy.Thisdebatestemsinpartfromthesheerdifficultyofdeterminingtheboundariesthatdemarcatewho,andwhodoesnot,belongunderthebannerofcivilsociety,particularlyinanincreasinglyglobalized,neo-liberalcontextwherelinesbetweenpublicandprivatesphereshavebecomeincreasinglyblurred.Italsostemsfromdifferentperspectivesregardingtheprojectofliberaldemocracy,anddebatesaboutthenormativeroleofcivilsocietyorganizationsineitherupholdingorcontestingthestatusquo.Further,theverynotionofcivilsocietyhasbeencritiquedbysomeasprimarilyaWesternnotion,havinglittlesalienceinsomecontextsparticularlywheretherelationshipbetweencivilsocietyandthestateisenmeshedthroughclientelisticorneo-patrimonialrelations.Withtheformalendofapartheidin1994,SouthAfricaenteredintoanintenseperiodofpost-conflicttransition.Theroleofcivilsocietyinthistransitionhasbeen,andcontinuestobe,ofconsiderablesignificanceintermsofitseffortstoshapethenewdemocraticdispensation,andinitsworktoadvance

17Forthefullreport,State-CivilSocietyRelations:FundamentalRightsinKashmir(India),isavailableat:http://appro.org.af/publication/state-civil-society-relations-fundamental-rights-in-kashmir-india/

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andprotectthelong-neglectedrightsofthemajorityofthecountry’scitizens.Newconstitutionalandlegislativeprotections,combinedwithnewnationalcommitmentstoarangeofhumanrightsinstrumentsattheinternationallevel,havepavedthewayfornewformsofhumanrights-baseddiscourseandadvocacyinthecountry.Thepost-apartheidcommitments,legislationandpolicieshavenotalwaystranslatedintochangedpracticesorpolicyoutcomes,creatingspaceforapluralityofengagementsbetweenvariouselementsofcivilsocietyandthepost-apartheidstate.Inworkingtowardsitsvariousgoals,post-apartheidcivilsocietyinSouthAfricaemploysamixtureofapproachestoitsinteractionswiththestate,includingcollaborative,cooperativeand,increasingly,contentiousengagements.DespitethemanydramaticdifferencesbetweenSouthAfricaandAfghanistan,bothfacedauntingnegativesocial,economicandpoliticallegaciesthatarebuiltuponcenturiesofvariousformsofoppressionandconflict.Bothcontinuetofacedeep-rootedandcomplexsocietalchallengessuchasviolence,politicalexclusion,lackofsocialcohesion,andwidespreadpoverty.Bothhavelegislativeframeworkswhich,tovariousdegrees,areinsufficientontheirownforthetaskofupholdingandpromotingbasichumanrights.Bothcountriesalsohostanactive,engagedanddiversecivilsocietyworkingtoaddressthegapsbetweenpoliciesandpracticethroughdifferentstrategies,toolsandapproaches.ThecapacityofstateandcivilsocietyactorstoworkindependentlyorintandemtowardtheprotectionandadvancementofrightsiscloselyinterconnectedwiththeexistenceandstrengthofrelevantinstitutionsinSouthAfrica.Theseinstitutionsprovidealegalframeworkforrightsprotectionandmonitoring,forumsforcooperativeeffortstowardadvancingorprotectingrights,andchecksandbalancesonstatepoweranditspotentialabuses.Notallinstitutionsfunctionwiththesamedegreeofefficacy,however,andmanyhistoricallyrootedandcontemporarystructuralchallengesremainasimpedimentstotheireffectiveness.Theendofapartheidbroughtwithitnewmeansandmechanismsforstate-civilsocietyengagementontheadvancementofhumanrights,particularlyintermsofthenewprotectionsaffordedbytheConstitutionof1996andtheassociatedBillofRights.Italsobroughtnewchallengesinstate-civilsocietyrelations,asanactiveandpowerfulcivilsociety,previouslycloselyalignedwiththeinterestsoftheANCasaliberationmovement,wasforcedtoadjusttothenewrealityoftheANC’scomingtopoliticalpowerastherulingpartyofanewconstitutionaldemocracy.ThisshiftalsorequiredanadjustmentintheANC’sownconceptualizationsoftheroleofcivilsociety,asinterestsbegantodivergeandmorecritical,andattimesadversarial,elementsofcivilsocietybegantoemerge.

Onfundamentalrightsinareasofmigration,health,educationandcorruption,civilsocietyandstaterelationscanbecooperative,collaborative,confrontational,oracombinationoftheseapproaches.WhilethemajorityofprotestactionincontemporarySouthAfricaispeaceful,violentordestructiveprotestsarealsonotuncommon,rangingfrom“servicedelivery”protestsincommunitiesthatarecharacterizedinpartbytheburningoftiresandblockadingofroads,tostudentproteststhathaveresultedinarsonandvandalismthathavecostthecountrymillionsofdollarsinrecentmonths.Thisdynamicspeakstothelegaciesofapartheid,bothintermsoftheinheritanceofapoliticalandprotestcultureimbuedwithconflictandviolence,andintermsofthemountingfrustrationsofanationstillreelingfromcenturiesofoppression,injusticeandinequalities,entrenchedalongraciallines.

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Litigationisalsofrequentlyusedagainstthestateasacontemporarytoolbycivilsocietyinitsworktoadvanceorprotecthumanrights.Theroleoflitigationiscomplexandcontroversial,garneringsignificantdiscernibleresentmentfromsomequartersofthestate.Litigationhasbeenusedtogreateffectintheareasofhealth,education,migrationandcorruption,amongstothers.However,litigationbycivilsocietyactorsisatooloflastresortinstrategiesforengagingwiththestateduetotheexpense,delays,uncertainty,andthedamagedrelationshipsthatlitigationcanevoke.Civilsocietyactorsuselitigationwhenallotheravenuesforcooperativecommunicationandinteractionwithstateauthoritieshavebeenexhaustedorfailed.Whiletherehavebeenmanylaudableadvancesintheinterveningyearsinareassuchashealth,education,refugeeprotection,housing,andtheprovisionofsocialgrants,SouthAfricaisstillacountrycharacterizedbyvastinequality,poverty,andunemployment.MillionsofSouthAfricanscontinuetoexperiencearangeofinterlacedstructuralandhistoricalvulnerabilities.Millionscontinuetoliveininformalandsemi-formalhousing,withlimitedopportunitiesforeducation,meaningfulemployment,goodhealth,safetyandsecurity.Despitethedepthandscopeofthesechallenges,state-civilsocietyrelationsinSouthAfricaalsodisplaysimpressiveenergy,dedication,andcreativityofcountlessindividualsfrombothsidesdedicatedtoworkingonadailybasisinmultiplewaystowardtheimprovementofcitizens’livesacrossawiderangeofsocial,economicandpoliticalissues.18

ARMTrainingandAdvocacy

Component2andComponent3oftheARMprojectweredesignedtoworkwithexistingcapacitiesofcommittedprofessionalsfromcivilsocietyandstateauthoritiesthroughtailor-madecoursesonpolicyanalysis,evidence-basedadvocacy,andmonitoringandevaluation.Thesecoursesweredeliveredintwoformats.Thefirstformatentailedrecruitingparticipantsfromgovernmentministriesandcivilsocietyorganizationsforacross-certified,master’slevelcourseinpartnershipwithGentUniversity(Belgium).Thiscourse,PolicyandInstitutionalAnalysis,wasofferedthreetimesinKabulandhadtheparticipationof81individuals.The31successfulcandidateswereawarded4ECTS(EuropeanCreditTransferSystem),allowingthemtoobtainexemptionstowardmaster’sdegreefromEuropeanuniversities.Thecross-certifiedtrainingcoursecreatednumerousopportunitiesfortheparticipantsfromthegovernmentandcivilsocietytoaddresspolicyissuesandtoattempttoresolvethemusingasharedvocabularyandapproach.ThesecondformatfortrainingwasdesignedforparticipantswhoseEnglishwasinsufficientfortakingthecross-certifiedcourse.ThesecoursesweredeliveredmostlytocivilsocietyorganizationsinKabulandnineotherprovinces.Around1,800individualsfromstateinstitutionsandcivilsocietyweretrainedinthissecondformat.Aswiththecross-certifiedcourse,thetrainingsinthesecondformatwerealsousedasopportunitiestobringtogetherindividualsfromstateauthoritiesandcivilsocietyforproblemidentification,seekingpolicysolutions,anddecidingonthebestcoursetoproceed.

18Thefullreport,State-CivilSocietyRelations:FundamentalRightsinSouthAfrica,isavailableat:http://appro.org.af/publication/fundamental-rights-south-africa/

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Thetrainingsinbothformatsemphasizedthenecessityforstateauthoritiesandcivilsocietytoworktogetherinresolvingfundamentalrightsissues,giventhefactthatthegovernmentalonewasincapableofprotectingandpromotingfundamentalrights.Bothtypesoftrainingwerefollowedupwithmentoringsessionstoassisttheparticipantsineffectiveuseoftheirlearning.TherewereanumberofkeyoutcomesfromimplementingComponent2andComponent3,including:- Thevastmajorityoftheparticipantsstatedthattheywereabletousetheirlearningintheirwork

immediately.- ThealumnimeetingsorganizedbyAPPRObroughttogetherthegraduatesandthenewparticipants

todiscusscurrentpolicychallengesandhowbesttoovercomethem.- TheNationalAdvocacyCommitteeforPublicPolicy(NAC-PP),establishedin2011byAPPROand

Oxfam,wasusedasaforumthroughwhichcivilsocietyandgovernmentauthoritiescouldengageandaddresspressingpolicyissues.ThetrainingprovidedforallNAC-PPmemberorganizationscreatednewvibrancyinNAC-PP’sstrategicapproachandresultedintheformationofsubcommitteesonhealth,education,justice,NAP1325,anti-corruption,andfoodsecurity–eachwithitsownactivitiestoengagewithstateauthoritiesonsectorspecificissuesrequiringimmediateattention.FormoreinformationonNAC-PP,see:www.nac-pp.net

ReformofAPPRO’sInternalSystems

Component4oftheARMprojectwasputinplacetoassistAPPROtocarryoutacompletesystemoverhaulinitsfinance,humanresources,andadministrationfunctions.OneofthemainoutputsfromthissystemoverhaulwasthereviewandreplacementprocessofallinternalpoliciesofAPPRO.AfullreviewofpoliciesandproceduresbeganinearnestinDecember2015.ForareaswhereAPPROalreadyhadpoliciesandprocedures,revisionsweremadebasedonrecommendationsfromtheCodeofConductAssessment(CoCA)ofAPPRO’ssystembyanexternalentityappointedbytheDutchMinistryofForeignAffairs.Forareaswithoutpoliciesandprocedures,theservicesofexternalconsultantswereutilized,resultinginthecompletionpoliciesandproceduresforallkeyareasofactivityofAPPRO.Theareasforwhichallpoliciesandprocedureswererevisedorcreatedareasfollows.

1. HumanResourcesandAdministrationPoliciesandProcedures2. FinancePoliciesandProcedures3. LogisticsPolicyandProcedures4. GeneralPoliciesandProceduresManual5. CommunicationPolicyandProcedures6. SecurityPolicyandProcedures

Implementationofthenewpoliciesandproceduresbeganinthefirstquarterof2016withaseriesoforientationworkshopsforallAPPROemployees.Subsequentchangesweremadetothenewpoliciesandprocedurebasedonthefeedbackfromtheworkshopsandnewrequirementsfromotherdonors.

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Outcomes,ImpactandSustainability

Aswithmostlongertermprojects,implementedfullyandreasonablyeffectively,ARMhadanumberofsignificantoutcomes,bothtangibleandintangible.Theseoutcomesarelikelytocontinuehavingimpactsandthusensureasignificantdegreeofsustainability.Theremainderofthissectionprovidessummariesoftheseoutcomes.

OperationalEfficiency

FirstamongtheseoutcomeswasthechangeddynamicswithinAPPROasanorganizationasaresultoftheCoCAassessmentfindingsandAPPRO’sresponsestoaddressthem.Routineday-to-dayfunctionswererealignedwiththenewsetofpoliciesandprocedures,particularlyinLogistics,Communications,andSecurity.Also,internalcompliancewiththenewpoliciesandprocedures,anddocumentingandcorrectingoperationalshortcomingsorfailuresresultedinhavingareliablereservoirofinformationforthecompilationofAPPRO’sfirstAnnualReportfor2016,withresourcesallocatedforproducingregularannualreportsforthesubsequentyears.

AccountabilityandTransparency

AkeyconditionsetbytheDutchMinistryofForeignAffairs(MFA)forawardingthegrantforARMwasAPPRO’sregistrationandreportingonARMactivitiesthroughtheInternationalAidTransparencyInitiative(IATI).HavingregisteredwithIATIforreportingonARM,APPROusedIATIforreportingonallitsgrantsfromentitiesotherthanMFAonaregularbasis.ReportingonIATIentailsfullandpublicreleaseofinformationonbudgets,actualexpenditures,audits,andperformancereports.APPROisthefirstand,atthetimeofwritinginJuly2018,onlynationalAfghanNGOthatreportsregularlyonIATIonallitsprojectactivities.

NationalAdvocacyCommitteeforPublicPolicy

ThesecondunforeseenoutcomewastherelaunchandstrengtheningoftheNationalAdvocacyCommitteeforPublicPolicy(NAC-PP),establishedin2011asjointeffortbyAPPRO,Oxtam,andPTROtoconductevidence-basedadvocacyoneducationandfoodsecurity.MuchoftheevidencecollectedthroughARMandAPPRO’sotherprojectswerechanneledthroughNAC-PP’ssixsubcommitteesonHeath,Education,Justice,Anti-corruption,NAP1325,andFoodSecurityforengagementwithrelevantgovernmentauthorities.

InternationalWorkshopsonFundamentalRights

TwokeyeventsorganizedwithexplicitreferencetoNAC-PPanditsmandatetofacilitateconstructive,evidence-basedinterfacebetweenstateauthoritiesandcivilsocietywereworkshopsinDubaiinearly2017andSriLankain2018.ThepurposeoftheseworkshopswastopresentrepresentativesfromthestateandcivilsocietywithfindingsfromARMresearchandmonitoring,settheparametersfordiscourse,attempttoco-defineproblemsrequiringpolicyintervention,agreeonpossibleandpractical

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courseofaction,andagreeontherolestobeplayedbystateactorsandcivilsocietyinimplementingtheseactions.Bothworkshopsbenefittedfromguidanceandcontributionsofinternationalhumanrightsexperts,particularlyinrelationtotheprinciplesandparametersofstate-civilsocietyrelations.TheproductoftheDubaiandSriLankaworkshopsisaworkshopproceedingsreporttohighlightthelessonslearnedandpathwaysforwardforimprovedandproductiverelationsbetweenstateauthoritiesandcivilssocietyorganizations,scheduledforreleaseinAugust2018.

Evidence-basedPolicyMaking

Throughitscross-certifiedandothertrainingmodalities,andfollowupmentoringprocesses,APPROworkedcloselywithanumberofkeyministriesinAfghanistanonhowtoimprovethepolicymakingandimplementationprocesses.Thelogicfortheseinteractionswasthat,inacompleteandinclusivepolicyprocess,policymakingmustbebasedoncurrentandrelevantdatafromappliedresearchandmonitoring.Inaddition,thelogicheldthatsuccessinimplementingpolicieswasadirectfunctionofthemechanismsforinteractionbetweenpolicymakersandcivilsociety.ThetwomainoutcomesofthisapproachareformalrelationsthroughMoUswithanumberofkeyministriesandanadhocconsultationroleforAPPROinpolicyandstrategyrevisionprocessesoftheseentities.TheserelationshipsarelikelytobestrengthenedthroughfutureprofessionaltraininginterventionsbyAPPROandGRAD(seebelow)andthecontinuedgenerationoffindingsfromappliedresearchandtheirusebycivilsocietyinadvocacythroughNAC-PP(seeabove)andbygovernmentauthoritiesinthepolicymakingprocess.

FoundingofGRAD

AmajoractivityareasunderARMwastheprovisionoftrainingonpolicyandinstitutionalanalysisinaccordancewithinternationalacademicstandardsandcross-certifiedbyreputableacademicinstitutionsoutsideAfghanistan.APPROimplementedthistraininginpartnershipwithGentUniversity(Belgium)in2016throughto2018.Giventhefeedbackfromtheparticipants,andcommendationsfromstateauthoritiesontheuniquenessofthisformoftraininganditsmanypotentialbenefitsfortheparticipants,particularlyintermsofcontinuingacademiceducationforprofessionalsingovernmentandcivilsocietyorganizations,APPROdecidedtoestablishaseparateentityforcross-certifiedtraininginAfghanistan.Theoutcomeoftheeffortsforestablishinganentityspecializedinprovidingcross-certifiedcoursesinAfghanistanisthe“CenterforGoodGovernance,Research,PublicAdministration,andDevelopment”(GRAD),establishedin2017.Inadditiontobeingusedforcross-certifiedtrainingforAPPRO’svariousprojects,GRAD’smandateistodevelopanddeliverafullmastersdegreeinGovernance,ConflictandPeaceBuildinginpartnershipwithRuhrUniversityBochum(Germany).ThisfullMasterofArtscourseisplannedtobeofferedfromautumn2019.

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ConsolidationofAPPRO-Europe

APPRO-Europewasestablishedasan“associationsansbutlucrative”(ASBL)inBrussels,Belgiumin2015andinanticipationofbeingawardedthegrantfortheARMprojectandotheroutreachandinformationsharingpurposes.ThelimitedbuteffectiveoutreachcarriedoutthroughAPPRO-EuropebasedonoutputsfromARMhashadsignificantimpactsonpolicymakingaboutAfghanistanbysuchentitiesastheEuropeanAsylumSupportOffice(EASO)andtheOfficefortheProtectionofRefugeesandStatelessPersons(OFPRA–France).APPRO-EuropewasalsousedduringtheARMprojectforthedisseminationofselectedfindingsthroughpublicationsonAPPRO-Europe’swebsite,andpubliceventsinBrussels.APPROwillcontinueusingAPPRO-EuropeasaforumfordisseminationandengagementwithstakeholderswithamandateonAfghanistanandotherconflictenvironments.

PictureBook:PortraitsofHumanRightsinAfghanistan

ThefullimplementationoftheARMprojectprovidedAPPROwithawealthofinformationandinsightsintotheconditionsofhuman/fundamentalrightsinAfghanistan.DuringthecourseofimplementingARM,itbecameclearthatanumberofinternationaldonorswithprogramminginAfghanistanwereinterestedinARM’sactivitiesandfindings.ManyoftheinternationalsforwhomfindingsfromARMwerepresentedinAfghanistanandbeyond,expressedfrustrationaboutnotbeingableto‘see’theseconditionsfirsthandandthushavingdifficultyinimaginingandappreciatingtheseconditions.OfnoteamongthosewhoexpressedthisfrustrationwerecolleaguesfromtheEuropeanUnionDelegation–Afghanistan,whosuggestedtheideaofcompilingabookthatcapturedtellingimagesofthegeneralconditionsofhumanrightsinAfghanistanwithnarrativesbasedonARM’sresearchandmonitoring.SuchabookwouldprovideacontextforthemanyinternationalsconfinedtotheircompoundsinKabulandelsewhereduetosecurityrestrictions,whohadlittleornoopportunityforexposuretowhatconstitutesnormallifeforAfghansoutsidetheircompounds.Attemptsweremade,unsuccessfully,tosecurefundingfortheadditionalworkonthepicturebookthroughout2017.GiventheimportanceofthebookforAPPROandthedonorcommunityatlarge,APPROdecidedtoenlistvoluntaryhelpfromitsownstaffandothers,withsomefundsfromthefeesearnedbyAPPRO’sseniorpersonnelforindividualconsultancyassignments,tofundthecompilation.Thepicturebookisdueforreleaseinthelastquarterof2018.

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Conclusion

TheoveralltrendsinfindingsfromtheARMprojectrevealpersistentanddeepeningproblemswithanumberofcivicandeconomicrights,fewsubstantialchangesinaccesstomostsocialrightsandingenderrelations,andmixedresultswithregardtolevelsofcorruption.Amongallrights,themostnotableandconsistentlypositivetrendoccurredinaccesstoefficientandfairjustice.Similarly,progressinthejusticesectorwastheprimarycontributortoreductionsincorruptionoverall,althoughothersectorsremainedproblematic.Themostnotableandconsistentdeclineswereinchildren’srightsandaccesstoemployment.Theseoverallfindingsarefurtherdetailedbelow.OneimportantoverallfindingoftheARMprojecthasbeentheinterconnectionandinterdependencyamongfundamentalrights.Thiswasparticularlyevidentinconsistentincreasesintheincidenceofchildlaboratthesametimeaspersistentdeclinesinemploymentopportunitiesforadults.Simultaneously,aschildlaborincreasedsodidrelatedcompromisesonchildren’srights.Relatedtothesetrends,therewasanincreaseinjoiningpoliticalparties,whichwereviewedasameansforadultstoaccessemploymentandprotection.Corruption,whichshowedmixedoverallresults,intensifiedinaccesstoemploymentgenerallyandinsectorsmostassociatedwithemploymentopportunities,suchaseducation.Asecondinterconnectedpatternamongfundamentalrightswasprecipitatedbythedeterioratingsecuritysituation.ThisaffectedprovincesthatwereexperiencingacuteinsecurityattheoutsetoftheARMproject,suchasKunduz,andotherprovincesoverthecourseofARM.Insecurityunderminedfreedomofexpression,particularlyforjournalistswhohavebeenincreasinglytargetedbyinsurgentgroups.OnepositivetrendamidstdecliningsecuritywasgenerallystrongsupportfortheANP.ViewsoftheANPatthebeginningoftheARMprojectwerepositive,andstayedpositiveoverthecourseoftheproject.Athirdpatternofinterconnectedfundamentalrightswasalsodrivenbygrowinginsecurity,whichwasthearrivalofincreasingnumbersofIDPsandreturneesfromneighboringcountriesandbeyond.Thismostnotablyaffectedprovinceswithmajorpopulationcenters,specificallyNangarhar(Jalalabad),Balkh(Mazar-eSharif),andKabul.Inthesesettings,fundamentalrightstofood,housing,waterandelectricityshowedconsistentdeclinesdueinparttotheincreasingpresenceofIDPswithoutcorrespondingincreasesinhumanitarianprogramsandinfrastructuredevelopment.InKandahar,poorrainfallalsocontributedtothesehardships.SomefindingsfromtheARMprojectwerespecifictoaparticularprovince.ThemostnotabledeclinesingenderrelationswereinDaikundiandBamyan,whereattheoutsetoftheARMprojectcivilsocietygroupswereparticularlyactiveandgenderequalitywaswidely(ifnotuniformly)embraced.Alongsimilarlines,theseprovinceswerealsoinfluencedbyreturneeexperiencesinIran,wherethereisinstitutionalizedprotectionforwomen’schoiceinmarriageandrighttoinheritanceanddivorce.Inprovinceswithlargerpopulationcentersandwheremorewomenareworkingingovernment,ARMmonitoringshoweddisparitiesinwomen’saccesstobasicfacilitiesatwork.AlthoughmoreprogresshadoccurredinKabul,workingwomenoftenlackedaccesstoadequatesanitationfacilities,prayerrooms,transport,andworkequipmentsuchascomputers.TheresearchandmonitoringcomponentoftheARMprojectunderlinestheimportanceofempirically-basedtrackingoffundamentalrightsinvolatilecontextssuchasAfghanistan,combinedwithin-depth,appliedresearchonissuesthatcometolightduringmonitoring.TheARMprojectalsouniquely

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managedtobringprofessionalsfromstateinstitutionsandcivilsocietytogethertoco-learnandco-designapproachesforsolvingthemostpressingfundamentalrightsrelatedissues.Combiningmonitoring(intheformofregularcyclesofinterviewsandfocusgroups)withresearch(intheformofcasestudiesonselectedissues)isarguablyoneofthemosteffectivewaysofcapturingtheimpactofachangingsecuritysituationonfundamentalrightsandrevealinggeneraltrendsaswellasthecomplexitiesassociatedwithprotectingandpromotingfundamentalrights.Giventhecurrentsecurity,politicalandeconomicconditionsofAfghanistan,regularmonitoringandup-to-datein-depthresearchwillcontinuetobeindispensableforinformedprogrammingandpolicymakingintheyearstocome.Atthesametime,buildingontheexistinghumancapitalconcentratedinstateinstitutionsandcivilsocietythroughprofessionaltrainingasconductedunderARMislikelytoincreasethemuch-neededsharedspaceforstateauthoritiesandcivilsocietytoengageonproblemdefinition,prioritization,andproblemsolving.OfthekeyoutcomesfromtheARMproject,themostsignificantandsustainablearetherelaunchedandrealignedNAC-PP,likelytocontinuetoprovideaforumforevidence-basedandconstructiveinterfacebetweenstateauthoritiesandcivilsociety;GRADasthefirstprofessionaltrainingvenueinAfghanistanofferingcross-certified,fullyaccreditedcoursesinaccordancewithinternationalacademicstandards;andastrengthenedAPPRO-Europetoserveasaforumforinformationsharingandpolicyadvocacyonthemostpressingissuesfordevelopmentandhumanitarianaidprogramming.Finally,giventheutilityoftheresearch,monitoring,andtrainingcomponentsofARM,APPRO’sstrategicprioritieshavebeenrealignedfor2018tocontinuetoseeksupportforthecontinuationofthesecomponents,thespecificmodalitiesofwhichwillbedecidedinconsultationwithstakeholdersfromthegovernment,civilsocietyandtheinternationaldonors.

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Appendix1:MonitoringIndicators

CivicRightsIndicator ProxiesRightstoLife,Liberty,SecurityandDignityofPerson

• TrustinANP• PolicePerformanceandBehavior• Security• Corruption(CrosscuttingTheme)

RighttoEfficientandFairJustice

• AccesstoFormalandTraditionalJusticeSystems• PerformanceofJusticeOfficials• Women’sAccessto,andTreatmentby,JusticeSystems(Genderas

CrosscuttingTheme)• Corruption(CrosscuttingTheme)

Children’sRights • ViolenceAgainstChildren(DegreeandTypesofViolence)• AccesstoJustice• AccesstoRehabilitationcenters,JuvenileHomesandOrphanages• ChildLabor• SexualAbuse• Children’sengagementinarmedconflicts

RighttoParticipateinPublicAffairs

• ParticipationinElections• AccesstoPublicPositions(Genderascrosscutting:WomeninSenior

Positions)• ParticipationinPoliticalParties(GenderasCrosscutting:FemaleParty

Members)• Corruption(CrosscuttingTheme)• Discrimination(GenderasCrosscutting)

RighttoFreedomofOpinionandExpression

• FreedomofSpeech(threats)• FreedomofGathering• RighttoInformationLaw

EconomicRightsRighttoWorkandFairnessinEmployment

• AccesstoPaidEmployment• Corruption(JobsforSale,Nepotism)• Discrimination(GenderasCrosscutting)

RighttoDecentWorkingConditions

• SafetyandSecurityatWorkplace• JobSecurity• Harassment(basedonGenderorEthnicity)

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SocialRightsIndicator ProxiesRighttoHealth • AccesstoHealthServices

• AccesstoReproductiveHealth• QualityofHealthServices• Corruption(CrosscuttingTheme)• Discrimination(GenderasCrosscutting)

RighttoAdequateHousingandFacilities

• AccesstoHousing,WaterandElectricity• IDPs(Housing)• DisputesRelatedtoLandandWater• Corruption(CrosscuttingTheme)• Discrimination(GenderasCrosscutting)

FoodSecurity • SufficientFood(NumberofMealsperDay)• AdequateFood(TypeofFoodEaten)• FoodAssistance(Sources,e.g.,Government,INGOs,other)

RighttoEducation • AccesstoEducation• QualityofEducation• GenderDiscrimination• Corruption(inHiringTeachersandinGivingGrades)

FamilyRights • InheritanceRightsandRelatedConflicts• DomesticViolence• ViolenceAgainstwomen• DivorceCasesandWomen’sRightstoDivorce• AccesstoFRUsandShelters

Documents

Afghanistan Rights Monitor: Project Synthesis Reportappro.org.af/.../2018/07/2018-07-27-ARM-Project-Report.pdf · 2018. 9. 4. · final project report for ARM. ARM Monitoring Component