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Human Rights Consortium study finds Afghans are still hopeful for the future

November 20, 2003 - In a survey released today by the Human Rights Research & Advocacy Consortium, surveyed Afghans are positive about the present (83% feel safer than 3 years ago) and hopeful for the future (78% believe Afghanistan will be more peaceful a year from now). However, there are strong geographical disparities--Gardez and Kandahar respondents feel 30% less optimistic about Afghanistan's hope for peace in a year's time.

Most believe there is still a window of opportunity for Afghanistan and have high expectations that the government and international community will take that opportunity. Their optimism is tempered by fears that peace is only partial or temporary. Without greater attention to security and provision of basic economic and social services, this window may soon close.

"To validate this optimism, we need progress on security, economic and political reform. Without improving security now, elections and reconstructions will stall. Yet without reconstruction, insecurity will increase" says Razique Samadi of Afghanistan Development Association.

Speaking Out: Afghan Opinions on Rights and Responsibilities surveyed 1,479 men and women (48% women) in eight different locations from April to June 2003.

"It is important to recognize that survey was limited to areas where the safety of communities and NGO staff would not be jeopardized. However, we still believe that this initiative is an important step forward in promoting Afghan voices in policy discussions and holding policy makers accountable for their responsibilities" says Meryem Aslan of Oxfam International.

Key Findings:

  • Top priorities for improving security are disarmament (33%), strengthening the Afghan police and army (23%) and political reform (9%).

 

There is mixed news about security in the study. The vast majority of people felt secure in their communities (92%) and more secure now than they did three years ago (83%). However, there are still important geographical disparities with only 23% of Gardez respondents and 53% of Kandahar respondents feeling safer than three years ago. Concerns about the rise in crime and the presence of armed groups are also on the rise. As one man in Faizabad, the capital of Badakhshan province, said "if disarmament is not conducted then there will be no security".

  • 81% expect the government to provide services in the next three years, but group discussions revealed serious concerns about accountability and corruption. While 85% are aware that foreign governments have pledged money, only 54% believe that they will keep those promises.

"People expect the government will provide basic services in the future" says Lisa Laumann, of Save the Children in Afghanistan (SC/USA) "but some raised frustrations that they had seen little impact so far, while they had heard of misuse of funds by government and aid actors". Without tangible reconstruction progress, people feared the country would descend into anarchy again.

  • 87% plan to vote in upcoming elections and 73% believe it will bring positive change. However, in every location, less women were willing to vote. In Gardez, only 27% of women expected to vote.

 

"People are aware of the planned elections" says Aminulhaq Mayal of Agency for Rehabilitation and Energy-conservation in Afghanistan, "and most plan to vote, although women less so. But people raised serious concerns about whether it would be possible to have 'free, fair and representative' elections until disarmament has taken place".

NOTES: Other facts on issues such as gender, education, and political participation and reform are available in the full report.



ABOUT THE CONSORTIUM: The Human Rights Research and Advocacy Consortium is a group of 12 Afghan and international NGOs working in the fields of humanitarian relief, reconstruction, human and women's rights, peace promotion, research and advocacy. It was established in early 2003 to engage in proactive research and advocacy on human rights issues over a sustained period.

The consortium aims to ensure that Afghan voices become an integral and important part of current policy discussions. This project is a unique initiative both for Afghanistan and for other countries emerging from conflict and insecurity. It brings together a group of organizations to systematically promote human rights through ongoing primary research, training and collective advocacy.

CONSORTIUM MEMBERS
Afghan Organisations:

 

International Organisations:

 

To set up interviews with Consortium members, please contact:
Paul O'Brien
Human Rights Research & Advocacy Consortium
0093 (0) 70 285690

Rights & Democracy is a non-partisan, independent Canadian institution created by an Act of Parliament in 1988 to promote, advocate and defend the democratic and human rights set out in the International Bill of Human Rights. In cooperation with civil society and governments in Canada and abroad, Rights & Democracy initiates and supports programmes to strengthen laws and democratic institutions, principally in developing countries.

For More Information

Please contact Steve Smith (ext 255) or Louis Moubarak (ext 261) at Rights & Democracy, 514-283-6073.