Peace Jirga legitimate If, of people, by people and for people: HRRAC

KABUL, SANA): The Human Rights Research & Advocacy Consortium (HRRAC) accentuated that Jirga is legitimate if it follow the dictum “of people, by people and for the people”. The Afghan Government’s negligence of the aforementioned points is a gross violation of human rights standards The supporters of human rights in Afghanistan are concerned about the agenda, discussions and results of the National Consultative Peace Jirga, which is going to be held in Kabul. The Minister of Education and the Chief Organizer of the Jirga, Farooq Wardak said. “Justice and human rights are not on the agenda of this Jirga, nor will such topics be discussed in the Jirga.” Press release further expresses adds that such statements have made the Afghanistan civil society dubious about the fairness, transparency and for people, of people and by people principle of the process.

The Jirga organization authorities have not introduced the mechanisms and criteria for the selection of the participants. This should guarantee the wide-ranging participation of the Afghan citizens in all segments of the society and be on the basis of core human values of all the citizens, regardless of ethnic, lingual and religious affiliation and free of such biases. Despite the continuing and rigorous debate and deliberation on the criteria of selection of the participants in the Jirga by the representatives of active human rights organizations and other civil society institutions with the Jirga organization authorities, the reaction has not only been unsatisfactory but also casts doubt on the process of holding this Jirga and its objectives, more than before. A good example is the Provincial Council Representatives, who are picked on the basis of each province’s population in the same vein as the number of seats allocated for the Provincial Council. Taken this mechanism into account, only one representative will represent the low-population provinces (who, based on the experience of social and administrative procedures, will be a man). Ten more women participants were added to the number of women participants after a lot of pressure by women activists and human rights supporters.

However, we have yet to be assured of the establishment of mechanisms that could guarantee the essential, active and widespread presence of women in the Jirga. “Because women mother children and cannot travel to Kabul without chaperons/escorts from insecure parts of the country, inviting them to the Jirga will hike up the expenses” has been the justification provided by the Jirga organization authorities for the weak presence of women in the Jirga. The Human Rights Research & Advocacy Consortium (HRRAC) declares that the Jirga cannot be a national and democratic event without the consideration concerns of the Human Rights Groups. The Human Rights Research & Advocacy Consortium (HRRAC) represents thirteen well-reputed Afghan and international organizations that work to promote human rights, justice and offer humanitarian services in Afghanistan.


(2010-05-29/South Asian News Agency )