11.2004 - Source: Danish Immigration Service

Compulsory recruitment and compulsory labour ("The political conditions, the security and human rights situation in Afghanistan; Report on fact-finding mission to Kabul, Afghanistan 20 March – 2 April 2004") [#27424],  [ID 1488]

"The UNHCR explained that an increasing number of young boys are being compulsoryrecruited to the armies of local commanders in northwestern part of Afghanistan. Young men are chosen at random by the commanders. Their families have to pay money if they do not want to let go of their sons. The people concerned are mainly young boys fromthe age of fourteen and up. The UNHCR did not know about the magnitude of compulsory recruitment. The source mentioned further that there is an increase in compulsory labour involving young boys. Compulsory recruitment and labour are according to the source most frequent in the months between January and May and from July to August when opium poppies are being cultivated. The UNHCR had knowledge of young men fleeing to Iran in order to avoid compulsory recruitment. (p. 61)"

Document(s): Open document

09.2003 - Source: UN High Commissioner for Refugees

Berichte von Zwangsrekrutierung in den Provinzen Faryab, Saripul, Balkh, Jawzjan, Samangan, Baghlan und Nord-Uruzgan durch örtliche Kommandeure ("Aktualisierte Darstellung der Lage in Afghanistan") [#47150],  [ID 1489]

"In Faryab, Saripul, Balkh, Jawzjan, Samangan, Baghlan und Nord-Uruzgan gab es während des gesamten Jahres 2002 und weiterhin im Jahr 2003 Berichte von Zivilisten über Zwangsrekrutierungen von jungen Männern aus Dörfern durch örtliche Kommandeure. Diese Praxis steht im direkten Widerspruch zu Dekreten, die die Zentralregierung erlassen hat."

Document(s): Open document

15.04.2003 - Source: European Council on Refugees and Exiles

North: Reports of executions of those refusing recruitment ("Guidelines for the Treatment of Afghan Asylum Seekers & Refugees in Europe") [#12087],  [ID 1490]

"European States should give all Afghan asylum claimants the opportunity to lodge an application and have it processed with minimum delay. ECRE considers that certain categories of individuals amongst the Afghan population may have ongoing protection needs that remain unchanged despite recent political developments in Afghanistan. These groups include:
...
Groups endangered by forced recruitment which is still being carried out by militia groups in the North, with reports of executions of those refusing recruitment."

Document(s): Open document

07.03.2003 - Source: Danish Immigration Service

People evading military service with the Northern Alliance ("The Political, Security and Human Rights Situation in Afghanistan: Report on fact-finding mission to Kabul and Mazar-i-Sharif, Afghanistan and Islamabad, Pakistan; 22 September - 5 October 2002") [#11326],  [ID 1491]

"The coordinator of UNAMA's Civil Affairs Branch reported that it was easy for the Mujaheddin to recruit people in the 80's and early 90's. Accordingly, there were no serious consequences for people who wanted to desert from the various warlords during this period. According to the source, people who had left the Mujaheddin during this period, would not be at risk of reprisals today. After 1997 it became increasingly difficult for the Mujaheddin to recruit people, and as a result many warlords started forced recruitment of soldiers. It was the opinion of the source, that people who had deserted during this period, might have problems if they returned to their homeland. Accordingly, the source recommended that people in this situation should seek to take up residence in Kabul, and he also mentioned that the majority of returned Afghan refugees would choose to go to Kabul anyway.
UNHCR, Kabul believed that desertion from the Northern Alliance would be considered a serious offence although the source had no specific details on this issue.
An international source reported that concrete situations are of the utmost importance when assessing whether former deserters from the Northern Alliance are in danger of persecution when returning. The source believed that in general it would not cause any problems today for people who deserted in the early 1990's. However, if desertion was a result of clear political opposition to the Northern Alliance - and such opposition was known, or if the person had been considered to be opposing the Northern Alliance - then such person might still encounter problems.
CCA advised that the situation for people who had evaded forced recruitment to the Northern Alliance would entirely depend on whether the desertion had been recorded by the current, local commandant and whether, consequently, such people would be at risk. There is no institutional memory."

Document(s): Open document

07.03.2003 - Source: Danish Immigration Service

DIS: Extent of forced recruitment is on the increase; should be seen in the context of the tension between various factions in the northern region ("The Political, Security and Human Rights Situation in Afghanistan: Report on fact-finding mission to Kabul and Mazar-i-Sharif, Afghanistan and Islamabad, Pakistan; 22 September - 5 October 2002") [#11326],  [ID 1492]

"The senior human rights advisor and the political advisor of UNAMA said that forced recruitment is currently taking place in the northern areas of Afghanistan.
An international source advised that the extent of forced recruitment is on the increase and should be seen in the context of the tension between the various factions in the northern region. The source has received reports indicating that the forced recruitment during the months of August of September 2002 took place particularly in the provinces of Sar-e-Pul, Jowjzan, Balkh and Samangan. According to the source, forced recruitment is carried out in different ways. Firstly, it was reported, in late August young men were picked up from the street in Sar-e-Pul. Many of these were working for national NGOs. According to the source, forced recruitment is carried out by both sides - by the Junbesh as well as by the Jamiat forces. It is said that Atta has ordered 1000 new recruits to be found for the forces in the Balkh province, while Junbesh are recruiting especially in Samangan and Jowjzan. Other forms of forced recruitment consist of the commandant going to the villages where he negotiates a sum of money in exchange for men. Amounts as high as 10-20 million Afghani per person have been reported, (approximately between USD 220 and 445 per person). In some instances higher amounts have been mentioned. If the families are unable to pay, the young men are picked up. There are also reports of physical violence in the form of beatings of families. According to the source, the local community often helps the family to pay. There are also examples of some families in an IDP-camp in the Samangan province having recently been asked to supply 20 recruits, but they only supplied three and sent the rest of the young men in the camp away from the area to another IDP-camp in the Kandahar region (Spin Boldak). There are rumours that forced recruitment involves people as young as 12-13 years, but according to reports, verified by the source, it was actually young men aged between 18 and 20 years. The source also said that in May 2002, a decree was issued by the president about military service, which according to this decree, must take place voluntarily. However, according to the source it seems unclear whether this decree has come into force, and how it is to be implemented in practice. Finally, the source expressed concern, that the Pashtuns currently returning from western countries might become a primary target for forced recruitment in the northern regions. The source emphasized that there have not as yet been any examples of this happening, but that it is an issue, which gives cause for general concern.
According to CCA, forced recruitment to the Jamiat forces in Takhar province is also currently taking place. According to the source, these are forces belonging to the commandant Daoud, who is based in Kunduz. CCA has received reports that families, who refuse to supply a recruit, instead must pay 4 million Afghani (about USD 85)."

Document(s): Open document

03.02.2003 - Source: UN Human Rights Council (formerly UN Commission on Human Rights)

Reports of forced recruitment by various militia groups in North ("Civil and political rights, including the question of disappearances and summary executions E/CN.4/2003/3/Add.4 E/CN.4/2003/3/Add.4") [#10765],  [ID 1493]

"There were reports claiming that renewed forced recruitment was being carried out by various militia groups in provinces of the North of the country. Some reports indicated that local militias summarily executed persons who had refused the recruitment."

Document(s): Open document
02464afgh.pdf

10.09.2002 - Source: Danish Immigration Service

DIS : Recruitment of soldiers, including forced recruitment ("Political Conditions, Security and Human Rights Situation in Afghanistan. Report on fact-finding mission to Islamabad and Peshawar, Pakistan and Kabul, Afghanistan, 5-19 May 2002") [#8548],  [ID 1495]

"III. 4 Recruitment of soldiers, including forced recruitment
According to a UN source, some Pashtun families in the area around Sar-e-Pul, west of Mazar-i-Sharif encountered demands to send a male family member for a period of 2-3 months. According to information, demands were imposed from both the warring parties – Dostum and Mohammed Atta. It is not being done systematically, but from time to time. The source stated that there is a focus in the area on conditions for Pashtuns, but has no information on whether this also applies for other ethnic groups, but cannot exclude that this happens. The source has no information on whether this involves minors, but pointed out that in an Afghan context boys from the age of 14 years can be considered as adult men, including bearing arms.

According to the director for ICG, there is no forced recruitment. However, young men join up voluntarily as this is a question of having a job."

Document(s): Open document

31.08.2002 - Source: UN Assistance Mission in Afghanistan

UNAMA: Reports of forced conscription by Jamiat and Jumbish ("Afghanistan Weekly Situation Report Relief, Recovery and Reconstruction (25 -31 August 2002)") [#8571],  [ID 1494]

"Forced conscription of young men by the Jamiat in Mazar city and surrounding environs as well as by the Junbish in Sarepul has been reported. These claims are currently being investigated."

Document(s): Open document