Afghanistan Independent Human Rights Commission (AIHRC)
http://www.aihrc.org.af/index_eng.htm
Last update of this source description: 9 December 2008.
Mission/Mandate:
“The Afghanistan Independent Human Rights Commission (AIHRC) is a permanent and independent national institution, with the mandate to protect, promote, monitor and investigate human rights throughout Afghanistan. It was established through a Presidential Decree in June 2002 and was included in the Afghan Constitution”. (AIHRC website, http://www.aihrc.org.af/2008/Mar/Jobs/Chi_Rig_officer_Gardez.htm, accessed 9 December 2008)
The AIHRC encompasses eight units, covering “Transitional Justice”, “Women's Rights”, “Child Rights”, “Human Rights Education”, “People With Disabilities”, “Media”, and “Research”. (International Institute for Democracy and Electoral Assistance (IDEA) website, http://www.idea.int/rrn/organisation/aihrc.cfm, accessed 9 December 2008)
“The Commission has one head office, 8 regional and 4 provincial offices throughout Afghanistan […]. The Commission employs 578 staff members and support staff.” (Afghanistan Independent Human Rights Commission: Annual Report 1 January to 31 December 2007, p. 14, http://www.aihrc.org.af/Annaul_Rep_2007.pdf, accessed 9 December 2008)
Target group:
The AIHRC seeks to submit “reports on human rights situation to the President’s Office […] government institutions, Supreme Courts, Afghan Parliament, and International Community.” (Afghanistan Independent Human Rights Commission: Annual Report 1 January to 31 December 2007, p. 11-12, http://www.aihrc.org.af/Annaul_Rep_2007.pdf, accessed 9 December 2008)
Objective:
AIHRC seeks to submit human rights reports to raise attention on human rights violations and recommend measures to be taken.
In the framework of its advocacy work, AIHRC seeks to raise political/public awareness for human rights concepts by means of “workshops, media broadcasts and meetings and distribut[ion] […] of its Human Rights magazine” in Afghanistan.(Afghanistan Independent Human Rights Commission: Annual Report 1 January to 31 December 2007, p. 7, http://www.aihrc.org.af/Annaul_Rep_2007.pdf, accessed 9 December 2008)
Funding:
The AIHRC states that it currently receives funds from Western donor countries, government development aid organisations, UN agencies, and foreign NGOs. (Afghanistan Independent Human Rights Commission: Annual Report 1 January to 31 December 2007, p. 59, http://www.aihrc.org.af/Annaul_Rep_2007.pdf, accessed 9 December 2008)
Scope of reporting:
Geographic focus: Afghanistan
Thematic focus:
Human rights, including freedom of speech, women’s and children’s rights, economic and social rights (AIHRC website, http://www.aihrc.org.af/mon_inv.htm, accessed 9 December 2008)
Reporting methodology:
AIHRC reports are based on information gathered through investigation on cases of human rights abuses, research work (by its Research and Policy Unit), as well as interviews (based on questionnaires) and observations made during monitoring missions to prisons, detention centres, child correction centres, hospitals and orphanages etc. Data drawn from State sources may be included. Sources are referenced by means of endnotes, the way information is gathered is made explicit in an initial chapter on methodology. Statistical figures and graphics are included. The final part of a report usually contains a list of recommendations addressing the state authorities concerned. Reports maybe published jointly with other organisations (e.g. UNICEF).
Annual reports provide an overview of the AIHRC activities and are arranged by organisation unit.
Reports on the “Economic and Social Rights in Afghanistan” are based on interviews of different social groups and aim to provide an “assessment of the Government of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan’s protection of selected economic and social rights”. (AIHRC Report on Economic and Social Rights in Afghanistan, May 2006, p. 3, http://www.aihrc.org.af/rep_economic_socail_may_2006.pdf, accessed 9 December 2008). Each chapter covers a specific economic/social issue.
Publication cycle:
Annual reports (publication dates not provided) cover activities of the entire previous year.
Reports on Economic and Social Rights have so far been published in two editions, in May 2006 and August 2007, based on data collected the previous year.
Languages:
English, Dari, Pashto
Navigation of website:
Reports are made available on the AIHRC homepage
Additional references:
IDEA – International Institute for Democracy and Electoral Assistance (an intergovernmental organisation that seeks “to strengthen democratic institutions and processes.”): Afghanistan Independent Human Rights Commission, page last modified: August 14, 2006, (AIHRC website, http://www.idea.int/rrn/organisation/aihrc.cfm accessed 9 December 2008)
