Afghan Independent Human Rights Commission
Encyclopedia
The Afghan Independent Human Rights Commission (AIHRC) (Dari
: کمیسیون مستقل حقوق بشر افغانستان) is an Afghan
organisation dedicated to the preservation of human rights
and the investigation of human rights abuses.
Afghanistan Independent Human Rights Commission was established pursuant to Bonn Agreement
(5 December 2001) and on the basis of decree of the Chairman of the Interim Administration, June 6, 2002, and resolution
134/48 of United Nations General Assembly
in 1993 and Paris Principles
and on the basis of article 58 of the Constitution of Islamic Republic of Afghanistan
, and now the Commission is performing its activities in the areas of promotion, protection and monitoring of human rights.
The AIHRC describes itself as a "constitutionalized, national and independent human rights body in Afghanistan." It refers destitute orphans to the Mahboba's promise
non-governmental organisation.
Its current chairperson is Dr. Sima Samar
.
The AIHRC played a role in the 2007 Canadian Afghan detainee abuse scandal
, when questions arose about the ability of AIHRC to monitor the status of individuals detained by Canadian soldiers and given into Afghan custody. A Globe and Mail report quoted several AIHRC investigators as being glad of the renewed attention to human rights that the Canadian scandal had created, but fearful of the political consequences from the Afghan leadership once past abuses came to light.
Dari (Afghanistan)
Dari or Fārsī-ye Darī in historical terms refers to the Persian court language of the Sassanids. In contemporary usage, the term refers to the dialects of modern Persian language spoken in Afghanistan, and hence known as Afghan Persian in some Western sources. It is the term officially recognized...
: کمیسیون مستقل حقوق بشر افغانستان) is an Afghan
Afghanistan
Afghanistan , officially the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan, is a landlocked country located in the centre of Asia, forming South Asia, Central Asia and the Middle East. With a population of about 29 million, it has an area of , making it the 42nd most populous and 41st largest nation in the world...
organisation dedicated to the preservation of human rights
Human rights
Human rights are "commonly understood as inalienable fundamental rights to which a person is inherently entitled simply because she or he is a human being." Human rights are thus conceived as universal and egalitarian . These rights may exist as natural rights or as legal rights, in both national...
and the investigation of human rights abuses.
Afghanistan Independent Human Rights Commission was established pursuant to Bonn Agreement
Bonn Agreement (Afghanistan)
Officially the Agreement on Provisional Arrangements in Afghanistan Pending the Re-Establishment of Permanent Government Institutions, the Bonn Agreement was the initial series of agreements intended to re-create the State of Afghanistan following the U.S. invasion of Afghanistan in response to the...
(5 December 2001) and on the basis of decree of the Chairman of the Interim Administration, June 6, 2002, and resolution
United Nations General Assembly Resolution
A United Nations General Assembly Resolution is voted on by all member states of the United Nations in the General Assembly.General Assembly resolutions usually require a simple majority to pass...
134/48 of United Nations General Assembly
United Nations General Assembly
For two articles dealing with membership in the General Assembly, see:* General Assembly members* General Assembly observersThe United Nations General Assembly is one of the five principal organs of the United Nations and the only one in which all member nations have equal representation...
in 1993 and Paris Principles
Paris Principles
The Paris Principles were defined at the first International Workshop on National Institutions for the Promotion and Protection of Human Rights held in Paris on 7-9 October 1991. They were adopted by the United Nations Human Rights Commission by Resolution 1992/54 of 1992, and by the UN General...
and on the basis of article 58 of the Constitution of Islamic Republic of Afghanistan
Constitution of Afghanistan
The Constitution of Afghanistan is the supreme law of the state Afghanistan, which serves as the legal framework between the Afghan government and the Afghan citizens...
, and now the Commission is performing its activities in the areas of promotion, protection and monitoring of human rights.
The AIHRC describes itself as a "constitutionalized, national and independent human rights body in Afghanistan." It refers destitute orphans to the Mahboba's promise
Mahboba's promise
Mahboba's Promise is an Australian non-profit organisation dedicated to helping the women and the large number of orphaned children of Afghanistan. It is one of the few non-governmental organisations operational in that war-torn nation entirely funded by private donations and currently looks after...
non-governmental organisation.
Its current chairperson is Dr. Sima Samar
Sima Samar
Dr. Sima Samar OC is a politician in Afghanistan, who served as Minister of Women's Affairs of Afghanistan from December 2001 to 2003...
.
The AIHRC played a role in the 2007 Canadian Afghan detainee abuse scandal
Canadian Afghan detainee abuse scandal
The Canadian Afghan detainee issue concerns whether or not the Government of Canada and/or the Canadian Forces had knowledge about alleged abusive treatment of detainees in Afghanistan...
, when questions arose about the ability of AIHRC to monitor the status of individuals detained by Canadian soldiers and given into Afghan custody. A Globe and Mail report quoted several AIHRC investigators as being glad of the renewed attention to human rights that the Canadian scandal had created, but fearful of the political consequences from the Afghan leadership once past abuses came to light.
See also
- Human rights in AfghanistanHuman rights in AfghanistanThe situation of Human Rights in Afghanistan is a topic of some controversy and conflict. While the Taliban were well known for numerous human rights abuses, several human rights violations continue to take place in the post-Taliban government era....
- Bonn Agreement (Afghanistan)Bonn Agreement (Afghanistan)Officially the Agreement on Provisional Arrangements in Afghanistan Pending the Re-Establishment of Permanent Government Institutions, the Bonn Agreement was the initial series of agreements intended to re-create the State of Afghanistan following the U.S. invasion of Afghanistan in response to the...
- National Directorate of Security (Afghanistan)National Directorate of Security (Afghanistan)The National Directorate of Security is the domestic intelligence agency of the government of Afghanistan. The Director of National Security reports directly to the President. The NDS has about 30 departments and different branches all over the country...
- National human rights institutions
- Paris PrinciplesParis PrinciplesThe Paris Principles were defined at the first International Workshop on National Institutions for the Promotion and Protection of Human Rights held in Paris on 7-9 October 1991. They were adopted by the United Nations Human Rights Commission by Resolution 1992/54 of 1992, and by the UN General...