Afghanistan (Hansard, 30 April 2002)

§ Joan Ruddock
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what reports he has received on the establishment of a human rights commission in Afghanistan; and if he will name those appointed to the commission and their terms of reference. [51462]

§ Mr. Bradshaw
Four standing working groups were established at the Afghan National Workshop on Human Rights held in Kabul on 9 March. These working groups will take forward the human rights provisions of the Bonn agreement, including the establishment of the independent Human Rights Commission, the investigation and monitoring of human rights abuses, and the provision of human rights education.
The UN Assistance Mission to Afghanistan will continue to support the Interim Authority and the Human Rights Commission in their work. According to the UN Secretary General, a senior Human Rights Co-ordinator in the Office of the Special Representative of the Secretary-General will serve as the principal contact for the independent Human Rights Commission. Staff, including Afghan nationals, will be equipped to perform the human rights aspects of their work, including the integration of rights-based and gender-sensitive approaches in the mission's relief and reconstruction activities.

§ Joan Ruddock
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what arrangements have been put in place to ensure women's participation in the regional ballot of the emergency loya jirga, which began on 15 April. [51464]
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§ Mr. Bradshaw
On 31 March, the Special Commission for Convening the Emergency Loya Jirga announced the criteria for the selection of delegates for the Loya Jirga, including the arrangements for selection of candidates by regional ballot. These include a quota of seats reserved for women (100 out of the 1,051 seats being decided by regional ballot). A further 60 seats will be reserved for women out of the quotas reserved for members of the Interim Authority, refugees, members of civil society, internally displaced persons and professionals. This will give a total allocation of 160 out of 1,450 seats.
The Loya Jirga process has received wide publicity in Afghanistan via radio and print media. The commission, whose 21 members include three women, are also travelling to the regions to explain the process and to encourage women to take part.

§ Joan Ruddock
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what part women will play in the new police force and national army being established in Afghanistan. [51463]

§ Mr. Bradshaw
Reform of the security sector will he crucial in establishing security across Afghanistan. The process is at an early stage. While Afghan women are not members of the recently established First Battalion of the Afghan National Guard (trained by ISAF), we hope that Afghan women will play an important role in the security sector, including in the police, the judiciary and the armed forces.