Afghanistan: New committee aims to bolster protection for civilians

The Afghanistan Independent Human Rights Commission (AIHRC) and the United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA) Human Rights Unit recently established the Protection of Civilian Committee in Armed Conflict in Kunduz.

According to Hayatullah Amiri, Head of AIHRC's regional office in Kunduz, the aim of the Committee is to convince Government authorities and all parties to the conflict to prevent and to reduce the civilian causalities.

"Based on national laws and the international conventions and treaties, we want to create a transparent mechanism among AIHRC, civil society associations, community elders and non-governmental organizations to make decisions regarding the protection of civilians during the armed conflict" said Amiri.

The Committee is expected to meet twice a month to discuss civilian casualties, to investigate damage to residential areas from armed conflict and to protect the rights of displaced people.

Dr Hamyoon Khamoosh, Head of the Kunduz Regional Hospital, believes the establishment of the committee will be an effective step toward the reduction of civilian casualties.

According to a report published by UNAMA's Human Rights Unit, 2,412 civilian were killed in armed conflict in Afghanistan during 2009. UNAMA will publish its 2010 mid-year report on the protection of civilians in the coming weeks.

Date: 11 Jul 2010

Source: United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan