Date: 20 July 2010

Distinguished Guests! Welcome to my country, Afghanistan.

I speak to you from a unique vantage point. I represent civil society. We are the bridge between people and the state institutions. We play the role of service provider and of watchdog. We voice the concern of the population: when necessary criticizing, but also purposing solutions. We have been, and will continue, to reach out to the most vulnerable women, men and children of the least served communities across the country.

The dream shared by all in this gathering, of a secure, prosperous and equitable Afghanistan, is shared by civil society. But the progress we have seen in the last eight years is bitter sweet. Strides have been made in certain areas of legal and legislative development and in the re-establishment of state institutions, yet the road has been frustrating at times, and there remains much to be done.

The progress we have made gives us hope and inspiration, but at the same time, the country is filled with contradictions. Alongside improved governance is rampant corruption. Although full and equal rights have been granted to women under the constitution, cultural patriarchy is still in control of all changes, instead of being forced to change itself. The leadership of the country should take bold steps to break these cultural barriers and set the example of genuine equality.

The international and national communities must be resolute in their promotion of all that is good in this country - women’s rights, human rights, and accountability and transparency - and show no tolerance for all that undermines these things. Civil society acknowledges the aspiration of this conference to do exactly this.

I would hereby like to offer civil society’s recommendations to this highly esteemed group.

* First, good legislation must not only exist on paper, but must be implemented and enforced. Corruption must be combated and accountability, transparency and access to information must be increased.

* Second, as political and security strategies are carried out, all actors must remember and respect the centrality of people’s rights. Critically, women’s rights and achievements must not be compromised in any peace negotiations or accords. All aid efforts must respect the right of people in need to receive assistance according to the humanitarian principles of humanity, impartiality, and independence. Aid allocation decisions must be made on the basis of need, and not on where the troops are.

* Third, women’s experiences of both war and peace-building must be recognized in the peace process. All 28 working groups of the Peace Jirga concluded that women should be a central part of the Afghanistan Peace and Reintegration Plan. This reinforces the call for the National Security Strategy to be consistent with UN Security Council Resolution 1325, 1820, 1888 and 1889.

* Furthermore, the National Action Plan for Women must be rigorously implemented, and commitment to reserve at least 30% of leadership positions for women in the government must be fulfilled. Women must be meaningfully included in all policy strategy formulation and decision-making. Efforts must be re-doubled to ensure the full inclusion of women in economic opportunities, access to credit, vocational training, and the labor market, as well as to scholarships and higher education.

These are but a few points that civil society and women’s groups have prepared for your consideration. Our full comments and recommendations can be found in the communiqué of the conference organized by women’s activists on the 17th and 18th of July.

Mr. Moderator, I would now ask your permission to:

* introduce my esteemed friend and colleague, Dr. Sima Samar, Chair of the AIHRC, who will make a statement on behalf of the Human Rights Commission.

* Present the comments prepared by the Afghan Independent Human Rights Commission, which have been bestowed to me by my esteemed friend and colleague, Dr. Sima Samar.