Blogs / Sari Kouvo
The Civilian Cost of Armed Conflict in Afghanistan: An Overview of Recent Reports
In July, the Afghan Independent Human Rights Commission and UNAMA published their mid-year reports on civilian casualties and protection of civilians in the conflict in Afghanistan. AAN Senior Analyst, Sari Kouvo, takes a closer look at patterns identified on violations against – and protection of – civilians in the war in Afghanistan and brings in other, lesser known data. read more »
posted: 26-08-2010
Six years late, the Constitutional Commission is formed; but will it take on president and parliament?
One of the many ambiguities in the Afghan Constitution is on who has the authority to interpret the Constitution. For no obvious reason a mix of both judicial and legislative oversight was smuggled into the Constitution when it was adopted in 2004. Six years later, the Independent Commission for the Supervision of the Implementation of the Constitution (Komisiun-e Mostaqel-e Nezarat bar Tatbiq-e Qanun-e Asasi), as called for under article 157 of the Constitution, has been established. Although it is a step in the right direction towards constitutional compliance, it remains to be seen whether the Commission will solve some of the underlying problems of Afghanistan’s politicized justice system. read more »
posted: 03-07-2010
After two years in legal limbo: A first glance at the approved 'Amnesty law'
Impunity is certainly a problem in Afghanistan, but now impunity has been made into law. After two years in legal limbo, the so-called amnesty bill (now titled the National Reconciliation, General Amnesty and National Stability Law) was published in the official gazette in December 2009. read more »
posted: 22-02-2010
AAN Election Blog No. 20: Armchair analyst
Distance can provide perspective, at least that is what armchair analysts like myself try to convince ourselves. However, having monitored two elections in Afghanistan, I know that distance also means that one misses the political undercurrents and the real stories behind facts and figures. read more »
posted: 20-08-2009
Theatre about conflict – and how we all have to relate to it
Mid-June, I had the opportunity see the revival performance of a play entitled ‘AH 7808’ that toured most Afghan regional capitals in 2008. The play is an adaptation of an Irish script addressing conflict and each individual’s responsibility to overcome it. Through the play, the audience gets to take part in one man’s struggle to decide if he wants ‘truth-recovery surgery’ or if truth is best forgotten, as recovering it may also force him to face his own deeds and his own past. read more »
posted: 22-06-2009
A few thoughts on the UN Human Rights Council and its review of the Afghan government’s periodic report
On 7 May 2009, the Afghan government presented its first report to the UN Human Rights Council. If I am rightly informed, the Afghan government received around one hundred recommendations that should be discussed, refused or adopted. If adopted, the Afghan government should by the time of the next review show if and how it has made progress on these issues. read more »
posted: 15-06-2009