The University of California, Irvine School of Law has launched the Afghanistan Human Rights Project through its International Justice Clinic. Students in the program will advocate for action to address Afghanistan’s human rights situation.
It was just a little over one year ago when the Taliban took over Afghanistan’s elected government. Students involved with the project will research and monitor the situation as it continues, and their findings will be posted publicly. The project’s first research report focuses on “the Taliban’s use of arbitrary detention in serious violation of its obligations under human rights law.”
Hashmat Nadirpor, a lawyer and rule of law expert from Afghanistan, leads the project. Nadirpor first came into connection with UCI Law through its Scholars at Risk Program, according to a press release.
“One year after the Taliban takeover, life in Afghanistan is getting far more difficult as ordinary citizens are being denied their fundamental human rights,” Nadirpor said. “Basic human rights of citizens such as the right to life and liberty, the right to freedom of expression, association, and assembly, the right to fair trial and presumption of innocence are hugely violated by the Taliban authorities.”
Nadirpor said the situation in Afghanistan is worse for women as they are suffering from a systemic discriminatory violation of their human rights. Women are being denied the right to work, the right to healthcare and the right to education.
He also notes that religious and ethnic minorities are in danger and have been attacked in public and places of worship.
“The Taliban have been unable or unwilling to protect them and uphold their basic rights to life and personal security,” said Nadirpor. “We hope to draw attention to their plight as well.”
David Kaye, the International Justice Clinic’s director, will work closely with Nadirpor and the project.
“The situation in Afghanistan is obviously grave,” said Kaye in the release. “It poses serious questions for Afghans, like Hashmat and others like him who have been forced to leave the country. Namely, how do human rights defenders do their work from outside the country, when the country is led by a government staunchly opposed to basic human rights? We will be monitoring the situation but also seeking to develop approaches to fact-finding and advocacy in this complicated context.”
Nadirpor feels that the international community should monitor the situation and hold the Taliban accountable. He hopes that the pressure from the government and non-government organizations can make them uphold Afghanistan’s international obligations.
