(New York) -- With the ground rapidly shifting in Afghanistan, Human Rights Watch sent separate letters to the U.S. State Department and the U.N. Security Council setting out key recommendations on human rights issues and the future of Afghanistan. The letters contain a number of ideas to be pursued by all parties to current negotiations on the political situation in Afghanistan. The recommendations include:
- Ensuring that principles of international human rights and accountability are incorporated in security and governance arrangements for Afghanistan;
- Establishing a human rights monitoring presence in Afghanistan;
- Excluding perpetrators of war crimes from a future government and police forces;
- Ensuring respect for Afghan women's rights;
- Providing sufficient and meaningful international assistance to efforts to rebuild systems of justice and rule of law in Afghanistan; and
- Providing that no amnesties from prosecution be given to former human rights abusers.
