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Please note that the Sultanzoy campaign did not submit answers in the format of the questionnaire, despite being asked to do so. The response was submitted in the form of an email in English; the Dari version below is a translation by Human Rights Watch.

 

Dear Ms. Barr, Thank you for sharing these documents with me. In my view the subjects referred to in the questionnaire you have sent me are relating to very important matters that affect our society and cannot be answered in a page or two. I would like to share my views on some of the key issues. In my view in order for you, your colleagues and others who are interested in these matters of grave importance not only in Afghan society but also of importance in many countries which grapple with these issues, is to understand the mindset, core belief and commitment of a political leadership. 

An individual such as me can not see an Afghanistan without human rights period. My views of human rights were formed in my early childhood in my family. My values of rights of women were formed being next to a mother who was educated abroad in the 1940's and who was in forefront of women issues that lead her to the creation of the only women organization in Afghanistan then. She was also the founder of kindergartens in Afghanistan then. I was raised with these values even before most of our Afghan and very kind non Afghan help here now in Afghanistan were even borne. I am very proud to tell you that my wife is stead fast activist and journalist who will be a courageous support to me. The wife of a president in Afghanistan should not set as a hidden trophy in a walled compound. She should lead some very important efforts in the country and set examples. 

I can asure every human being in this country that my doctrine for governance in Afghanistan is to value each human individual and her or his rights. There is no government of people by the people for the people without respecting, safeguarding and enhancing the rights of those people. No Afghan person let alone human rights worker and activists should worry about Daoud Sultanzoy in relation to these matters.

Violence is not only the product of decades of war in our country, more importantly it has changed to a culture in some ways. This culture has emanated from political violence in my view. We have some so called political organizations with very violent past. We have politicians who were and still are very violent and some have committed many war crimes as well. In this kind of environment and political leadership naturally our security sector is also affected by this culture. I am determined to not only bring reform and accountability, I will go further and make sure we have meaningful and lasting educational programs to affect change and eliminate the culture of violence in the country. The program will be implemented in the educational framework of our security forces as well. Accountability of our security forces to uphold the law should be encompassing and respect of human rights will be an integral part of that accountability. This will be in practice and not in rhetoric.

Our programs will also be focussing on overall women's issues not only to protect their rights as human beings but enhance those rights in areas which matter the most i.e. empowerment of women in all fields such as government, civil society ,private sector and rural development. My plans will be creating better condition not only in cities but more importantly in rural areas of the country so women can become part of the economy and become indispensable wage earners at family level. This will affect their status and value, not only as women but as productive human being with the rights which should come with that status that they haven't had so far.

Rule of law is the only way we can combat many ills in our society. Justice can only prevail when the rule of law without discrimination and or favoritism is applied at all times in the entire country. Transitional justice is part of the overall justice in the country and should be dealt with accordingly. The best way and most effective way of achieving justice in our country is to make sure we have accountability from the top down. The top down approach to rule of law will make sure no body is above the law.

Children in war-torne poor societies are not only victims of war and poverty they become tools of exploitation for economic gain and sexual deviancy. No one should tolerate these crimes agains the most vulnerable innocent beings. We have programs to make sure education and recreation of the right kind become an attraction for children. In order to remove the burden of economic hardship for their families we have urban and rural employment programs.  

One of the most important issues that affect the rights of human beings in Afghanistan and is not highlighted prominently enough in the Human rights mandated is corruption. This menace is plundering as much as $ 4 billion every year from our economy. This affects the human rights conditions in our country in a grave manner and we have planes to fight it and are going to pay a prominent attention to combating the issue of corruption.

As I mentioned in the beginning we have comprehensive plans in all aspects of rule of law, good governance and all related matters which enables us to make sure all rights of citizens are not only safe guarded but they are enhanced. The role of our government will not just be to safe guard all RIGHTS in this country but to enhance them so we will enable our society to evolve not just live at the edge of the rule of law.

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