In its annual report on human rights abuses, the US criticised Iraq and Afghanistan listing them as the most difficult challenges posed to the international community.
The survey conducted by the US took into account a total of 193 countries, listing Iraq and Afghanistan as the most volatile amonst them all. The report laid down that the two countries were extremely challenging due to internal conflicts that “threaten or thwart advancements in human rights and democratic government”.
Iraq and the human rights mayhem
The report urged that even though the Iraqi government was consistent and committed in its efforts to foster national reconciliation and reconstruction, “both deepening sectarian violence and acts of terrorism seriously under cut human rights and democracy progress during 2006.”
The report held not only Al-Qaeda to be responsible in part for the abuses, but also members of militia allied to the government.
Afghanistan and the civilian bloodshed
We have already been reading about the killings of civilians by troops in Afghanistan. Although the report obviously did not touch upon this factor, it said that Afghanistan had made a huge comeback in terms of human rights guarantees since the fall of the Taliban. However, the report felt that the process had been stalled “mainly due to weak central institutions and a deadly insurgency” involved stepped up attacks by Taliban remnants, the Al-Qaeda movement and other groups.
In case of Afghanistan as well, the report noted serious human rights offences on part of the officials. The report however went on to welcome a decision by President Hamid Karzai to launch a Transitional Justice Action plan aimed at addressing human rights issues.
The problem of human rights violation is more serious than we may imagine it to be. The civilians in war damaged countries like Iraq and Afghanistan go through a lot of emotional and physical trauma linked to terroristic activities, or even official acts of violation against them. Their needs to be an active forum where such exploitations are fully recognised, and are sought to be corrected or duly punished.
