UNAMA veroordeelt recente aanvallen opstandelingen op onderwijs Afghanistan

De United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA) vav de Verenigde Naties heeft zaterdag in een verklaring de aanvallen in Afghanistan van de laatste tijd op het recht op onderwijs scherp veroordeeld.

De UNAMA is ernstig bezorgd dat de bescherming die burgers, en in het bijzonder kinderen, nodig hebben bij hun recht op onderwijs ernstig wordt geschonden door de aanvallen van opstandelingen op scholen en onderwijsfunctionarissen van de laatste weken.

De aanvallen zijn een “ernstige schending van het humanitaire recht en op het recht op onderwijs”, aldus de UNAMA.

In de verklaring dringt de UNAMA er bij de elementen die antiregeringsgezind zijn op aan de “haataanvallen” tegen kinderen en onderwijsfunctionarissen te beëindigen.


De verklaring van de UNAMA, ontvangen per email:

UN MISSION IN AFGHANISTAN CONDEMNS ATTACKS ON SCHOOLS BY INSURGENTS

New York, May 12 2012 12:10PM

The United Nations mission in Afghanistan today voiced serious concern over reported attacks on schools and education officials by anti-government groups in recent weeks, saying the raids were a violation of children's right to education.

"It is imperative that all parties to the conflict respect the civilian status of schools and work to protect and promote the rights of children, particularly girls, to education," the UN Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA) said in a statement.

The mission said it had over the past year monitored unacceptable levels of violence by anti-government elements directed against schools, education institutions, their staff and students.
Last week, insurgents targeted education officials travelling in Paktika province killing five civilians and wounding seven others.

In Khogyani district of Nangahar province on 8 May, anti-government elements set fire to a girls' secondary school in Wazir village, destroying two school buildings and equipment.

Insurgents have also conducted a campaign of intimidation against community leaders and staff at the school to force its closure. "UNAMA condemns these attacks that aim to limit access to education and to intimidate civilians," said the statement.

The mission said the attacks and acts of intimidation demonstrate a disregard for the protection of civilians, especially children, and of civilian institutions.

"They are a serious violation of international humanitarian law and of the right to education," said UNAMA in its statement. It urged the anti-government elements to stop the "heinous attacks" against children and education officials.

"UNAMA calls for the respect of international humanitarian law and for the right to education for all Afghans."

The mission also called on the Afghan Government and the international forces to ensure that effective security measures are in place to protect schools, students and teachers.

"UNAMA strongly urges anti-government elements to uphold and demonstrate the commitments to education they have made in public statements."

In a related development, UNAMA and two UN agencies called on the Afghan Government and NATO to ensure that the protection of women and girls is a central component of the security arrangements that will emerge from the 2014 transition when NATO will hand over full security responsibilities to Afghan authorities.

In a joint press release issued ahead of the NATO Summit in the United States city of Chicago on 20-21 May, UNAMA, UN Population Fund (UNFPA) and UN Women urged NATO and the Afghan Government to fulfill Security Council resolution 1325, which requires that all parties to take special measures to protect women and girls in armed conflict. The resolution also stresses the critical role women can play in all efforts to promote peace and security.

"Now is the time to deal with the longer-term security and protection needs of Afghan women who have long borne the brunt of the war in Afghanistan," said Ján Kubiš, the Special Representative of the Secretary-General and head of UNAMA.

"Women's specific protection needs should be central to plans being made as the Afghan national army and police prepare to take an increasing lead in security operations and the NATO--ISAF mission evolves from combat operations to training and assistance to Afghan forces."

Women's rights groups and Afghan civil society have stressed that gains made in the past decade for millions of Afghan women in securing equal constitutional rights, political participation, and access to health and education must not be compromised in any transition agreements between NATO, international partners and the Afghan Government.

"Protection of women during transition and in post-transition is critical as women are more vulnerable to insecurity and any breakdown in local rule of law," said Georgette Gagnon, the Director of Human Rights in UNAMA.

"Transition should prioritize an increasing civilian policing role for the Afghan National Police over its paramilitary functions, including expansion of human rights protection with a particular focus on women's rights and rule of law."

The UN bodies stressed that protection for women during and after the transition requires that the Afghan National Police be fully resourced, trained, equipped and sensitized to affectively address cases of violence against women and girls.

"It is important that the international and national community puts every effort into breaking the silence and ensuring that the voices of women and girls are heard and that the necessary services are put in place to support those women and girls," said Laurent Zessler, the UNFPA Representative in Afghanistan.

Ingibjorg Solrun Gisladottir, the UN Women Country Director for Afghanistan, said: "Security is paramount for improving girls and women's freedom of movement and access to education and health services..

Women understand the drivers of insecurity in their communities and it is crucial to include Afghan women's groups in decisions impacting on their security during and after the transition of security from NATO-ISAF to Afghan forces."

May 12 2012 12:10PM