Empowerment and Protection - Stories of Human Security Oct. 2014 | Page 20

AFGHANISTAN

political structures, and so it is always imposed
on them. As long as locals are not allowed to
shape their government then these structures of
insecurity will continue to exist.”

Corruption and injustice

RLD BANK 2014A)

Corruption is a symptom and an outcome of a
weak government that adversely affects a country’s
economy, public trust in the institutions, and
respect for the rule of law. The continuation of
patronage systems in Afghanistan is perceived to
hinder the government’s ability to fully exercise
all its functions. The sentiment is that some
people benefit from the state of insecurity as
it has created an environment where nepotism
and patronage systems flourish. Ahmad Shah,
a 63-year-old resident of Nangahar province,
comments, “Corruption and no peace are factors
adding to my insecurity and this is mainly a result
=10.000.000
of our corrupt government. No matter which
government office you go to, you are faced with
these issues and it’s very discouraging.”

“These political
leaders are not
serious about solving
people’s problems;
they are just working
for their
own benefits.”
Interviewees are particularly vocal about their
disapproval of authorities who are unaccountable,
such as (former) warlords and police. “Warlords
in the government and the police force are the
greatest contributors to my insecurity. I feel
that these issues are due to old traditions. […]
Their power makes everyone in this country feel
uncomfortable. Also, the police are unprofessional
and they don’t feel the need to be accountable to
the public, so as a common man I fear the police,”
says Asadullah, a 38-year-old professor in Kabul.
Many of those interviewed lack trust in the

HUMAN DEVELOPMENT
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interpretations of culture and religion, so when I, as
a scholar of Sharia, share my views on cultural and
religious practices with those at the community level
I feel they start judging me. As a result, most of the
time I resort to self-censorship. But I would say that
the lack of physical security is my main worry. This is
actually connected with my sense of lack of freedom
of speech. I constantly live in fear that my comments
may make me a target of the government or other
groups who do not agree with me.”

“ constantly live
I
in fear that my
comments may
make me a target of
the government or
other groups who do
not agree with me.”

Orthodox attitudes are seen by some as violating
women’s rights and curbing women’s freedoms
to realise their full potential outside of the
household. Laila, a 27-year-old housewife from
Kabul, shares Rabia’s opinion, “The existence
of discrimination against girls and women,
violence against women and the constant
ignoring of women’s rights and in our society
feed my insecurity. These issues originate from
lack of opportunities for the youth, elders way
of thinking and illiterate people. At times those
who are supposed to ensure our security like
the government and police turn out to be the
ones who jeopardise it, especially the police who
misbehave with women all the time, and the
government which does not do anything about it.
In our society, women tend to face these issues
more than others, since women don’t have any
authority and men treat them like their slaves.”

government because it cannot provide fundamental
rights and justice, according to Wadir Safi, an ethnic
Pashtun teaching at Kabul University. “No access to
one’s basic rights is the most important driver of my
insecurity. [There] is no justice, people can't enjoy
their basic rights.” In addition, Wadir points out that
“lack of rule of law and injustice is another very
important contributor to insecurity because even
though we now have a Constitution, which has
enshrined our rights in practice, I do not enjoy these
rights because of the prevalence of corruption.”

Balancing traditionalism and modernity

Sadaf, a 22-year-old Tajik university student in Kabul
affirms, “The unequal treatment and position of
women in Afghan society is the biggest contributor
to my insecurity. For instance, I can’t even leave
home without a male escort. This makes me feel

Many interviewees discuss orthodox and
conservative attitudes and longstanding sociopolitical structures as factors contributing to their
insecurity. Abdul Hamid Ansary is an ethnic 26-yearold Tajik who owns and operates a shop in Kabul.
He puts it this way, “The main issues I am worried
about are our government and people’s old ways of
thinking. These issues originate mostly from a lack of
education and no awareness. [It] makes me feel most
insecure because people are not transforming their
mind-sets and that’s why issues like ethnic differences
continue to disrupt our society.”

“ t times those who
A
are supposed to
ensure our security
like the government
and police turn out
to be the ones who
jeopardise i B