The disables are the biggest humanitarian masses in Afghanistan who have not found their place in the society. In spite of the civil society activities; especially the disables related institutions which are struggling not only at the national but also at the international level to gain the facilities for the disables and as well as lawsuit for them but a practical and basic work which bring a positive change in the lives of these people has not seen.
The institutions related to the disables struggled in different situations with conducting seminars, workshops and conferences for the purpose of delivering the rights of disables and to do the lawsuit for them and to convey the voice of this vulnerable layer of the society to the authorities and those institutions working for the human rights, where in reply many promises and commitments are received but no practical work has done.
The second Bonn Conference with the participation of more than 100 international organizations was conducted only for the purpose of the needs and developments of the Afghans; where there were hopes for the different layers of the country.
In this conference from the civil society institutions and then especially for the first time one of the disables Mr. Muhammad Sadiq Mohibi represented this layer from the Commission of lawsuit of rights for the disabled, where in the conference the discussions about the support and development of the life conditions of these people were also taken under consideration. For further explanation and especially about the details of the discussions taken place in the second Bonn Conference this interview is conducted with him; which is going to be presented to you dears.
Question: Mr. Mohebi at the beginning if you would please share with us that while you were representing the disabled group from your organization side; what discussions about the disabled who are one of the biggest layer of the society taken place?
Answer: First of all I would like to mention that the participation of a person from the disabled layer of the society in such a big conference itself is a big achievement for this category. The other important issue of this conference was that there were 34 members participating from all provinces of Afghanistan from the civil society side and also from the disabled community; these participations were very much effective for raising the voices of this category.
Beside the topics of the second Bonn conference a meeting in the presence of civil society institutions including the media, cultural and political was conducted; where in this meeting about the topic of disability the discussions took place but in the essential two days, on the first day the discussions were focused toward the transitional process and on the second day about the commitment of international community.
In this conference; on the disability topic a multilateral discussion took place, i.e. implementation of the law related to disability and also about the convention of personalities having disability where Afghanistan is committed to it; the participants of this meeting had their commitment regarding the ensuring and practicing of their commitments.
Question: You were present in the conference as a representative of the disabled category of people; did you discuss about the topics related to disability with the special personalities and institutions?
Answer: In this two days duration all the topics as an overall was taken under discussion, where on the four axis including long-term commitments, transition of power, transitional justice and regional cooperation the discussions took place but beside these issues the member of the civil society had their collective meetings with the important personalities and institutions regarding very important issues including disability. For example: in the meeting the civil society members had with Banki Mone secretary of the United Nations beside other topics, the disability was one of the important topic of discussion; where Mr. Banki Mone accepted the proposals of the civil society members and committed to his words especially in regard to disability.
Similarly in the other meetings which were conducted with the delegation of United States of America at the leadership of Ms. Clinton, the foreign minister of the USA; some of the projects in relation to the disabled persons were discussed.
From the other side in these meetings; the head of EU support and the foreign minister of Canada were present, where we could convey the ideas and concern of the disabled community.
Question: Mr. Mohibi; the commitments that you have taken from different authorities beside the other discussions of this conference were written and what do you think about implementation of these commitments?
Answer: For sure that it was a good opportunity for the disabled community; where the problems were highlighted there by one of their representatives. In this conference where directly a discussion should have conducted about the disabled community was not included, when you refer to the final conclusion of this conference there is not a specific issue mentioned about disability but under the collective issues of human rights, good governance, economic expansion and development; commitments were taken place. These programs should be based on the plans, basic and sustainable, where these were the commitments that were in overall related to the Afghan society and it included the disability but in this conference about the monetary aspects no discussions taken place.
Question: If there are promises but it is not going to put in actions, can’t we say that these promises are only dramatic and nothing else?
Answer: In this conference the important point of consideration was the availability of representation from the disabled community.
In the past for the disabled community at least this opportunity was also not available that they participate in such conference but now that we could grab this opportunity to be there with the lawsuit of the disabled community; it is a big achievement for us and if these commitments are put in action then it would be great and we trust that with the struggles of the disabled community we can reach to the promised commitments.
Question: It is said that in this conference on the issue of transitional justice and peace process with the opposition discussions took place and from the other side during these years most of the victims were the persons having disability, well; what about the rights of the disabled persons among the mentioned issues?
Answer: As we are all in the picture; most of the victims of the wars are the families having martyrs and disables, the civil society and especially the representatives of the disables have explained that they want peace but not that kind of peace where the rights of the martyr families and disable persons are violated.
Also in the second Bonn Conference it was mentioned that we should not forget the rights of the disabled persons and the families of martyrs and we should seriously pay attention towards them.
For ensuring the rights of the disables there should be strategic and comprehensive plans in order to empower them and give their rights properly.
Question: Will the second Bonn Conference bring development in the life conditions of the people and or a special shakeup will happened?
Answer: Until now I have not seen any change, but what is important if these points are implemented and without doubt the developments in the different aspects of their lives will be observed.
Question: Well; we are the witness that our country does not have any problems about the law but the only problem is the implementation of these laws, based on your views that commitments agreed in the conference will only remain on the piece of paper or it would be implemented?
Answer: Yes, as we all know in the past there was problem in the implementation of the laws but now we are hoping that the promises and commitments committed in the Bonn conference would have a practical implementation.
Question: Based on your opinion in the current situations; what activities are required to be done by the organizations working for the disables and the other civil society organizations until we become the witness of a positive developments in the life conditions of the disables?
Answer: You have pointed a good issue, to the extent I noted in the second Bonn conference; most of the people participated in this conference were not discussing issues about the disables, which means that they have not placed in their programs about the disables; if the women from the civil society were talking, they were not talking about the disabled women which itself is a concerned point.
But as it is appearing from the lawsuit of those who are working for the disables, the disabled could have find their way among the other civil society institutions; where the participation of a disabled in the second Bonn Conference is a live example and we hope that these lawsuits continue and the place of the disabled are properly proved in the society.
Question: Well; at the end I would like to ask you Mr. Mohebi that what is your request about the development of the current conditions of the disabled from the organizations belong to the government and the international community?
Answer: I am one of the advocates for the rights of the persons with disability; I request from the civil society institutions which are working in democracy, human rights and in total about the provision of the rights of all vulnerable layers of the society that they include seriously the issue of disability in their activities.
With many thanks from you Mr. Mohebi and also from you friends that you continue our discussion until the end of the program.
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