A new study by the Afghanistan Independent Human Rights Commission has found that ethnic discrimination is a driving factor to violence in the country.
As part of the International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination assessment, the study reveals 25.4 percent of Afghans are being racially discriminated in government institutions because of their ethnicity, race and or religious affiliations.
“Discrimination is a source of violence and it is practically a key factor for the continuation of violence in Afghanistan. We witnessed ethnic wars in Afghanistan and even today attacks are carried out on the people because of their religion and ethnicity,” said Sima Samar, Chairperson of AIHRC.
Out of 3,498 respondents in 29 provinces of Afghanistan, 25.4 percent said they are have experienced racial discrimination in recruitments, promotion and in delivery of privileges in government sectors, adding that some article of the Afghan Constitution also caused certain ethnic bias amongst citizens.
Based on the study, some provisions of Articles 62, 130 and 131 of the Constitution demonstrates inequality among citizens, which fueled discrimination.
“Our research team travelled to 29 provinces and talked with the people,” said Azim Bisharat, AIHRC commissioner.
From the total of 3,498 respondents, 1,093 of them said they faced discrimination because of their ethnicity, 596 because of their religious affiliations, 975 because of their race and the remaining said they were deprived of casting votes in the elections because of their ethnic, race, language, and religious affiliations.
The study also found, according to sources:
- 207 people were fired from their jobs because of ethnic discrimination
- 275 people were deprived of promotion because of their religious, language and racial affiliations
- 360 people eligible for a job were deprived of their financial privileges
- 272 people faced discrimination while consulting legal and judicial organizations
- 289 people faced discrimination while applying for business and ownership
- 401 people faced discrimination while trying to have access to healthcare services
- 407 people faced discrimination while trying to have access to education services
The research study further found, 1,544 people have said they know people who manipulate ethnic discrimination in social media.
Afghanistan and the International Conventions on Eliminating Ethnic Bias
Afghan government signed the International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination in 1980, which was later then officially endorsed in 2003 with aim to be implemented in Afghanistan, said Samr of AIHRC.
The International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination was adopted and opened for signature and ratification by General Assembly resolution 2106 (XX) of 21 December 1965 entry into force 4 January 1969, in accordance with Article 19.
“In this Convention, the term “racial discrimination” shall mean any distinction, exclusion, restriction or preference based on race, colour, descent, or national or ethnic origin which has the purpose or effect of nullifying or impairing the recognition, enjoyment or exercise, on an equal footing, of human rights and fundamental freedoms in the political, economic, social, cultural or any other field of public life,” Article 1 of the convention states.
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