Publications

Afghanistan

Through the lens

Through a different lens

E-Paper
Activists and amateur women filmmakers have played a pivotal role in capturing the realities of life under the Taliban rule. They have utilised social media platforms such as YouTube and Twitter to obtain an unfiltered perspective of Afghanistan. This E-Paper explores the insights that can be gained from these films in our efforts to understand the current crisis that women in Afghanistan face.
Legacies of Conflict

Legacies of conflict

E-Paper
Seventeen months after the Taliban takeover of Afghanistan on 15 August 2021, little has been done to address local level grievances and disputes that have fuelled decades of conflict. This report, based on field research conducted from October 2021 to March 2022 in Helmand province, strongly argues that these grievances risk erupting into renewed violence and further destabilising the country.

The dynamic of youth activism in Afghanistan: A journey between hope and desperation

E-paper
This e-paper is written based on interviews conducted with young activists, journalists, human rights defenders and academics from Afghanistan (all under the age of 35), who have been actively involved in the process of democratisation and committed to liberal values over the past 20 years in Afghanistan; it highlights the twenty years of achievements by Afghan youth and explores their hurdles and challenges under the rule of the Taliban’s de facto regime.
C:\Daten\afpak\Publication\Handbook on Critical Review of Legal Framework governing NGOs and Associations

Handbook on Critical Review of Legal Framework governing NGOs and Associations in Afghanistan

Publication
Afghanistan government has prepared laws and regulations, some of which are yet to be implemented, governing a wide array of non-state organizations, including NGOs and associations. This handbook aims to support civil society associations to enable them to operate sustainably and flexibly by providing a critical overview and practical guidance on current and potential legislation applicable to them.

"Get Lost!": European Return Policies in Practice

Study
Current EU migration policies' increased focus on returns raises concerns on the adequacy of such measures with EU standards and fundamental rights. This publication highlights the problems and difficulties returnees face in Afghanistan, Syria, Tunisia, Senegal and Kosovo.

People’s Perceptions on the Peace Process Afghanistan

Survey findings
The Salah Consortium, a consortium of 6 Afghan civil society organisations, conducted a survey in order to give ordinary Afghans a voice in the peace process and to learn about their expectations. Responses of the survey show, that the people perceive a more prominent role for civil society, tribal elders and other members of society, while the current process is largely driven by foreigners and the Afghan political elite.

Psycho-physical Effects of Environment Pollution on the Health of Kabul Citizens

This research is conducted with collaboration of a team of researchers who are expert in the field of environment and laboratory sciences, and psychology with a high degree of expertise. This is the first organized study in Afghanistan that has tried to examine environmental pollution and its impacts on public health. It also provides a platform for environmental advocacy activities in Afghanistan. It is hoped that this research will be able to pave the way for activities that can improve the mental and physical health of Afghan society.

Transboundary Basin Management under conditions of Latent Conflict: A Multi-Sectoral and Multi-Disciplinary Approach towards the Kabul River Basin

Keeping in view the long-time security-centred nature of Pakistan-Afghanistan relations, Kabul River Basin, a highly significant geographical and thematic area of concern, requires immediate attention of authorities. However, the issue remains virtually absent from the script of inter-state relations and diplomacy. The key proposition in this study is that if the transboundary basin management discourse about the Kabul River Basin can be changed from water-sharing to benefit-sharing across the water, food, and energy sectors, the social conditions and political will needed for long-term state-to-state engagement can be created without jeopardizing the lives and livelihoods of basin-dependent communities during the intervening period.
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Pakistan

Sindh

Paris Principles and Sindh’s Human Rights Institutions

E-Paper
In Pakistan, human rights institutions came very late: the first National Commission of Human Rights was established through federal law in 2012. Since the passage of the 18th Amendment to the Constitution of Pakistan in 2010, human rights fall within the legislative purview of the provinces.
GSP Pakistan

GSP Plus Status: Opportunity for Pakistan to Engage with Europe

E-Paper
The European Union's Generalised Scheme of Preferences (GSP) is a trade incentive scheme which reduces or suspends import duties on the products coming into the EU markets from developing countries. It helps these countries in alleviating poverty through creating jobs as well as strengthening systems in compliance with international standards to protect labour and human rights.Pakistan is one of the beneficiary countries.
Civil society pakistan

Shrinking Spaces for Civil Society in Pakistan

E-Paper
The role of civil society organizations in the establishment of peace and promotion of human dignity and equality is a recognized globally and protected by the United Nations human rights framework. The modern democracies also recognize the right to form associations in furthering the agenda of promotion and protection of human rights. In the Pakistan Constitution this right is protected under Article 17.

Perspectives Asia #11: Transitions

Perspectives
Change is all around us; experiencing it can be exciting or worrisome, confusing or even disturbing. By contrast, the idea of “transition” stands to provide a sense of direction, in a sea of change and insecurity. Change may be happening to us; a transition has direction, it can be planned, perhaps even be initiated. It moves into a positive, sustainable direction – or so we hope.
Book cover

Thar Coal Project and Local Community

Report
The report “Thar Coal Project and Local Community” traces the development of the coal projects in Tharparkar in Pakistan. The report brings together the opinions, concerns, observations and experiences of the local communities, civil society, and experts, with regard to the Thar Coal project. The information gathering and documentation process has been guided by a human rights approach. This consolidation of information and opinions may provide a basis for a better understanding of the project from the perspective of the socio, economic and environmental landscape of the local communities.

Infrastructure in Fragile Ecosystems: A Case of Deosai National Park, Gilgit-Baltistan, Pakistan

Discussion paper
This discussion paper assesses the socio-economic and environmental hazards that may occur due to the proposed diversion of Shatung river, situated at Deosai plains of Gilgit-Baltistan, Pakistan. A plan to divert Shatung river into Satpara Dam already exists; the plan is to increase the latter’s power generation capacity and to satisfy the increasing domestic, industrial and public water needs of Skardu Town and the adjacent villages during the low flow/winter season. However, no Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) has been conducted so far. Only the locally-active environmental protection bodies have put up some resistance against this plan arguing that the diversion would primarily violate the Gilgit-Baltistan Wildlife Protection, Preservation and Management Act, 1975. During the investigation for this discussion paper, it was learnt that the diversion may result in serious damages to the ecology of the Deosai National Park (DNP) and its existing flora and fauna fed by Shatung river. Moreover, the requirements of Satpara Dam and expected outcomes of the diversion might not be achieved when the river water level decreases in winter season. If the diversion takes place, it would have serious implications for the fragile alpine ecosystem of Deosai plateau, and its biodiversity.  
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