Two important factors that the international community has been trying to ensure before they leave Afghanistan are said to be the eradication of corruption and the preservation of human rights. Unfortunately, Afghanistan has not been able to perform enough on both the fronts and a great deal of work has to be done before both the objectives are achieved. Even the support that has been announced for the country is conditioned with the improvement in both the areas.

Afghan government, especially Afghan Presidential Palace has, once again taken initiative in this regard. It has suggested amendments for the Afghan socio-political situation and at the same time it has committed that it would be made sure that the human rights, especially women rights, are preserved in Afghanistan.

What will be the outcome of these initiatives is to be decided in the times to come, but it is really important that Afghanistan must make improvements in this regard, not only to avail the support of the international community but also to have a dignified life as a nation.

Human rights are basically defined as "inalienable fundamental rights to which a person is inherently entitled simply because she or he is a human being." Human rights are thus thought to be universal (applicable everywhere) and egalitarian (the same for everyone).

These rights can exist as natural rights or as legal rights, in both national and international law. The principle of human rights has been a foundation of public policy around the world in international practice, within international law, global and regional institutions, in the policies of states and in the activities of non-governmental organizations. The idea of human rights states, "If the public discourse of peacetime global society can be said to have a common moral language, it is that of human rights."

Article 1 of the United Nations Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR) says, "All human beings are born free and equal in dignity and rights. They are endowed with reason and conscience and should act towards one another in a spirit of brotherhood." Its preamble also emphasizes on the recognition of the inherent dignity and of the equal and inalienable rights of all members of the human family is the foundation of freedom, justice and peace in the world.

The United Nations Charter provides very strong commitments to the preservation of human rights and emphasizes that the member countries must follow them. The preamble of the charter reaffirms faith in fundamental human rights, in the equal rights of men and women, while the Article 1(3) of the charter says that one of the basic purposes of UN is "to achieve international cooperation in solving international problems of an economic, social, cultural or humanitarian character, and in promoting and encouraging respect for human rights and for fundamental freedoms for all without distinction as to race, sex, language or religion."

To fight the incidents of the violation of human rights in Afghanistan, a policy with dual aspects can be best effective. First, there should be severe punishment to those who commit such violations; second, continuous and untiring efforts should be made to help the dignity of human rights penetrate within Afghan social structure, while the objective for Afghan government to play a tremendous role can be what is set forth in Article 55 of United Nations Charter, which suggests for '(a) higher standards of living, full employment, and conditions of economic and social progress and development; b) solutions of international economic, social, health, and related problems; c) international cultural and educational cooperation; d) universal respect for, and observance of, human rights and fundamental freedoms for all without distinction as to race, sex, language, or religion'.

To be very much realistic about Afghanistan, one can say that guidelines are many; the only missing factor is practical measure. There is a wide gap between the guidelines/commitments and actions, and this gap becomes wider once the intentions and measures are doubted; and in case of Afghanistan, the gap is wider.