The United Nations Human Rights Commissioner has urged the Karzai Administration to reconsider appointment of new members for the Afghanistan Independent Human Rights Commission. 

The Office of the UN High Commission for Human Rights has said the recent appointments could compromise the AIHRC’s independence and reputation with Afghan public and the international community.

After two years of delay, President Karzai recently appointed five new commissioners to the AIHRC. None of them have any experience or human rights background, while one member has been a leader of the Taliban. Faced with heavy criticism and questions in local media, the UN Human Rights Office is the first international organization to condemn the recent calculated appointments to undermine AIHRC’s independence. With the new appointments having no human rights working experience, the commissioners also include controversial figures including a former member of the Taliban militants who run Madrassahs in Pakistan.

The UN High Commissioner Navi Pillay said serious concerns have been raised whether the new commissioners meet these important eligibility standards. All Afghan people and civil society must have full confidence in the AIHRC if it is to function effectively. With the accelerating transition in Afghanistan, this vital national institution will assume an even greater importance. Now is not the time to weaken or undermine it, but to strengthen it and ensure its members are of the highest integrity and are committed to human rights.” The statement urged the Government to quash the new appointments and prelaunch a selection process based on the requirements.

Meanwhile, the Human Rights Watch has also urged the government should adopt strong measures to protect women’s rights in advance of the deadline at the end of 2014 for withdrawal of international combat forces. Their statements says, “President Karzai needs to understand just how high the stakes are for Afghanistan in the debate over women’s rights Donors should be clear that if Afghanistan doesn’t defend women’s rights, the money will no longer flow for the army or the police.”

We believe the new appointments at AIHRC are a serious attempt to put control on independence of the commission. The commission has been under fire from all quarters of the government since the leaks about the war-crimes report came to media. These pressures are built to control independency of the AIHRC. The UN official has been the first foreign organization condemning the political move by President Karzai.