KABUL - Reacting to the recent appointments made to the Afghanistan Independent Human Rights Commission (AIHRC), the United Nations Human Rights Chief, Navi Pillay has warned that the step will compromise the body's independence and effectiveness. The Chief also pointed out that the Commission's reputation and high standing in the public and international community will be negatively affected if the appointments are implemented.
Comments from the UN Human Rights Chief came in after President Hamid Karzai appointed five new Commissioners to the AIHRC and retained four other serving Commissioners, including its Chairperson, Sima Samar.
Mawlawi Abdul Rahman Hotek, Qadria Yazdanparast, Gen. Ayub Asil, Hawa Alam Nooristani and Wahidullah Arghon have been appointed as the new AIHRC Commissioners.
A statement issued by the Office of the UN High Commission for Human Rights (OHCHR) stated that, under the AIHRC's founding law, Commissioners are required to have a good reputation, demonstrate independence, enjoy popular trust and have a commitment toward human rights. They should also not belong to any political party during their term in office.
"Serious concerns have been raised whether the new commissioners meet these important eligibility standards," said Navi Pillay.
"I am alarmed by statements of civil society leaders about the recent appointments. All Afghan people and the civil society must have full confidence in the AIHRC if it is to function effectively," Pillay insisted.
"Since 2002, the AIHRC has played an "absolutely critical, frontline role" in defending human rights in Afghanistan," she stated.
Emphasizing the importance of AIHRC, Ms. Pillay said, "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."
Ms. Pillay also stressed the importance of national human rights institutions complying with international standards called the "Paris Principles," which set out the best practices for such institutions to function independently and effectively. (Tolo News)