Conference to Present the Findings of the Baseline Assessment on Living Conditions of IDPs and Returnees in Kabul City

This Conference brought together Officials of Relevant Organizations, Advocacy Committee for Right of IDPs/Returnees (ACRI) members, Relevant Officials of AIHRC, and several Civil Society and Human Rights Activists. AYG presented the Findings of the Baseline Assessment on Living Conditions of IDPs and Returnees in Kabul city in their presence.

The Conference started with the Recitation of the Holy Quran and continued with the hosting by two female ACRI members. Syed Abdul Karim Hashmi, Deputy of MoLSA, the first of the speakers, expressing the importance of IDPs’ and Returnees’ issue acknowledged and declared that focusing on their rights and needs is one of the most important and prioritized issues in the country. The Deputy of MoLSA added, that vocational and capacity development training is a valuable and crucial step for them. According to Mr. Hashmi, currently, every human interaction in work and social life sectors has specific frameworks and more efforts should be made to educate them on the behavioral, speech, writing, social, and work principles. He called the capacity development training and education of young IDPs and Returnees in the form of this project a fundamental and of great importance and value; and also assured cooperation with these young IDPs and Returnees within the authorities and competencies of MoLSA.

Thenceforth, Findings of the Baseline Assessment were presented in the form of a ‘Presentation’ by Mohammad Reza Naemi, Deputy and Acting Executive Director of AYG to the participants. In this presentation, initially, the project was thoroughly introduced, and then the causes and factors of displacement and migration were detailed. The legal rights of IDPs and Returnees in National and International documents, its credentials, and the government’s obligations for IDPs and Returnees were another part of this presentation. In the following, the assessment’s methodology, findings, statistics, and challenges in the legal documents, including the “National Policy of IDPs – 2014” were mentioned and specific recommendations were presented based on the baseline and policy assessment.

Mohammad Hafiz Nadeem, Emergency Conditions/Situations Officer of Kabul Directorate of Refugees and Repatriations (DoRR), was another speaker at this conference. He, stating the importance of this project, said that conducting training and workshops to strengthen the capacity and skills of young IDPs and Returnees is an effective measure in their work and social life. Mr. Nadeem, declaring youth as the most important asset of society, also appreciated them cooperating with relevant organizations and officials in order to better implement the laws and policies. Acknowledging the existing shortcomings, He emphasized and stated that, “More efforts are needed and should be made to alter the current situation towards the desired situation.”

Mohammad Sharif Tayyebi, Human Rights Activist and University Lecturer, also presented a speech at this conference and under the title “Human Rights Perspective on IDPs and Repatriates” stated some points on which IDPs and Returnees can benefit from their rights and privileges. According to him, every individual should have all the rights, including the basic needs for living i.e. water, food, education, and a healthy environment. Mr. Tayyebi holds the government accountable for all the human rights of every citizen and said, “All the relevant government organizations should be accountable and respond appropriately to the basic needs and human rights of the people in their respective field and sector.”

At the end of the conference, three ACRI members, on behalf of other members, explained the existing situation and needs of IDPs and Returnees; and pointed out the challenges and issues they face and encounter. The conference concluded with the reception speech for the participants.