Improving Prison Conditions And Promoting Human Rights And Gender Equality Within The Ministry Of Interior

IMPROVING PRISON CONDITIONS AND PROMOTING HUMAN RIGHTS AND GENDER EQUALITY WITHIN THE MINISTRY OF INTERIOR

PREVENTION OF HUMAN RIGHTS VIOLATIONS AT THE MINISTRY OF INTERIOR

The Ministry of Interior; in accordance with the Constitution of the Government of the  Islamic Republic of Afghanistan; Afghan police laws; prison and detention centers laws; national laws; and United Nations conventions, specifically ones dedicated to the prevention of torture, police misconduct, inhuman cruel punishment, discrimination against women, and the violation of children’s rights; is committed to upholding human rights and gender equality.

Ministry of Interior Orders:

• Order No. 0112, Dated 24/12/1389 under “Support and development of human rights at the Ministry of Interior for reinforcement of rule of law”
• Order No. 0117, Dated 10/10/1390 under “Validation of rule of law to prevent the violation of human rights”
• Order No. 0169, Dated /12/1390 under “Prohibition of torture and all inhuman acts in surveillance, detention centers, prisons and in the MOI’s intelligence departments”
• Order No. 08, Dated 5/2/ 1389 under “Prohibition of under-age recruitment in the Police ranks”
• Order No. 055, Dated 15/4/1390 under “Securing children’s rights and the prohibition of under-age recruitment in the Police ranks”
• Order No. 023, Dated 8/3/1389 under “Prohibition of any types of sexual harassment of females in police ranks”
• Order No. 055, Dated 16/6/1390 concerning female recruitment

 

With a team of 375 personnel, the Directorate of Gender, Human Rights and Children is responsible for assessing, planning, and implementing approved plans and rules concerning human rights in prisons and detention centers; complaints of residents by Police; complaints of Police by Police; cases of violence against women; violations of gender equality; violations of children’s right and all violations of human rights in the seven police zones, provincial police headquarters and district police stations throughout Afghanistan. To increase its capacity and performance, the Ministry of Interior is considering the addition of 102 personnel to the 1391 Tashkil for the Directorate of Gender, Human Rights and Children.

As per the Minister of Interior’s 1391 guidance, 20 officers from Directorate of Gender, Human Rights and Children were send to access and supervise human rights conditions in facilities throughout Afghanistan.  The facilities visited to date includes 101 Asmayee Zone detention centers, the police headquarters of Badakhshan, Takhar, Kunduz, Baghlan, Faryab, Badghis, Herat, Kapisa, Panjshir, Parwan, Sar-i-pul, Jowzjan, Balkh, Samangan, Nangarhar, Laghman and Kunar provinces; the Directorates of Anti-Crime, Intelligence, Anti-Terrorism; all the fourteen district police stations in Kabul; male prisons in Nangarhar, Laghman, Kunar, Panjshir, Kapisa, Parwan, Kunduz, Kandahar; the female prison in Badam Baagh and the central prison of Pol-e-Charkhi.  All of these facilities were assessed and problems were promptly reported to MOI’s leadership for their consideration.

It is worth noting the supervisory committee included representatives from the Ministry of Justice, NDS, the Supreme Court, Afghanistan Independent Human Rights Commission and the Ministry of Interior. 

Under the leadership of the Director of Police Rights, this committee actively investigates human rights conditions in prisons and detention centers. To date, they have visited centers in Kabul province and the central prison of Pol-e-Charkhi.

Additionally, the Minister of Interior has personnally visited facilities throughout the country and heard complaints from prisoners in Badakhshan, Takhar, Nangarhar, Kunar, Khost, Paktika, Herat, Farah, Baghlan, Kunduz, Kandahar, Parwan, and the central prison of Pol-e-Charkhi. 

On the Minister’s visit with prisoners in Pol-e-Charkhi, Mr. Zalmai Zabuly, Director of Complaints Handling from the National Assembly was also present. Mr. Zabuly coordinated the efforts of the appropriate Directorates to address the following prisoner complaints:

• Sewage backup was addressed with septic discharging coordinated by Kabul Municipality.
• Medical treatment shortfalls were addressed by establishing and supplying a medical clinic with medicine and trained staff members by the Minister of Health.  The Director of the ANP Hospital was also directed to monitor the clinic’s development and performance.
• Prisoners whose cases have been on hold for a long time were assigned representatives from the Attorney General’s office through contacts with the head of the Supreme Court.
• Electrical problems at Pol-e-Charkhi prison were solved by engineers from Directorate of Kabul Electricity.

 

• The Directorate of Facilities and Deputy for Maintenance were directed to consider the purchase of better quality food, procurement of an extra 4,000 beds, and the restoration and repainting of certain rooms.
• Guidance was given to Central Prison Command concerning the building of a library, sport facility, visitor facilities, and improvements to facilities to improve the hygiene of prisoners.

From the starting of the year until now, 6,177 suspects were held in police detention centers and only 88 suspects were kept more than 72 hours in custody before sentencing.  Responsible officials were directed to consider Article 31 concerning punishment law and Article 25 concerning police law. Sentencing documents are to be sent to the Attorney General office within 72 hours.

Conditions in the detention centers of Asmaye Zone 101, Samangan and Nangarhar provinces and the Directorate of Anti-Crime were determined to have good hygiene conditions. The rest of the detention centers conditions were assessed as satisfactory.

Cells at the Directorate of Anti-Crime detention center, Directorate of Intelligence and Faryab, Kapisa and Parwan police headquarters were determined to be too small and not appropriate to hold suspects.

It’s worth mentioning regular inspections are conducted by the Directorate of Gender, Human Rights and Children of provincial police headquarters, detention centers and prisons. To date, they have held more than 500 such inspections.

• Through the efforts of the 101 Asmaye Zone Gender and Human Rights office and the Intelligence Chief of the Eleventh District Police Station of Kabul, a suspect has been detained for the assault and murder of a woman named Tawoos, who was killed in the Zone’s detention center.
• A total of five police officers from Kandahar, Khost and Kunar provinces were determined to be negligent in their duties and unlawfully accepting bribes.  Three of the officers were warned and two of them were officially sentenced by the Attorney General’s office.
   
• Human Rights and Gender Equality course materials were developed and distributed in cooperation with the Human Rights Independent Commission (GSPP), EUPOL, LOTFA, CSTC-A.  Seminars and courses regarding Violence Against Women, Torture, children and human rights, police laws, and other related issues were held in Panjshir, Parwan, Kapisa, ABP HQ, Asmayi 101 Zone, ANCOP, and 202 Zone.  Also they sent representatives to meetings held  in  the provincial headquarters of Badakshan, Takhar, Kunduz, Baghlan, Samanghan, Balkh, Jowzjan, Sar-e-Pul, Faryab, Nangarhar, Laghman, Kunar, Parwan, Panjshir, and Kapisa. 
• EUPOL financed and developed pocket guides highlighting the importance of observing human rights for police, specifically during arrests and detentions, and specific conduct to avoid. These pocket guides were made available for use and distributed to the Ministry of Interior Deputies, Directorates, Regional Zones, and Provincial Headquarters.
• To better educate new police officers in the Ministry of Interior, a Gender and Human Rights Department was established at the Police Academy. A course promoting Gender and Human Rights has also been included in the training syllabus and is currently instructed. 
• 12 personnel working in the Gender and Human Rights Department received appreciation letters for their efforts, and six others received a bonus of one month’s salary rewarded for their efforts to promote human rights.
• 200 Certificates were issued for the cadets attending Gender, Human Rights and Children classes with the cooperation of Independent Commission of Human Rights.
• The holy Quran course training course has been held for female police officers at the Ministry of Interior mosque and some of the female officers were trained to teach others this course.
• A course titled “Police Awareness of Justice” was held for commanders at the district level and courses in self-defense were held by Gender and Human Rights trainers at the Police Academy.
• Instructors at the Ministry of Interior headquarters received thorough training in Gender and Human Right for 30 days and PTC for instructors at the Police Academy for six weeks.
• Law materials were produced by the Ministry of Justice and distributed to all seven ANP zones and provincial police headquarters.

During the last year, 145 complaints of residents about the police, 51 complaints of police from police, 35 complaints of residents from local police and 48 complaints police loafers were investigated.

During the last year, 145 assault against females, 143 murder, 66 suicide, 118 run away, 21 burning, 118 torture, 71 adultery, 18 rape and three compulsory marriage cases were investigated.

During the year, the Ministry of Interior staff reviewed and provided feedback regarding laws for prisons and detention centers, plans for Police conduct laws, plans for Jirga and Shura laws, and plans for a publication entitled “Police Actions in Cases of Violence Against Women”.  Based on these reviews, the staff developed the following policies and actions:

• Maintain a physical presence of police in most public places to maintain security and prevent crimes, especially violence against women.
• Support female victims of violence with transportation to medical facilities for treatment.
• Encourage the reporting of violent crimes against families to justice and judiciary authorities.
• Hold Anti-Violence Against Women courses throughout the country.
• Ensure the investigation of female suspects is conducted by female police officers.
• Participate in conferences and meetings regarding the reduction of violence against families held by various governmental and non-governmental institutions.
• Participate regularly in commission meetings for the prevention of violence against women.

 

THE MINISTRY OF INTERIOR’S ACTIONS TO ACHIEVE
GENDER EQUALITY

• The Ministry of Interior is preparing a working plan to recruit 5,000 female personnel by 1393.
• Through the financial support of LOTFA, the MOI has produced and distributed 300,000 notebooks in schools throughout Afghanistan conveying messages of female recruitment to the police ranks and the prevention of violence against women.
• In cooperation with Sabah Films, the MOI is developing a documentary about female police recruitment to the national police ranks and also cooperating with a French journalist to create a documentary about female police activities in Afghanistan.
• The Ministry of Interior has held inspections of Gender conditions at the directorate and unit levels, and in most provincial police headquarters.
• Introduced a program to provide female officers various vocational courses to improve their capacity and skill sets.
• Held Administration and Management training courses for 20 high ranking female police officers.
• Held basic administration courses for 25 officers and lieutenants.
• Established necessary coordination between the MOI and the Independent Election Commission to maintain security for female candidates and voters during parliamentarian elections.
• Participated in meetings at the Ministry of Finance to prevent discrimination against women in the government.
• In cooperation with Swedish police and CSTC-A, the Ministry of Interior held self-defense and intelligence courses for female police officers in all six ANP zones.
• 250 female police officers were presented graduation certificates from Swedish self-defense courses.
• Prepared female national police uniforms in accordance with the values of Islam.
• Held Gender Awareness seminars for MOI Directorate leaders, 101 Asmayee and 202 Shamshad Zone commanders and Criminal Investigation chiefs.
• Developed five specific MOI policies for the Gender Directorate involving female Tashkil goals, visions of the Directorate, security for female police officers, preventing office sexual harassment and improving the training and professionalism of female police officers.
• With financial assistance from EUPOL, the Ministry of Interior provided technical and logistical equipment to the Police Academy’s Gender and Human Rights Department.
• Seven Chiefs of Gender and Human Rights from several zones were sent to training in Italy.
• Female police officers were sent to Japan, Germany, USA, Poland, Nepal, India, Pakistan and other countries for capacity building and vocational training.

• With the assistance of EUPOL, the Ministry of Interior established a Gender Office to receive, record, and efficiently investigate complaints of police.

• Investigated 63 complaints by female and male police who faced inequality, harassment, and violence in their workplaces.
• In order to improve female recruiting, 2,753 positions were established on the Ministry of Interior’s 1391 Tashkil for female civilians and police officers.

• 72 female officers and sergeants from various Ministry of Interior units were promoted on National and International days.

• On National and International Days, 80 letters of appreciation and certificates were issued to female Ministry of Interior civilian personnel.
• According to requests from the Gender Department, the Minister of Interior approved the payment of 15,000 AFS to a martyred female police officer’s family and 50,000 AFS to three other injured female police officers.
• Family problem solving stations were established in the Anti-Crime Department, provincial and district police headquarters, and police security districts. 
• MOI’s Gender Department was assessed by the Administration Reform Commission and honored with a letter of appreciation acknowledging its achievements.

• The General Manager of the Gender Department received a medal for his effective and valuable contributions.

• The Ministry of Interior, together with ISAF headquarters, is establishing an ANP female special operations unit.

INSTITUTIONS ASSISTING THE MINISTRY OF INTERIOR ACHIEVE GENDER EQUALITY

 

LOTFA EFFORTS

• Assisted the Ministry of Interior with producing and printing stickers, posters and publications related to female police recruiting, and promoting the goals and concepts of gender, children and human rights.
• Assisted the Gender Department with the preparation of short films and spots to promote female recruitment.
• Assisted the MOI in launching recruitment campaigns targeted towards women.
• Provided funding to the Ministry of Interior to purchase necessary computer equipment.

CSTC-A EFFORTS

• Assisted the Ministry of Interior with female professional training to improve their capacity and skill sets.
• In cooperation with the Directorate of Gender, Human Rights and Children and the Police Tashkilat Department, CSTC-A assisted the Ministry of Interior identify new female positions on the 2011 MOI Tashkil.

EUPOL EFFORTS

• Assisted the establishment of a help line and office within the Directorate of Gender, Human Rights and Children to receive and document complains and violations.
• Assisted the Ministry of Interior with female professional training to improve their capacity and skill sets.
• Provided funding to the MOI for the production and placement of 400 billboards to promote police information campaigns.
• Provided funding to the MOI for the production and printing of brochures promoting the gender complain help line.

 

OTHER DOMESTIC AND FOREIGN INSTITUTIONS’ EFFORTS

• A number of magazines, posters, and brochures explaining Islamic, National, International, and police laws were supplied by G.T.Z., Ministry of Women Affairs, and the Independent Human Rights Commission. Copies of these materials were distributed to train the leadership within the Ministry of Interior to improve their understanding of Human Rights and Gender Equality issues.
• A group of representatives from LOTFA, and the MoI’s Education, Training and Gender Departments deployed to Nangarhar and Laghman provinces to recruit more women to join the ANP, with very effective result.
• In order to evaluate and achieve established goals, inspectors from the MoI Gender Department visited the Police Academy, Counter-Crime, Counter-Narcotic, and Logistic Departments.  From these visits, inspectors produced an official report detailing problems observed which was submitted to the Deputy of the MoI Administrative and Supply Department.
• With the cooperation of international donor groups and all relevant Ministries within the government, the Ministry of Interior will continue its ongoing efforts to improve gender equality and ensure human rights observance.