Page 24 - Empowerment and Protection - Stories of Human Security

AFGHANISTAN
RLD BANK 2014A)
Many of the interviewees state that having a job enables them to protect and provide for their families, which in return gives them a sense of gratification, while others mention that having a job enables them to fight for their rights. Others believe that opportunities for employment have improved since 2001 and that this has given them independence and hope for a better future.
As Ahmad Shah, a 63-year-old resident of Nangarhar province, reflects, “The economy is the greatest contributor to my security. When I saw that the economy in Afghanistan was improving I decided to return to Afghanistan with my family, leaving my job in Pakistan. I now have a business here and am able to take care of my family’s financial needs.”
Likewise, Abdul Hamid Ansary, an ethnic Tajik shopkeeper in Kabul, says, “The government, my family and education and my business make me feel secure. For me, both my education and having my own business are the most important factors
as they have allowed me to be independent. Education and employment have put me in
a position to fight for my rights.” In addition,
the presence of mass media is seen as a very important way to enable people with a platform to voice their concerns, and gain satisfaction that these are being heard.
Demographic differences
Differences in age, gender, and ethnicity influenced people’s perceptions of security providers.
Age and gender
Most of the personal stories of those 30 or under cite family, friends, and the government, followed by education, employment opportunities, and improved security as contributors to their sense of security. Amongst this group, female interviewees predominantly see their family and the presence of the government as providing security, while men mostly cite employment, improved security and education opportunities.
Approximately
68 percent of the population is well below the age of
25. The potential implications this demography holds for Afghanistan and the region as a whole can be both positive and negative.
24 storIes of HuMAn securIty | AfgHAniStAn HUMAN DEVELOPMENT
INDEX 2013
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“The economy is the greatest contributor to my security.”
fffSimilarly, Abdul Rahim, an ethnic Tajik who is 48 years old and works as a driver, says, “Employment opportunities and the presence of the international community make me feel secure.”
Education and literacy
Utilising education and one’s knowledge of the legal framework is repeatedly cited as a means of creating security. Respondents comment
not only on education’s ability to raise income and skill level, but also on how important it is
to truly understand constitutional rights when dealing with the police. Asadullah, a 38-year- old professor in Kabul, attests to the value of education: “The awareness of people and more educated people make me feel secure because people now have a sense of their rights. If something happens, you know you can go to the many independent agencies to file a complaint and get help. Education has the power to change anything. Unfortunately, such institutions are limited to cities and have not yet extended to rural areas where people suffer most from these challenges.”