Page 26 - Empowerment and Protection - Stories of Human Security

AFGHANISTAN
Conclusion
and recommendations
A lack of good governance and continued physical insecurity, illiteracy, and economic insecurity are the major factors contributing to Afghans’ insecurity across all segments of society. the views shared here highlight the complexity of the situation in Afghanistan today. Interviewees share contradictory perspectives, as some of the issues that are mentioned as sources of insecurity are seen by others to be contributing to their security.
history of violent conflict in the country. The level of physical security has impacted Afghanistan’s overall development and contributed to Afghanistan’s inability to meet its MDGs. Those who do not suffer from violent conflict have more potential to ensure development gains and are more resilient.
Economic opportunity and development
Although development seems to have improved since 2001, annual reviews of the Afghanistan National Development Strategy (ANDS), which aims to reduce poverty, show that much progress remains to be made.b Failures in prioritising local problems and needs and applying regionally specific strategies have plagued development efforts.
The interviews reflect that people perceive the economic opportunities to be increasing on the one hand, and unemployment and poverty rising on the other, underscoring the rural-urban divide and the importance of economic opportunities and livelihoods to foster human security. Moreover, illiteracy and traditional ways of thinking are intertwined with unemployment and education.
The level of physical security has impacted Afghanistan’s overall development and contributed to Afghanistan’s inability to meet its MDGs.
Ensuring security after the withdrawal
Afghanistan will likely face additional human security challenges in the future. It is currently transitioning its political, economic and security sectors in preparation for the international military withdrawal at the end of 2014. Afghans will also have to find a way to fill the economic gap created
b A programme launched in 2008 to channel the “multi-dimensional human development cause” of the MDG objectives into a national development strategy.
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governance
While the government and weak governance structures are described as a threat to security, they are at the same time seen as security providers, as the presence of a government and legal framework offer more opportunities for protection. The
26 storIes of HuMAn securIty | AfgHAniStAn HUMAN DEVELOPMENT
INDEX 2013
state remains the main referent for the provision
=10.000.000
of human security, even if it is criticised and challenged. In addition, the people interviewed clearly mention warlords or other power figures in the central government as a threat to their security, as they fear continued patronage practices presage a return to old ways of governing the country, and prevents the central government from asserting
its authority. At the same time, these leaders are supported in some areas of the country, less represented in the sample here, as a source of protection due to the lack of central authority.
Physical security
While many respondents fear physical insecurity, some feel that the security climate is improving. While not optimal, some believe life is better now than under the Taliban or during the civil war in the 1990s. They believe current security conditions, though precarious, have created an environment that will not give way to an all-out war again, particularly amongst ethnic factions, or allow the Taliban to take over the government.
This sentiment may be very different for the
people in rural areas, who are more affected by violent conflict on a daily basis. The level of fear
and insecurity experienced amongst the Afghan population that is caused by house raids, bombings and suicide attacks and the trauma of the thousands of deaths each year from the ongoing war is difficult to capture within the scope of the interviews and this chapter. Nevertheless, it is important to acknowledge that the physical, personal security aspect of human security is the most critical to address, given the