17 June 2010 - The Afghanistan Independent Human Rights Commission (AIHRC) in the northeast region recorded a total of 58 complaints during the first quarter of the Afghan year, and urged journalists to be vigilant in monitoring human rights violations.

 “During the last three months, 58 complaints have been recorded by our office, and 17 complaints out of them (are) human rights cases, (of) which seven cases have already been solved,” said Sayed Karim Talash, , In a recent press conference in Kunduz.
Sayed Karim Talash, AIHRC acting manager for the region, told media that the human rights group also went on 43 monitoring missions of detention centres and prisons in the region comprising Kunduz, Talhar and Baghlan, and that the visits resulted in the release of 20 prisoners who have been illegally detained.

Mr Talash urged media to monitor the plight of Afghan citizens in the region in terms of their economic, social and cultural rights, even as he reported that the kidnapping of children has declined by 70 per cent during the period as compared to the same period last year emphasizing the importance of media’s role in promoting human rights heencouraged the journalists to help protect and promote Afghans’ human rights.

AIHRC’s outreach programmes have also educated more than 400 people on human rights principles, national laws and international treaties in the three provinces during the period, said Mr Talash.

“Since its establishment in 2002, the Afghanistan Independent Human Rights Commission constantly tried to observe, protect and promote the rights of Afghan citizens and had great achievements,” he added.

By Shamsuddin Hamedi, UNAMA