Secretariat
Japan Platform
On the second day, 12th December 2001,
the NGO Conference in Tokyo on the Reconstruction of Afghanistan focused
on the regional issues in Afghanistan. The working sessions were divided
into 5 regional workshops: North (Around Mzar-e sarif), Northeast (Around
Badakhshan), Center (Around Bamian), East (Around Kabul) and West (Around
Heart).
The highlights of the discussion on the first day on the following working sessions:
1. Agriculture/Livestock
The agriculture is the core of survival, strategies, and sustainable improvement of livelihoods in Afghanistan.
Based on the needs and concerns, the participants discussed the recommendations that include the revival of Agriculture Research Institutes, provision of seeds, fertilizers and pesticides, establishment of seed banks and germoplasm, revitalization of the foundation seeds, banning non-technical tree-cuttings, prevention of digging unauthorized deep-wells, proper water management system. Review of water rights with neighbor countries, introduction of proper veterinary and livestock technology, demining of the agricultural land, and ban on illicit crops and the introduction of the alternative cash crops.
2. Education
Based on the assumption that the education system in Afghanistan is completely collapsed, the Education section elaborated the needs and recommendations:
Strong cooperation between Afghan NGOs/CBOs
and Japanese NGOs.
Focus on the promotion of rural education. Education as a package.
Capacity building training.
Contribution to the draft of national policy and Strategy of education.
Increase role of women in education.
Integrated education for disabled people.
National plan for education.
Education for refugees and IDPs.
Facilitation for higher/technical education.
Appropriate reconstruction technology.
3. Public Health
The participating Afghan NGOs presented the problems related to Public Health. The group discussed the issues to be considered for smooth activities and success.
The group focused on the following issues.
Intersectional collaboration between
the Public health, agriculture/irrigation (specially water supply)/land
mine/integrated rural development.
Human resource developments.
Coordination between different agencies.
Sustainability. Brain drain from Afghanistan and from health sector.
4. Landmines
The group elaborated the proposal on the following issues:
Necessity to resume the mine action as
soon as possible.
Emergency assessment/survey on the impact of UXO and cluster bombs.
Long-term and sustainable funding commitment. Comprehensive process to
address the issue of landmine victims.
Ban policy.
Concern for the US air strike. Making a demining program as a part of comprehensive
development program.
5. Conflict Prevention
The group considered the serious conflict prevention in a broad sense is an essential process of nation-building. But the group also emphasized the conflict prevention efforts would have to meet local needs and demands.
Based on the comments of Afghan NGOs responding to the questions from the group, the following appeals were in the consideration.
Especially in light of the fact that during the Taliban era, women's participation was strictly depressed, women's participation in political, economic and social aspects of the society is indispensable for democratization and conflict prevention. However, this is a gradual process should be institutionalized with cultural sensitivity.
For the purpose of peace and stability in Afghanistan, shuras, which are community institutions, at village, district and province levels should be promoted and strengthened to be more responsive to the new realities and challenges in Afghanistan. This would contribute to resolving potential conflicts over limited resources further stretched by returning refugees.
Serious effort should be done for three types of peace-building (political, structural, social), which complement and influence each other.
Education is needed to reduce vulnerability of Afghan people to exploitation by warlords.
Healthy traditional mechanisms of psychological healing for trauma should be seriously considered.
Mechanisms to reduce tension between returnees and people who remained throughout the conflict need to be coordinated.
Demobilization of soldiers and militia through establishment of well-paid national army and police force or reintegration into society through vocational training should be seriously considered.
Technical support for police training from Japan needs to be considered.