WASHINGTON, Nov 2: A call to make human rights the central issue while debating the future of Afghanistan has been made by the Amnesty International in a report issued on Wednesday.

“The international community has an opportunity at this critical moment to put the human rights of the Afghan people first, to learn from the past to build the future. The UN Secretary-General’s Special Representative to Afghanistan, Mr (Lakdar) Brahimi, has the responsibility to ensure that human rights are integrated into all discussions about the future of Afghanistan,” the report said.

It makes several recommendations to assist in the rebuilding of Afghanistan: Those entrusted with leadership must be persons of integrity committed to the human rights protection of all, particularly women. Women and ethnic and religious minorities must not be discriminated against in the creation of government and institutions. Any settlement to the conflict must ensure accountability for these abuses and the perpetrators should be brought to justice in accordance with international standards of fair trial.

The report adds: “While the Amnesty International appreciates the need for national reconciliation after years of war and repression, any future political agreement must not allow for impunity for those who have abused human rights in the past. Avoiding the truth about a country’s past and ignoring accountability will not achieve peace.”

“Any political settlement should contain explicit guarantees from the parties on the immediate ending of serious abuses, including extra-judicial killings, torture and arbitrary detention. Specific protection should be sought against retaliation, and discrimination against ethnic and religious groups,” the report observed.

The report calls for child soldiers to be demobilized, restrictions on arms supplies, international protection for refugees, and a vigorous programme of human rights institution-building. Disarmament and demining should be included as important components of a political settlement, and should be adequately resourced and supported by the international community, it added.