Amnesty International said:

'The Commission will be fundamental to the promotion and protection of human rights for all people in Afghanistan, both in addressing the abuses of the past and promoting protection in the future.'

Amnesty International calls on the Afghan authorities and the international community to work together to ensure that the Commission will form part of a wider system of human rights protection and promotion. In Amnesty International's view the Commission should go hand-in-hand with the re-building of a criminal justice system that respects the right to a fair trial, and does not impose the death penalty, or cruel, inhuman or degrading punishments.

Amnesty International believes that the terms of reference for the Commission look very promising and the choice of commissioners includes a significant number of Women's rights's rightss rights's rights's rights's rights (four out of 11) and people of different ethnic backgrounds.

'The international community should pledge sufficient funding and expertise to ensure that the Commission becomes a reality,' Amnesty International said.

For further information on Afghanistan, see:

- Afghanistan country entry in Amnesty International Report 2002 (28 May 2002)

- 'USA: Treatment of prisoners in Afghanistan and Guantánamo Bay undermines human rights. Amnesty International memorandum to the US government' (press release, 15 April 2002)

- 'Afghanistan: Amnesty International urges humane treatment of detainees' (press release, 5 April 2002)

- 'Afghanistan: Amnesty International welcomes Loya Jirga procedures' (press release, 4 April 2002)