The continuing lack of security and ensuing instability in much of the country impacts negatively on the ability of human rights defenders to carry out their work. The rule of law continues to be weak and there is little confidence in either the police or the judicial system which is perceived to lack independence and to be susceptible to intimidation from armed groups. This has lead to a general climate of impunity for violations against human rights defenders, many of whom are reluctant to report the threats and intimidation they suffer. In many remote areas there are no government structures in place or any kind of government activity and, as a result, no protection for HRDs under national law. The introduction of an Amnesty Bill in February 2007 which absolves the government of responsibility for bringing suspected perpetrators of past human rights violations and crimes under international law to justice further contributed to the climate of impunity as well as the difficult environment for HRDs working in the area of transitional justice.

While the media, in particular radio and print but also internet, have been revived since the fall of the Taliban, severe restrictions on freedom of expression remain in place and journalists are subjected to threats and arbitrary detentions, and in some cases even killings.

Women HRDs and organizations and individuals promoting the rights of women are constant targets for threats and intimidation. According to the 2006 report on the situation of human rights defenders of the UN SRSG “Women who organize politically or who are involved in any kind of criticism against local rulers often face threats and violence. In addition there have been reports of cases of election officials who were registering women voters and because of this were intimidated or even killed by armed groups. The Special Representative notes that the Special Rapporteur on Violence Against Women stated after her official visit to Afghanistan in July 2005 that “the multiplicity of normative systems in Afghanistan favours the power structures intent on oppressing women in the private sphere and in public life, facilitates their impunity, and presents a significant obstacle for women and defenders of women’s rights”

The UN SRSG in her 2006 report on the situation of human rights defenders expressed regret that she has not had the opportunity to hear from more individual defenders or defenders’ organizations in Afghanistan and indicated that this reflected a greater need for training in human rights and the creation of a more enabling environment for human rights defenders. In 2007 Front Line carried out a country visit to Afghanistan and met with representatives of both local and international NGOs, EU and UN officials and Government ministers. In 2008 Front Line facilitated a security and protection workshop for Afghan HRDs in Kabul.