Afghanistan

Norway is extensively involved in Afghanistan both civilly and militarily. Since 2008, Norway has supported development work with NOK 750 million annually. About 500 men and women participate in the International Security Assistance Force (ISAF). The embassy in Kabul is one of Norway's largest.

It is important for Norway to support Afghan ownership and the priorities that the Afghan authorities and the international donor community agreed on at the Kabul conference in July 2010.

Afghanistan's important place in Norwegian foreign policy leads to frequent and high-level visits to the country, both military and political.

Difficult aid work

It is becoming ever more dangerous for aid workers in Afghanistan. UN and international aid workers are increasingly subject to direct attack, and in recent years it has become more and more difficult to carry out humanitarian aid work in the country. According to a UN report from 2010 the security situation in Afghanistan has deteriorated in the course of NATO's decade-long presence – while needs are still enormous in some parts of the country.

The main components of the Norwegian humanitarian effort:

• Protection of civilians – strengthening respect for international humanitarian law and protecting vulnerable groups
• Refugees and internally displaced persons
• Humanitarian disarmament – demining and support for victims
• Humanitarian health efforts – supporting the hospitals of the Red Cross movement and training of volunteer first-aiders

The alignment of the Norwegian humanitarian aid is in accordance with directives for the government's Afghanistan policy and the Norwegian white paper on humanitarian policy; St.meld. nr. 40 (2008-2009) Norsk humanitær politikk.

The UN humanitarian action plan for Afghanistan is normative for Norway's efforts, both in terms of which areas are supported and which channels are used. Norway is a major contributor to the UN Central Emergency Response Fund for Afghanistan; a quick-response fund for new and aggravated humanitarian crises.

The International Red Cross (ICRC) is a key partner in several of the projects in which Norway is involved. With support from the rest of the Red Cross movement, ICRC is one of the key partners in efforts to strengthen the protection of civilians and the respect for international humanitarian law. Other cooperating partners include NRC, UNHCR, the Afghan Landmine Survivors Organization, Afghanistan Independent Human Rights Commission, UN OCHA and the Halo Trust.

In 2010, 28 aid workers were killed in Afghanistan. This is an increase of 42 per cent compared with 2009. An unprecedented 2 777 Afghan civilians were killed in 2010, according to Afghan Rights Monitor.

Support for repatriated refugees

Close to 30 years of armed conflict has driven millions of Afghans to flee. Since 2002, approximately five million have returned. Norway supports the UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) and the Norwegian Refugee Council's programmes to assist Afghans who volunteer to return to Afghanistan. For 2011, UNHCR expects to assist in the returning of about 165 000 Afghans. The assistance consists of money and livelihood assets (non-food), water and sanitation equipment, and shelter to the most exposed and vulnerable groups. In addition, UNHCR is working directly with the Afghan authorities to develop the capacity to reintegrate more Afghan refugees to their domicile of origin.

Strengthening of the police

Since 2002, the international community has contributed with USD 1.5 billion to the Afghan police forces through a fund managed by the UN Development Programme. The money from the fund mainly goes to pay the Afghan police, and the fund is just one of several programmes directed towards the Afghan police. Norway is planning to provide about NOK 60 million annually to the fund for the period 2010-2014.

Strengthening of the police has been an important priority area in anticipation of a reduction of the military presence in Afghanistan. The plan is to increase the number of Afghan police officers from 82 000 two years ago to 134 000 by October 2011.

Norwegian police officers

The Norwegian police contribution has five focus areas:

• Human rights
• Combating drugs
• Women's projects
• Police basic training
• Leadership training

Norway has over 20 officers in Afghanistan, with duty stations in Kabul and Meymaneh. Most of the Norwegian police officers in Afghanistan work in multilateral organisations.

Police training

A bilateral woman's rights project is established with main focus being women's role in the Afghan police system. Being a woman police officer in Afghanistan is one of the world's most dangerous professions. In Kabul, Norwegian police teach Afghan police women self-defence.

The scheme is part of the police cooperation between Norway and Afghanistan. Over the last four years, over 200 Afghan police women have learned freeing techniques, use of pepper spray, baton use and shooting. The role of the Norwegian instructors is no longer to hold the course, but to advise the Afghan police responsible for the actual teaching.

Clean energy

Efforts in rural development are extensive, especially in Faryab. This effort is important in creating visible results where people live, and in a manner that increases people's confidence in their own government. Meanwhile there is ongoing work to strengthen the energy sector, including Norwegian-led efforts to develop a national energy policy.

New school initiative in Faryab

By contributing NOK 225 million through the national programme Equipment II, Norway will contribute to a significant boost in the school sector. The initiative will benefit the whole of Afghanistan, but also contribute to creating nearly 50 new schools in Faryab, where Norway has the strongest military participation. Over 40 per cent of the students in Faryab are girls.

This entails a total Norwegian support to the national education programme of nearly NOK 300 million for the period 2006-2012.

There are still five million girls and boys in the country without access to education opportunities.

Human rights

It has taken years of countless meetings, document reviews, temporary interruptions and ever new practical challenges. But on 29 September 2010 the Norwegian-sponsored Human Rights Support Unit in the Ministry of Justice was officially opened by Minister of Justice Ghaleb. The objective is enhanced competence in areas such as human rights, not least when new legislation is being drawn up.

The unit is central to the Afghan government's ability to implement Afghanistan's human rights obligations.

The establishment of the unit is seen as an important step in the right direction, but only political will from the Ministry of Justice can ensure the long-term success of the project.