8 Amendments of Richard HOWITT related to 2007/2208(INI)
Amendment 6 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1
Paragraph 1
1. Takes the view that after more than 20 years of civil war Afghanistan has become a ‘failed state’,is characterised by missing or weak institutions at all levels and unable to satisfy the mostmust continue to improve the provision of basic needs of its citizens such as education, housing, health, nutrition; is convinced that the country has become a test case for the success or failure of international development assistance and the legitimacy of bi- and multi-lateral development cooperation; stresses the need for the international community to continue to work with the Afghan Government and the people of Afghanistan in order to demonstrate its ability to end the vicious circle of violence and poverty and to give the country the prospect of sustainable peace and development;
Amendment 24 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 2
Paragraph 2
2. Stresses the urgent need for the international community to analyse what strategic and conceptual misjudgements have contributed tocontinue to analyse the current situation in Afghanistan, including an honest assessment of both the current military strategy and the strategy for civil reconstruction; concludes that a major shift of strategy is necessary as peace,welcomes in this regard the ‘Vision Statement on Afghanistan’ published at the NATO Summit in Bucharest on 3 April 2008 by Heads of State contributing to the ISAF; and in particular welcomes the third of the four guiding principles which clearly acknowledges that a comprehensive strategic approach by the international community bringing together both civilian and military efforts is needed; considers that security and development will only prevail if the spiral of violence is brought to an end, if the prevailing military solution is replaced by reinforced civil reconstruction efforts, and if, as a result, the confidence of the Afghan population is restored; considers in particular that ‘Operation Enduring Freedom’ is politically counterproductive because reconciliin this regard, also notes that the humanitarian community – UN and NGOs – need to enhance coordination, and consolidation of peace cannot be imposed militarily from the outside but have to be developed inside Afghanistan; void ad hoc initiatives and develop preparedness and contingency planning;
Amendment 46 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 3
Paragraph 3
3. Points out that the main problems facing the country isare restoring security and establishing a functioning state; notes that Afghanistan’s security problems are more complex than just a war on terror and therefore they require more than a military solution; points out that security is a prerequisite for the rule of law, which in turn creates an atmosphere conducive to human development, and that strengthening the rule of law can serve as an important means to advance the freedom of people to exercise choices and enhance their capacity to live meaningful and healthy lives, when supplemented by measures aimed at restoring a functioning state in order to protect the rule of law, secure access to basic public services and ensure equal opportunities for its people;
Amendment 90 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 11
Paragraph 11
11. Welcomes Afghanistan’s progress in improving women’s political representation; remains concerned about the huge income disparities between men and women, very low literacy rate of women, the injustices to women and girls, both in the denial of basic services like healthcare and education and the lack of employment opportunities as well as high levels of domestic violence and discrimination; stresses the urgent need for measures aimed at protecting the rights of women to be built into legal and political reform; calls on the Council and the Commission to lend active support to such an initiative and to earmark funds for measures such as active steps to increase the enrolment of girls in schools and the recruitment of female teachers, which will help build the country’s capacity to protect the rights of women and girls;
Amendment 107 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital A
Recital A
A. whereas Afghanistan is at a crossroads, as evidenced by the rise in thewith an ongoing violent insurgency, increase and opium production, and growing continuing, and popular discontent over corruption and government failures; whereas despite the efforts of the international community and the partial success as regards civil reconstruction, the living conditions of considerable sections of the Afghan population have not improved; whereas the current threat Afghanistan is facing requires short-term action but long-term solutions will only come about through comprehensive improvements in alternative sustainable livelihoods coupled with enhanced governance and the emergence of a stronger and functioning state,
Amendment 123 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital F
Recital F
F. whereas there are no official figures on civilian deaths in Afghanistan but a study by the Afghan government suggests that more than 3,700 people were killed by fighting in Afghanistan in 2006; whereas the majority appear to be insurgents, but it is estimated that some 1,000 civilians were killed by both Taliban attacks and NATO air strikes; whereas in June 2007 a network of Afghan and international NGOs had ‘strongly condemned the operations and force protection measures carried out by international military forces in which disproportionate or indiscriminate use of force has resulted in civilian casualties’,
Amendment 135 #
Motion for a resolution
Citation 6 a (new)
Citation 6 a (new)
Amendment 143 #
Motion for a resolution
Citation 12 a (new)
Citation 12 a (new)
– having regard to the Government of Afghanistan’s National Drug Control Strategy (NDCS) launched at the London Conference in January 2006,