• Average number of days to process a case: 202.
• Number of USAID-sponsored mediation centers: 109.
• Number of USAID-sponsored justice centers: 56.
• Average pre-trial detention in days: 98.75.

• Average number of days to process a case: 566, 180% below from the FY 2006 target (Results for four USAID-assisted countries).
• Number of USAID-sponsored mediation centers: 192, 76% above the FY 2006 target (Results for nine USAID-assisted countries).
• Number of USAID-sponsored justice centers: 68, 21% above the FY 2006 target (Results for five USAID-assisted countries).
• Average pre-trial detention in days: 180, 82% below the FY 2006 target (Results for three USAID-assisted countries).

• Average number of days to process a case after USAID assistance: 224, an 8% decrease from the FY 2004 baseline.
• Number of USAID-sponsored mediation centers (200, a 127% increase).
• Number of USAID-sponsored justice centers (49, a 4% increase) in target areas.
• Average pre-trial detention in days after USAID assistance: 141, a 1.4% decrease from the FY 2004 baseline.

Baselines:

• Average total time it took to process a legal case before USAID assistance was 661.2 days. After USAID assistance began in 2004, the average number of days dropped to 244.3.
• Number of USAID-sponsored mediation centers: 88.
• Number of USAID-sponsored justice centers: 47.
• Average pre-trial detention prior to USAID assistance: 479.25 days. After USAID assistance began in 2004, the average pre-trial detention was 143 days.

Freedom House 2006 Report

Net Progress: Positive change from previous year.
Net Change in Status: Positive change from previous year.

Freedom House 2006 Report

Free: 89.
Partly Free 58.
Not Free 45.
Net Change +4.

Freedom House 2005 Report

Free: 89.
Partly Free: 54.
Not Free: 49.
Net Change: +1.

Freedom House 2004 Report

Free: 88.
Partly Free: 55.
Not Free: 49.
Net Change in Status: -1.
Improved Countries: 25.
Declined Countries: 10.
Net Progress: +15.

Freedom House 2003 Report

Free: 89.
Partly Free: 55.
Not Free: 48.
Net Change in Status: +4.
Improved Countries: 29.
Declined Countries: 11.
Net Progress: +18.

• Parliament produces constructive legislation, approves responsible budgets, and oversees appropriate government operations, such as combating corruption and narcotics activity.
• Civil liberties provisions remain intact and receive strong support from legal and executive institutions.
• Citizens throughout the country have access to the Afghan Independent Human Rights Commission for resolution of human rights complaints. Human rights education becomes part of primary school education curriculum.
• Courts in Kabul begin to hold trials in criminal cases.
• Women are active political participants and hold public positions in Kabul and the central, regional and provincial government levels.

• Parliament adopted a law on the duties and responsibilities of the Provincial Councils; adopted the budget; and confirmed the President’s cabinet and the members of the Supreme Court.
• Provisions on civil liberties are intact and the Afghan Independent Human Rights Council remains active. Religious freedom became an issue due to an apostasy case that was eventually dismissed. Afghan Independent Human Rights Commission continues to expand to the provinces and is more accessible and active. In most schools human rights are a primary part of the curriculum, but the extent to which this is true varies by class.
• There are 68 female members in the National Assembly, one female cabinet member and one female provincial governor. Approximately 35% students attending school are female. Approximately 60% of primary age girls are in school. For the lower secondary level (grades 7-9) it is about 9% and for the upper secondary level (10-12) approximately 3% of girls attend school.

• Presidential elections held in October 2004. More than 10 million Afghans registered and 8 million participated in the election, 40 of whom were women. Provincial Council and National Assembly elections scheduled for September 18, 2005. 1.69 million voters registered for upcoming parliamentary elections.
• Afghan Independent Human Rights Commission reported on a wide range of human rights issues including Afghan perceptions of past human rights abuses.
• Two women were Cabinet Ministers (Minister of Women’s Affairs and Minister of Martyrs and Disabled); first female governor appointed (Bamiyan).
• USAID constructed 24 judicial facilities throughout the country; trained 382 judges in a series of formal training programs; and codified, compiled, printed, and disseminated 1,000 copies of Afghanistan’s basic laws.

• Constitutional Loya Jirga adopted moderate, democratic Constitution on January 4, 2004.
• Loya Jirga broadly representative; over 100 of the 500 delegates were women.
• Twenty-three candidates announced bids for presidency; 18 of which were accepted, and presidential elections were held on October 9, 2004.

• Constitutional Commission established and new Constitution drafted.
• Human Rights and Judicial Commissions began to address ethnic abuses, women’s rights violations, rule of law, war crimes/ethnic killings, etc., and identify priority objectives.
• Rules and procedures developed for the elections in 2004.
• Afghan Conservation Corps established to provide income to Afghan returnees, fostering community-based efforts to promote sound land and water management.

• Pakistani political parties accept and implement civil society recommendations. Civil society organizations are increasingly well managed and self-sustaining.
• More effective and accountable electoral preparations put in place.
• National and Provincial Assemblies perform constitutional roles in transparent and effective manner. National Assembly debates, legislates, and appropriates funds.
• More effective judiciary and enhancements in efficiency, transparency, and equity of Pakistan’s legal system.
• Polls show that people feel government attempts to be responsive to their needs.

• Government began devolution of selected powers to provincial and local levels bringing new players into the grass roots political dialogue.
• The government permitted all existing political parties to function. Local elections were marred by voter buying, voter list fraud, intimidation, and bribery.
• National and provincial assemblies initiated policy debates in key areas of women rights.
• The government did not directly or indirectly censor the media. Media outlets, however, continued to practice self-censorship. The government arrested, harassed, and intimidated journalists during the year.
• Stability is maintained but the head of state remains the head of the military. The military is not subject to civilian control.

• Stability was maintained but the head of state remained the head of the military. The military was not subject to civilian control.
• The range of national security and foreign policy issues open for genuine debate remained circumscribed.
• Politicians and press were increasingly free to publicly criticize the army and the establishment, although the government continued to exercise some control over the media by offering “recommendations” on editorial content and by allocating advertising that serves as a critical subsidy.

• Both houses freely debated the President’s message to Parliament; standing committees were announced; and various key pieces of legislation were passed, including a bill authorizing the formation of a National Security Council. The parliamentary debate over the President’s address included national security issues.
• Conducted national public opinion survey on a range of subjects (including familiarity with national and provincial representatives, the political process, and political engagement).
• The arrest and conviction of opposition leader Javed Hashmi was a setback for political freedom.

• Elections occurred October 10, 2002, and parties accept the outcome but with credible allegations of flaws regarding their conduct.
• Pakistani military returned to the barracks as civilian rule resumes.
• Corrupt patronage continued to dominate political parties but reformers were identified.
• Civil society organizations began to organize, grow in size and activity, and gain a voice.
• Reasonably free political party activity and press. Limited investigative/prosecutorial capacity.

• Municipal elections in Yemen are held as scheduled and are free and fair.
• Elections in Bahrain held as scheduled and are free and fair.
• Media Freedom: Two additional Near Eastern Affairs (NEA) countries move into the “Partly Free” category and no other states lower their rankings.

• Free, fair and competitive elections took place in Yemen (municipal and Presidential); Egypt (Parliamentary); Qatar (legislative); Bahrain (municipal council).
• No countries saw a decline in their Media Freedom scores. No countries moved from “Not Free” to “Partly Free”.
• In Iraq, a draft permanent Constitution was successfully adopted in October 2005. Political parties formed coalitions, registered and campaigned for December 2005 elections.

• Elections scheduled to have occurred were free, fair and competitive. Saudi Arabia held its first municipal elections. Other countries scheduled elections and through Middle East Partnership Initiative, the Department worked to ensure they were free, fair and competitive, including:
• Senate elections in Tunisia.
• Parliamentary elections in Egypt.
• Parliamentary elections in Lebanon.
• Municipal and parliamentary elections in West Bank/Gaza.

• Algeria – Elections were generally judged as fair and open.
• Lebanon – Municipal elections were held in April 2004.
• Tunisia – Elections were scheduled in the fall.

• Bahrain – Parliamentary and municipal elections held as scheduled; judged by international community to be generally free and fair.
• Yemen – National elections as scheduled; judged to be generally fair.
• Jordan and Kuwait – Parliamentary and National Assembly elections, respectively, held as scheduled.
• Oman and Morocco – Consultative Assembly and Municipal elections, respectively, held as scheduled.

• Afghanistan: Women’s Teachers Training Institute to train Afghan teachers. The Afghan Literacy Initiative will raise literacy levels of Afghan women in rural areas. 50% of girls attend school.
• Iraq: Women appointed or elected to political office. Women occupy 25% of elected positions. Judicial training enables officers of the court to share best practices and craft new legal remedies to protect women’s human rights. Permanent constitution guarantees equality for women.
• Broader Middle East: Women establish professional associations and develop advocacy skills on public policy issues and pro-women, pro-business practices. All-Women’s radio stations expand the number of on-air hours and programs for women.

• Afghanistan: USG built or rehabilitated 585 schools. Afghan Literacy Initiative reached 9600 students, 50% are female. 34% of 5 million children enrolled in school are female. USG completed 17 Women’s Resource Centers deeded to Ministry of Women’s Affairs to provide outreach and training to provincial women.
• Iraq: Political and economic training delivered, with emphasis on NGO sustainability in rural areas. Began partnerships with universities, establishing centers to be run by Iraqi women. Worked with women leaders to ensure rights upheld in Constitutional amendment process. Expanded media training with youth emphasis. Provided microcredit to women, built economic empowerment through skills training.
• Broader Middle East: Literacy and vocational training programs inaugurated. Developed and obtained approval for one project for the economic empowerment of women.

• Iraq: Iraqi women trained in democracy, political participation, media, and economics, including 25 of 87 women elected to national assembly.
• Afghanistan: Over 8,000 women and girls received literacy and health education; 80 women judges and lawyers trained in Afghan civil law, international conventions.
• Broader Middle East: Women’s priority economic issues defined and corresponding program mechanisms established.

• Afghanistan: 1,000 women received microcredit loans and started businesses; 250 women received job skills training; 500-1,000 women benefited from literacy programs.
• Iraq: Training provided in political, economic and media skills, as well as in trauma and stress reduction programs. Women entrepreneurs attended Global Summit of Women (1,000 women from 85 countries) for entrepreneurial training.
• Post-Conflict: Riga Women Business Leaders Summit partnered Baltic region women with U.S. counterparts, sharing experience and best practices, and promoted private enterprise in the Baltic Sea region. Mentoring programs with women entrepreneurs and women business interns from the Middle East. Mentoring programs with women political and business leaders from Kosovo.

• Afghanistan: Grants awarded for microfinance, job skills training, political participation, literacy and other educational programs in Women’s Resource Centers.
• Post-Conflict: Big Idea Mentoring Initiative began with Afghanistan. Security Council Resolution 1325: Women and peace and security (adopted Oct. 31, 2000) led to enhanced involvement of women as planners, implementers, and beneficiaries of peace-building processes.