AIHRC Turns Toward Stemming Bacha Bazi

The Afghan Independent Human Rights Commission (AIHRC) has grown
increasingly distressed over continued practice of Bacha Bazi in
Afghanistan. It has described the tradition of enslaving young boys
for entertainment and sexual abuse a heinous violation of human
rights.

Although known by a variety of names, Bacha Baszi, meaning "playing
with boys," is phenomenon of pederasty that has a long history in the
South Asian region. It has traditionally been practiced amongst the
elite of society, with the possession of young boys for sexual and
non-sexual amusement often serving as a type of status symbol.

The pre-adolescent boys who are forced into the servitude are often
made to dress in female clothing to dance in front of an audience, but
less publically, are frequent victims of sexual abuse.

Although Bacha Bazi is outlawed in Afghanistan, AIHRC has said that a
major obstacle in combating it is the fact that those who maintain the
practice are usually wealthy and powerful individuals.

"There are many laws in the country, but the law against this practice
hasn't been implemented, the legal and judicial organs haven't
arrested anyone on charges of Bacha Bazi," said AIHRC Commissioner
Subhrang at a press conference in Kabul on Wednesday.

AIHRC criticized Afghanistan's law enforcement officials for not
making more arrests on charges of pedophilia and involvement in Bacha
Bazi. Given that Transparency International ranked Afghan judiciary as
the most corrupt in the world this year, however, it may not come as a
surprise that no convictions are made against the largely elite crowd
that engages in the practice.

According to AIHRC officials, there are indications the culture of
Bacha Bazi has grown in various parts of the country in recent years.

Although many parts of Afghanistan have seen significant improvements
in quality of life and access to the outside world through technology
and infrastructure since the fall of the Taliban in 2001, AIHRC cited
poverty as a major force behind the practice. That is likely only true
for its victims, however.

In terms of the patrons of Bacha Bazi, the infusion of massive amounts
of capital into Afghanistan and accumulation concentrated wealth
through legitimate and illegitimate means since the foreign invasion
could be a factor behind the growth of the practice.

AIHRC on Wednesday announced it would launch a national program to
investigate the phenomenon and its causes. The Commission asked civil
society groups and security institutions to cooperate with the
initiative.