Put women in Afghan government - Mary Robinson

As international diplomatic efforts in Afghanistan gather momentum, UN Human Rights Commissioner Mary Robinson said a prominent role for women should be a priority when a new government is formed.

"It is crucial that strong governmental institutions be established with full participation of women, which will have the capacity to promote and protect all human rights in a nondiscriminatory and effective manner," said the former President of Ireland.

The promotion and protection of human rights are integral to the establishment of an effective and stable government in Afghanistan, she said.

"Afghanistan needs to break the pattern of human rights abuse, establish a safe environment for its women, men and children and ensure judicial accountability for criminal acts," Mrs Robinson said.

She was giving a speech after accepting the 2000 Indira Gandhi Prize for Peace, Disarmament and Development in the Indian capital, New Delhi.

Since 1996, Afghanistan's Taliban rulers prohibited schooling for girls over eight years old, forced women to quit their jobs and restricted women from moving about freely.

Mrs Robinson said she disagreed with some people who felt that in the current international crisis, human rights must take lower priority.

"It is sometimes claimed that concern with human rights gets in the way of winning peace or defeating terrorism. This is wrong thinking.

"We must condemn and combat terrorism. But there can be no stable peace, not true human security, without human rights," said Mrs Robinson.

With the Northern Alliance taking territory earlier held by Taliban militias, there is a heightened danger of human rights abuses and of an increase in violence against women, she warned.

"There will be justice against the perpetrators of violence. It is time to end the climate of impunity in Afghanistan."

The Indira Gandhi prize was awarded to Mrs Robinson at Rashtrapati Bhawan, the ornate sandstone presidential palace, at a glittering ceremony attended by Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee, his Cabinet and diplomats.

Earlier recipients of the prize, named in memory of the former Indian Prime Minister Indira Gandhi, include World Health Organisation chief, Gro Harlem Brundtland, former Russian President Mikhail Gorbachev, Czech President Vaclav Havel and Medicins Sans Frontieres ("Doctors Without Borders").