Актуальные проблемы Европы №3 / 2013 - стр. 33

Another example is the EU's support in protecting and defending the rights of children at risk, particularly street and working children. Decades of conflict have led to widespread displacement throughout the country. The high number of returning refugees, internally displaced people and labour flows from rural Afghanistan has also led to the setting up of homes in informal, unplanned settlements on the outskirts of cities. High levels of poverty within these urban settlements force many children onto the streets to help support their family. Educating children is the first step towards reintegrating them into society thus the goal of this project has been to give them a stronger voice, through vocational training and attending state-run schools. The EU's goal is therefore to provide vulnerable children with a basic education and to ensure continuation of education after the attendance of the EU funded centres.

On human rights, the EU realises that it is necessary to take a long term approach, recognising the long lasting significance of apparently only small improvements.

In 2001, Afghanistan's health indicators were the worst in the world. The Afghan government, supported by donors, in particular USAID, the World Bank and the European Union, has overseen real progress indicating that Afghans are living longer, more women have access to medical care during pregnancy and childbirth and more children survive to reach their fifth birthday.

For example, access to primary health care services has increased from less than 10 percent in 2002 to around 65 percent now. The infant mortality rate has decreased from 257/1000 live births in 2000 to 97/1000 live births in 2010, according to a 2010 nation wide survey. According to the same survey, the maternal mortality rate decreased from 1600/100 000 in 2008–2009 to 372/100 000 two years later. Of course, this is still unacceptably high and the EU will continue to work with the Afghan government to improve the health of all Afghans.

The considerable progress in the health sector is largely due to the implementation of a government-led Basic Package of Health Services (BPHS) and an Essential Package of Hospital Services (EPHS) implemented by NGOs and funded by USAID, the World Bank and the EU.

Since 2001, the EU has committed a total of € 216 million in support of the health sector (including health policy & administration management, infectious disease control and basic health care). By funding non-state actors for the delivery of BPHS and EPHS, the EU supports the provision of basic health cares services to more than five million Afghans in ten provinces, even in some of the most insecure and underserved areas of the country.