Presidium Network

Arbitrary Detention is a violation of the “Universal Declaration of Human Rights” (“UDHR”), under “Article 9”. Arbitrary detention is also a violation of the “International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights”. Arbitrary Detention is considered an unfair and unlawful practice according to the following conventions, thereby demonstrating it is not considered an international norm and is universally represented as a deprivation of basic rights: (1) Universal Declaration of Human Rights International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR). (2) Body of principles for the protection of all persons under any form of detention or imprisonment Standard Minimum Rules for the Treatment of Prisoners.~ (3) United Nations Rules for the Protection of Juveniles Deprived of their Liberty. (4) United Nations Standard Minimum Rules for the Administration of Juvenile Justice (“The Beijing Rules”) (5) Convention relating to the Status of Refugees of 1951 (6) Protocol relating to the Status of Refugees of 1967 (7)International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination (8) Convention on the Rights of the Child (9) Convention against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment of Punishment (10) International Convention on the Protection of the Rights of All Migrant Workers and Members of Their Families (11) Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (12) United Nations Basic Principles and Guidelines on remedies and procedures on the right of anyone deprived of their liberty to bring proceedings before a court (A/HRC/30/37)

Kelly Cornwell describes her husband #KevinCornwell and his passion for helping others and the support the family provides him. -- Friends and family often comment about the time Kevin spends away from us and the effects this has on our family unit. I tell them, ‘The sacrifice we make as a family in his absence becomes worthwhile when Kevin talks about his humanitarian work, he expresses so much passion and honour, you can see the compassion and empathy he has for the work he carries out by the look in his eyes and the elation in his voice – his enthusiasm is infectious.’ It is why he is so inspirational to the people who work alongside him.

A loving Father and Husband, #KevinCornwell, an aid worker for #UNAMA and the #UnitedNations has been detained for over 8 months. Devoted to his work helping people, Kevin languishes in a basement in Kabul in poor-health and arbitrarily detained.

Kelly Cornwell, the wife of #KevinCornwell speaks from the heart describing Kevin and their 21 years together. -- As his wife of 21 years, I have too many memories to count but my fondest memory is walking down the beach with him on a surprisingly sunny day in the UK. He was holding my hand and looking at me lovingly as he describes it. I misread the look in his eyes and thought he had plans to jokingly push me into the seawater. So I swept my leg around his and flipped him backwards in the air and he landed flat on his back in the sand. After both of us were in shock for a number of minutes (my shock, I did not think the move I made would be so impactful). His shock not fully comprehending how he was standing one minute to then being laid out on the sand. He loving said what did you do that for. I said you looked as if you were going to push me into the sea. We both burst out into uncontrollable laughter. Kevin tells everyone this story at family gatherings and parties we have attended over the years with the same love in his eyes he had on that day.

#KevinCornwell - in the words of friends. “I have no doubt that even whilst being detained he will be looking out for those around him and making sure that they are all cared for. On this occasion, though, Kevin is the one who requires the help, and I hope that he is allowed to receive all the care and attention he desperately requires at this time.”

#KevinCornwell - stories from his friends and coworkers. “Kevin has worked on numerous humanitarian projects in the Middle East and Southeast Asia for many years and most recently with the United Nations in Afghanistan. His unwavering dedication has undoubtedly saved the lives of countless people in his care. Working In Afghanistan in support of UNAMA for some time he ensured the continued health of their personnel deployed throughout the country.”

Today we are sharing quotes from colleagues who worked with #KevinCornwell, a window into who he is as a man and his dedication to people. “I’ve known and worked alongside Kevin for almost 20 years in some of the most demanding and dangerous countries around the world. He has selflessly devoted his entire life to the health, well-being, and safeguarding of others - a deeply caring and compassionate man who I have the greatest respect for.”

The impact of arbitrary detention on the families is painful, they wait every day for news, they wait for good news. They wait and wait for any news. They ache. #KevinCornwell son wrote this poem in dedication: ------------------- 8:53 am 8:53 am I run off to pastoral hoping to seek a better feeling, little do they know I handle my own healing. Compared to kids my age I’ve been through so much, and yet as the tears fall away so does your touch. “I don’t wanna be here I just wanna go home”, I scream knowing that’s where you should be instead of alone. 7 months of stress pains me to say, I miss you more and more every single day. The breakdown today was oddly numbing, yet whilst I’m in that jail held in by people I trust all I can hear is this constant humming. We have to keep you in, it’s okay to cry. Once again I can’t help myself but think could you die? I represented you to our family a while back. The information is something I know you lack. My imagination is something I condemn, my breakdown of 7 months started today at 8:53 am.

These are the 'raw' photographs including the license number of the weapon. The other weapon was stored in safe storage following the fall of the Republic under the instruction of the Taliban. These photographs were recovered from a conversation between GDI and a "major" US development agency. The premise of the search, in which the contractor used connections with GDI was that Darya Village would not hold more female contractors to pad a USAID contract.

It is unfortunate to have to say this, but it is the case. We have "zero" confidence in the IEA and the GDI to provide for the health and welfare of the detained men.