Weak leadership is keeping the Afghan government from protecting the basic human rights of its citizens, Afghan Independent Human Rights Commission Chair Sima Samar told about 60 Boston University students at the School of Management auditorium last night.

Samar, a physician originally from Afghanistan, argued that human rights, justice and security are interdependent, and that weak law enforcement threatens the rights of Afghan citizens. She said one of the flaws of the Afghan government is that its leaders “never discuss accountability.”

Samar said women’s rights are particularly at risk in Afghanistan, which continues to face Taliban forces after the formation of a democratic government in December 2001. Samar said when approving the country’s new constitution, Afghan officials considered specifically mentioning women because women’s rights are described in the Quran, but choose not to.

“Justice provides security,” she said. “[As a result], human rights and dignity are protected.”

While Afghan officials elected in 2004 and 2005 helped create new human rights protections, Samar said, the laws are not fully enforced by the country’s weak law enforcement. She said the country is in no better position than before the new laws were created.

She also said elected officials often abuse their positions, awarding judicial posts to friends and family who may not be educated or committed to justice. She said often, ordinary Afghan citizens have no better option than to join the Taliban.

When asked by an audience member what Afghanistan’s future holds for its citizens, Samar said it depends on “a better strategy” from the United States.

“Military action is not the only solution,” she said.

Najeebullah Bieg, a BU student who moved to Boston from Kabul, Afghanistan, two months ago, came to hear Samar speak. He said Afghanistan needs a strong and influential leader to convince Afghanis to respect the law.

International relations professor Charles Dunbar, a member of the panel that answered questions after the lecture, said many Afghanis want the violence to end. He said they don’t care who ends the conflict, just that the killing and fighting ends.