UN says landmark Afghan law failing to protect women
| Publisher | Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty |
| Publication Date | 8 December 2013 |
| Cite as | Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, UN says landmark Afghan law failing to protect women, 8 December 2013, available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/52e659b1b.html [accessed 28 May 2023] |
| Disclaimer | This is not a UNHCR publication. UNHCR is not responsible for, nor does it necessarily endorse, its content. Any views expressed are solely those of the author or publisher and do not necessarily reflect those of UNHCR, the United Nations or its Member States. |
December 08, 2013
Women clad in burqas walk along a street as the sun sets in Kabul. (file photo)
A UN report has criticized Aghan authorities for poor implementation of a landmark law to protect women.
The report, released by the United Nations Assistance Mission In Afghanistan (UNAMA) on December 8, says that prosecutions and convictions remained low under the 2009 law, which criminalizes child marriage, forced marriage, forced self-immolation, rape, and other violence against women.
Navi Pillay, the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, said that implementation of the law has been "slow and uneven."
She said that "Afghan authorities need to do much more to build on the gains made so far in protecting women and girls."
The report said that only seven percent of about 1,670 registered incidents of violence against women in 16 provinces went through a judicial process using the Elimination of Violence Against Women Law.
Based on reporting by AFP and dpa
Link to original story on RFE/RL website
