The United Nations on Monday called on the government and people of Afghanistan to step up efforts at ending sexual and gender-based violence, including impunity for these crimes.
The UN issued the call while marking the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women and Girls, and the start of 16 Days of Activism against gender-based violence.
This year’s theme –“Orange the World: Generation Equality Stands Against Rape”– focuses on supporting and amplifying voices of survivors and advocates for an end to sexual violence and rape.
In times of peace or conflict, the UN said, sexual and gender-based violence, including harassment, assault and rape, occurred. This violence affects the full scope of a woman’s human rights and leads to multiple forms of discrimination, stigma and trauma.
“We hear the strong voice of Afghan women survivors. Notwithstanding the risks and challenges to their safety, including within their own communities, they stand up to advocate for an end to sexual and gender-based violence. We must stand alongside them,” said the UN secretary-general’s special representative.
Tadamichi Yamamoto, who is also head of the UN Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA), stressed the need for an end to the ongoing impunity and the pervasive normalisation of gender-based violence.
The UN acknowledged efforts by the government, particularly the Attorney-General’s Office, to hold the perpetrators of sexual assault and rape to account.
Such work also built survivors’ and public confidence in the justice system, critical for Afghanistan to achieve sustainable development and peace, the world body said.
Afghanistan is committed to women’s human rights, including under Sustainable Development Goal No.5 on Gender Equality and the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women.
Aleta Miller, UN Women’s country eepresentative, said: “Afghan women and girls, however, continue to experience widespread violations of their human rights and persistent violence, including through the impact of the conflict and gender inequality.”
She noted increases in the number of women prosecutors and judges, saying much work remained to be done.
About the ongoing review of the Law on the Eliminiation of Violence Against Women, she hoped it would lead to a further strengthening of the legal framework.
The government was urged to redouble its efforts to fully implement the waw and end impunity for violent crimes against women and girls.
