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| Afghanistan |
| Afghan Govt Fails to Protect Women's Rights: UN |
| 2010-12-10 |
| [Tolo News] Director of Human Rights for UNAMA said on Thursday in Kabul that Afghan government has failed to protect women's rights Picked right up on that, didn't she? Georgette Gagnon, Director of Human Rights for United Nations, aka the Oyster Bay Chowder and Marching Society Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA) highlighted the necessity of women's role in Afghan government talks with anti-government groups. She said she will discuss with the Afghan government over the implementation of the Law on Elimination of Violence Against Women. A report carried out by the UN mission based on 150 individual and group interviews in 29 provinces in Afghanistan found violence against women in varying degrees across the country and among all ethnic groups. The report said a lack of tendency of enforcement officials in applying the elimination of violence against women and unawareness of some local officials of the law have lead to an increase in the violence against women and girls. The report points out to some customs that have been twisted with Islamic laws and it also said about the need for their avoidance. More than half of girls who get married in Afghanistan are under 15 and most of marriages take place as a practice to settle disputes, it said. "We were quoted a popular saying in many communities which is, if you hit a girl with your hat and she doesn't fall over, it's time to marry her," Georgette Gagnon said while addressing news hounds at a conference. An increase in violence against women and girls has forced them to flee their husband's homes and face honour killings, the report said. The UNAMA adds that many cases of violence against women are not addressed by the Afghan judiciary organisations as it is considered interference in people's private affairs. Georgette Gagnon said: "We have to be clear, this law is for the government to implement it. It has nothing to do with the international troops or the international community. International donors can support women's groups and the government in implementing the law but it is the government's job to apply this law." Withdrawal of foreign forces from Afghanistan that will begin by next year has led to widespread concerns especially about women's rights in Afghanistan. Afghanistan Independent Human Rights Commission views the issue from a different dimension. Deputy for Afghanistan's Human Rights Commission, Fahim Hakim said: "to protect women's rights, systems should be reinforced, new laws should be ratified and we hope the Afghan government will work in a serious and committed manner." The collapse of Taliban regime, during which women and girls held no rights, was believed to be the end of challenges facing Afghan women, but Afghan women even today are faced with a lot of challenges. |
| Posted by:Fred |