UN cites progress in protecting Afghan women from violence, but not enough
The United Nations says Afghanistan "still has a long way to go"
to fully protect women and girls from violence, Radio Liberty
reported.
The UN's mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA) issued a report on December
11 showing some progress in applying three-year-old legislation
that criminalizes violence against women.
But it added there were gaps in its implementation.
The Afghanistan Independent Human Rights Commission recorded 4,010
cases of violence against women in the seven months between March
and October this year -- nearly twice as many as in the previous 12
months.
The report calls the increase "an encouraging development" because
attacks against women still remain largely underreported.
Women who report attacks often face threats or further
violence.
The report also notes that only a small percentage of reported
incidents are duly processed and result in convictions.