United Nations Radio

Afghan women and children

INTRO: A new UN report on women in Afghanistan describes an increasing level of violence against them that is widespread and goes unpunished. High Commission for Human Rights spokesman Rupert Colville described the problem to UN Radio's Patrick Maigua:

Colville: There are many ways that Afghan women suffer from violence but the report really focuses on two specific areas - one is the violence directed against women out in the public arenas -- members of parliament, women in the judiciary, women police, women doctors, etc. So attacks, intimidation, harassment and sadly killings of these women. And the other part focuses on sexual violence and specifically rape against women.

DOES THE REPORT HIGHLIGHT WHO ARE THE PERPETRATORS OF THIS VIOLENCE?

Yes. To some extent, it's the Taliban and associated groups of the Taliban, sort of anti-government forces. These tend to be highly conservative. The women's issue has always been an extremely difficult issue in Afghanistan for decades. But also what the report highlights quite clearly is those aren't the only people harassing or intimidating women. Women are intimidated by members of their own family even.

IS THERE ANY ACTION THE GOVT IS TAKING?
Well not enough, the report says. There is some good news. There is some institutional development. There are some laws which are very positive. Some of the ground work for protecting women in the public arena and creating greater equality between the two genders has been done. The trouble is implementation. And particularly glaring in the case of sexual violence because it is not even clear under Afghan law whether rape is actually a criminal offence. And many Afghans, including police and judicial officials don't treat it like a criminal offence and it's dealt with under sort of traditional ways, which very often damage the victim far more than the rapist.

WHAT RECOMMENDATIONS IS THE REPORT GIVING TO THE GOVERNMENT ON WHAT TO DO?

First and foremost for example on the rape, to make it absolutely clear, the current 1976 Afghan penal code doesn't explicitly criminalize rape, doesn't make it clear. So the report recommends that is rectified. It recommends essentially the government must make a much greater effort to educate the population as to what is legal and what is illegal, show more leader ship on this issue. A lot of good things and promises were said after 9-11, when the new Afghanistan was being framed and a new constitution was drawn up. So there are elements there but the enforcement, the protection, the prosecution of people who harass women just doesn't happen sufficiently.

Producers: Patrick Maigua and Gerry Adams
(duration: 2'27")