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Afghanistan: 200 cases of anti-women violence registered in three months

Source: 
Pajhwok Afghan News via HEWAD
In the first quarter of 2007, Afghanistan's Independent Human Rights Commission (AIHRC) reported more than 200 cases of violence against women.
More than 200 cases of violence against women were registered across Afghanistan in the first quarter of the current year, Afghanistan' s Independent Human Rights Commission (AIHRC) said on Wednesday.
AIHRC executive head Dr. Syed Hussain Faramarz told a news conference here the cases registered over the last three months pertained to different crimes against the women.

The rights watchdog recorded 116 cases of beatings, 40 of forced marriages, 11 of expulsion from home, 10 runaways, eight of giving women to settle enmity, 10 of property disputes and a dozen of self-immolation.

Also present on the occasion were United Nations Development Fund for Women (UNIFEM) head Suria Ahmad Obaid, Minister for Women Affairs Hasan Bano Ghazanfar and Afghan Red Crescent Director Fatema Gillani.

Last year, according to AIHRC, 1,651 cases of anti-women violence were reported from Kabul, Herat, Balkh, Kandahar, Nangarhar, Paktia, Bamyan, Kunduz, Faryab and Daikundi provinces.

Hasan Bano Ghazanfar, voicing concern at the cases, said: "We hope UNIFEM and the international community will help us eradicate violence against females, provide education and better economic conditions to Afghan women." In response, the UNIFEM head promised: "I have read all your suggestions and will take them to the UN and other donor agencies for further consideration." Fatema Gillani also vowed cooperation with AIHRC in banishing anti-women violence and improving the overall situation of the other half.

April 25, 2007

Submitted on Tue, 05/01/2007 - 23:00
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