A/HRC/28/48
including four women and four children, were killed, and 14 others injured in an Afghan
National Army operation in Kunduz city.
16.
With the conclusion of the security transition in 2014, UNAMA/OHCHR highlights
the lack of a permanent structure in relevant bodies of the Afghan National Security Forces
to systematically investigate allegations of civilian casualties, initiate remedial measures
and take follow-up action. The Civilian Casualties Tracking Team in the Presidential
Information Coordination Centre, which was established in May 2012, does not receive
complaints from individuals or organizations, and only records reports of civilian casualties
received from security bodies. UNAMA/OHCHR has not observed any improvement in the
accountability of Afghan National Security Forces as incidents in which they have caused
civilian casualties have not been investigated or led to prosecutions. The new Government
has pledged to make the mitigation of civilian casualties a priority, with operational
procedures related to night raids and the use of mortar fire in civilian populated areas under
revision.
17.
Human rights violations attributed to the local police were documented by
UNAMA/OHCHR in several regions. From 1 January to 30 November 2014,
UNAMA/OHCHR documented 89 civilian casualties caused by the local police (44 deaths
and 45 injured), a 20 per cent decrease compared with 2013. However, the number of
civilian deaths attributed to the local police increased by 42 per cent. In most cases, the
deaths and injuries resulted from members of the local police committing human rights
violations, including punishments and revenge killings. The current mechanism for
accountability — the monitoring and investigations section of the Directorate of the
Ministry of Interior for the local police — has shown limited results in 2014. There have
been only a small number of prosecutions and convictions for human rights violations
committed by the local police, and the Directorate is not mandated to monitor and followup on prosecutorial steps, which limits its effectiveness in promoting accountability within
the local police.
18.
Explosive remnants of war continued to pose a serious hazard to civilians,
particularly children. Civilian casualties from remnants increased by 10 per cent, which was
attributed to the growing number of ground engagements. Following sustained advocacy by
UNAMA/OHCHR, the International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) and the
international community continued to take significant steps to ensure that firing ranges no
longer in use were cleared of unexploded ordnance. ISAF conducted surface clearance of
more than 20 ranges and pledged to complete the surface clearance of all firing ranges early
in 2015 (ahead of December 2015, as initially proposed). In October 2014, the Congress of
the United States of America approved $250 million to carry out subsurface clearance
where required on high-explosive firing ranges. With the sharp rise in ground engagements
in 2014 and the associated risk of unexploded ordnance, it is imperative that Afghan
National Security Forces be fully supported to mark hazardous areas, ensure clearance of
unexploded ordnance from the battlefield and continue awareness-raising programmes to
educate children on the dangers of unexploded ordnance. UNAMA/OHCHR condemned
the killing by anti-Government elements of 11 Afghan deminers and the wounding of
another 6 in an attack in Helmand province on 13 December.
19.
Civilian casualties from aerial operations followed the downward trend observed by
UNAMA/OHCHR in 2013; the total civilian casualties caused by aerial operations
decreased by 21 per cent from January to November 2014, with 92 killed and 54 injured.
Civilian deaths and injuries from remotely piloted aircraft (drones) decreased by 10 per
cent, killing 31 civilians and injuring 22. On 26 August, a drone strike in Kunduz province
killed two civilians and injured six, including two children. More than 10 civilian houses
were also damaged. UNAMA/OHCHR has urged international military forces to review
7
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