A/HRC/28/48 I. Introduction 1. The present report is submitted pursuant to Human Rights Council decision 2/113 of 27 November 2006 and its resolution 14/15 of 18 June 2010, and has been prepared in cooperation with the United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA). Since the previous report (A/HRC/25/41), the human rights situation in Afghanistan has been negatively affected by the contested security, political and economic transitions that concluded in 2014. 2. Presidential elections took place on 5 April, in which no candidate won more than 50 per cent of the vote, and a second-round run-off was held on 14 June between the two leading candidates. The determination displayed by millions of Afghans to cast their ballots and the performance of the Afghan security forces in the face of insurgency threats were welcomed within the country and internationally. Although civilian casualties on the election days were high (532 in total), the insurgency did not cause significant disruption to the process. 3. In the weeks after the vote, political tensions over allegations of fraud led to a serious political impasse, with grave destabilizing consequences for the political, security, economic and social environment. The situation was resolved following mediations by the United Nations and the international community, and agreement by the two contenders to an internationally observed audit. This resulted in the inauguration of Asraf Ghani as President and in the formation of a government of national unity committed to a reform agenda, with Abdullah Abdullah as Chief Executive Officer. These political developments give reasons for cautious optimism amid the persistent insecurity. 4. Of grave concern is the significant increase in the number of civilian casualties from the already elevated numbers of 2013. From January to November 2014, civilian deaths and injuries from conflict-related violence increased by 19 per cent compared with the same period in 2013. This is the highest number of civilian casualties recorded by UNAMA/OHCHR since 2009. While three-quarters of all civilian deaths and injuries were caused by anti-Government elements, a rise in civilian casualties caused by Afghan Government forces was also documented. For the first time, ground engagements became the leading cause of civilian casualties, with civilians increasingly killed or injured in the crossfire. This increase in civilian casualties disproportionately affected children: child casualties were 33 per cent higher than those recorded in 2013. From January to November 2014, at least 44 children were killed or injured every week in Afghanistan. 5. Phase II of the Afghan People’s Dialogue on Peace, which was launched in April 2013, was completed in 2014. The project promotes an inclusive, rights-based approach to peace and reconciliation efforts by enabling Afghans to express their views on prospects for peace, reconciliation, security, economic development, human rights, justice and the rule of law. UNAMA/OHCHR has supported civil society to lead in delivering this project. Phase II led to the development of 34 provincial road maps, which are being used as an advocacy tool by civil society. The People’s Dialogue steering committee has requested to present the findings and recommendations of the report to President Ghani. 6. The prevalence of violence against women and girls and a lack of accountability in that regard continued to be of serious concern. The Government released its latest report on the implementation of the Law on the Elimination of Violence against Women, indicating a 20 per cent increase in the recorded incidents of violence against women (5,406 incidents), of which 3,715 constituted acts that could be prosecuted under the Law. In the report, the Government noted that mediation of cases of violence against women — including for serious crimes — was prevalent. Over the course of 2014, the Ministry of Interior has made 4