A/HRC/13/62 exercising their profession. Conditions of extreme poverty, which affect one third of the Afghan people, were further exacerbated by the intensifying conflict, abusive power structures and corrosive impunity. The Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) supported the Ministry of Foreign Affairs with respect to its submission under the universal periodic review of the Human Rights Council. The high-quality report was praised by other States as a frank account of the human rights situation that gave a balanced view of progress, as well as the persistent challenges in Afghanistan. OHCHR was engaged in other technical assistance initiatives detailed in this report, including with the Ministry of Justice and the Afghan Independent Human Rights Commission. 2 GE.10-10230