A/HRC/7/27 page 12 42. There are encouraging signs that civil society actors are beginning to mobilize on transitional justice. Following the passage of the Charter through the houses of Parliament, civil society actors issued a resolution condemning any attempt by the Parliament to grant amnesty to persons who had committed human rights violations. On 10 December 2007, the day officially designated by the President as National Remembrance Day, demonstrations took place in front of the premises of AIHRC, UNAMA and the President’s Office by a group of 350 women representing the mothers of war victims. They demanded that the Government and other relevant actors take action to uncover the fate of the disappeared and denounced the Parliament’s adoption of the Charter. 43. According to AIHRC, 84 mass grave sites have been identified throughout the country. However, there is currently no effective system of verification or documentation of the sites or witness testimonies, nor is there forensic capacity to investigate the graves, identify victims and preserve evidence for possible future criminal proceedings. There is no security in place to protect alleged gravesites and some, such as those in Faizabad and Dasht-i-Chamtala, have been destroyed through uncontrolled digging. B. Impunity for current crimes and general lack of accountability 44. Drug-related criminal gangs, warlords and AGEs continue to pose serious threats to security and the rule of law. UNAMA received several complaints concerning police failure to conduct proper investigations or to act impartially and independently. There continue to be allegations of police corruption leading to the release of suspects without proper investigation or charges being laid, as well as cases where police are alleged to have failed to act when confronted with traditional practices or powerful local interests. 45. Both a demonstration in Sheberghan in May and a suicide bombing in Baghlan in November resulted in the bodyguards of government officials opening fire on unarmed civilians, killing and injuring scores of people on both occasions. While the Government commendably initiated independent investigations into both incidents, neither has made any substantive findings public. Further, even in the face of a detailed AIHRC report documenting serious wrongdoing by the governor in the Sheberghan case, the Government has taken no action to ensure his accountability. V. DEFICITS IN DEMOCRACY 46. Significant achievements in democratic institution-building have so far happened primarily in government structures. Institutions such as the Provincial Councils and Parliament need continued support, including technical assistance in integrating human rights in their legislative agendas. However, civil society groups, which play a critical role in bridging the gap between Government and the Afghan public, remain underdeveloped and need more sustained and generous support from the international community. This role becomes particularly important as the country moves towards an electoral year in 2009.