A/HRC/31/46 31. During the reporting period, UNAMA/OHCHR was able to attribute 130 civilian casualties (50 deaths and 80 injured) to pro-Government militia, — a 76 per cent increase from the same period in 2014. Almost all casualties resulted from deliberate killings by proGovernment militia and ground engagements with anti-Government elements. 32. UNAMA/OHCHR reiterates concern about the consistent failure of the authorities to protect civilian communities from human rights abuses and harm perpetrated by proGovernment armed groups and about the continued absence of accountability for such actions. UNAMA/OHCHR notes the gap between the vast number of documented abuses committed by pro-Government armed groups and the scarce number of investigations and prosecutions of human rights abuses committed by such groups. It highlights that impunity for human rights abuses and crimes perpetuates insecurity, undermines civilian protection and weakens the rule of law. The pattern of abuses and impunity by pro-Government armed groups erodes the legitimacy of the Government and fuels continuing cycles of violence. 33. Although UNAMA/OHCHR raised this issue throughout 2013 and 2014, it has observed little improvement in the accountability of the Afghan National Security Forces for incidents in which its members caused civilian casualties and notes the continued lack of a permanent structure in the Security Forces to systematically investigate allegations of civilian casualties, initiate remedial measures and take follow-up action. While the Ministry of Defence drafted a ministerial policy on civilian casualty mitigation, it has yet to be signed by the acting Minister. Although the NATO presence plans to fully transition the Civilian Casualty Avoidance and Mitigation Board from international military supervision to an Afghan-led body in January 2016, there was no indication at the end of December 2015 that the underlying structures and processes established by the international military forces would be in place to support the transition. While UNAMA/OHCHR observed some investigation and prosecution of members of the Afghan National Army for significant incidents, it noted that the vast majority of incidents had not been investigated or that the blame had been placed on anti-Government elements following an informal investigation. C. Children and armed conflict 34. Children continued to suffer the direct and indirect consequences of conflict-related violence. Between 1 January and 30 November, UNAMA/OHCHR verified 1,189 incidents, which killed 645 children and injured 1906 (2551 casualties). The verified incidents indicate that 645 children (477 boys, 155 girls and 13 undetermined) were killed and 1,906 children (1381 boys, 491 girls and 34 undetermined) were injured. On average, more than 58 children were killed and injured per week across the country during 2015, and approximately 25 per cent of civilian casualties were children. 35. In 2015, ground engagements continued to cause the highest number of deaths and injuries of children, causing 1,301 casualties. Improvised explosive devices were the second leading cause of deaths and injuries among children, causing 512 casualties, followed by explosive remnants of war (297) and suicide attacks by anti-Government elements (178). The highest figures were recorded in the central region. Air strikes by international forces killed and injured 60 children, compared with 51 in 2014. AntiGovernment elements were responsible for 44 per cent of the total verified child casualties recorded, while pro-Government forces were responsible for 23 per cent. 36. From 1 January to 30 November, UNAMA/OHCHR documented 101 incidents impacting schools and related personnel, a 35 per cent decrease from 2014, when 155 such incidents were reported. This included 61 documented instances of threats, intimidation and harassment against education personnel, 12 targeted killings, 11 abductions and eight improvised explosive device incidents. The incidents caused the death of 15 civilians and injured 15, mainly as a result of the deliberate targeting of education personnel and 8