A/HRC/31/46
increasing the role of women in the area of participation, protection, prevention, relief and
recovery. UNAMA/OHCHR continued to advocate for its swift implementation, viewing it
as necessary and urgent to effectively create opportunities for women to exercise
leadership, contribute to decision-making processes and ultimately influence Afghanistan’s
political and security transitions, including the peacebuilding agenda.
62.
Between September and November, as part of its advocacy on Security Council
resolution 1325 (2000), UNAMA/OHCHR facilitated nine open day events with over 370
women civil society representatives, including university students and local peace activists
across Afghanistan. Participants called for women to be given a meaningful role during the
political and peace processes as opposed to being considered only as victims in need of
protection. During the reporting period, UNAMA/OHCHR advocated for the adoption of
concrete initiatives to ensure an inclusive gender-sensitive environment conducive to
participation by women in the electoral process. In particular, it proposed a range of
temporary special measures to the Special Commission on Electoral Reform. Pursuant to
Presidential Decree No. 84 of 6 September 20158 and recommendations from the
Commission, seats reserved for women representatives were reinstated to at least 25 per
cent in the provincial councils and district councils.
63.
During the 16 Days of Activism against Gender-Based Violence Campaign, the
Government released its third report on the implementation of the Law on the Elimination
of Violence against Women of 2009, based on data gathered from the Ministry of Women’s
Affairs, the Ministry of Interior and the Attorney General’s Office between March 2014
and March 2015. UNAMA/OHCHR provided significant analytical and drafting support to
the Government in that context. According to the report, a total of 5,720 cases were
registered with the three above-mentioned institutions, including 3,038 cases that
constituted acts that could be prosecuted under the Law on the Elimination of Violence
against Women.
64.
The safety of women in public areas remained of concern, with harassment
remaining common. In September, the Council of Ministers adopted the Regulation on the
Prohibition of the Harassment of Women9 aimed at preventing and responding to
harassment in the workplace and public spaces. The regulation does not, however, provide
any procedures for the registration of complaints or the initiation of investigations and only
refers to a future law that has yet to be drafted.
65.
Issues relating to women’s rights remained at the forefront of discussions during the
senior officials’ meeting on 5 September: the Self-Reliance through Mutual Accountability
Framework agreed upon by the Government and the international community includes
gender indicators under anti-corruption, governance, rule of law and human rights, namely:
(a) demonstrated developments in the legal and policy framework for empowering women,
especially the elimination of violence against women; (b) increase in participation by
women in government, including the justice and security sectors; (c) implementation of the
national action plan on Security Council resolution 1325 (2000); (d) preparation and
implementation of anti-harassment regulations; and (e) implementation of the
recommendations of the reports on the implementation of the Law on the Elimination of
Violence against Women and the establishment of dedicated prosecution units for cases of
violence against women in Attorney General’s offices in all provinces. Related short-term
deliverables to be completed by the end of 2016 included in the Framework also include:
(a) initiating the implementation of the national action plan on Security Council resolution
8
9
Presidential Decree No. 84 (6 September 2015) is a legislative decree on signing amendments and
additions to some of the articles of the Election Law.
Published in Official Gazette Extraordinary issue No. 1185, dated 3 October 2015.
13
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