A/HRC/43/74 VII. Elimination of violence against women and promotion of women’s rights Women’s rights A. 42. The Government continued its efforts to advance the promotion and protection of women’s rights. On 4 March, a cabinet committee on gender signed a memorandum of understanding with relevant ministries regarding the implementation of the policy on women’s inheritance and property ownership,7 and approved, in principle, a policy on the protection of women in war and emergency situations, and another on increasing women’s participation in elections. 43. From 4 to 14 March, UNAMA/OHCHR convened eight events across Afghanistan to mark International Women’s Day. The events, including round table and panel discussions, raised awareness of women and girls’ rights issues, such as access to education and sports and the elimination of crimes of violence, including sexual assault, and underage and forced marriage. On 14 March, the United Nations marked International Women’s Day in Kabul with a “One United Nations” public event that highlighted Afghan women as models in various professional sectors. 44. Two key laws with an impact on women’s lives in Afghanistan remain under consultation. Ten years in development, the draft family law seeks to articulate human rightscompliant provisions pertaining to marriage, divorce, matrimonial property, inheritance and child custody, while the conciliation of civil disputes law endeavours to ensure formal judicial oversight over civil matter proceedings of the informal justice system, the jirgas and shuras. 45. Despite some progress, women continued to face obstacles to their participation in civic and public life, including in social and economic activities, and in their access to justice. Challenges include ongoing insecurity and related restrictions on movement, lack of legal awareness owing to the high levels of female illiteracy, conservative sociocultural mores regarding gender norms manifested in discrimination against and the ill-treatment of women and girls, including harmful traditional practices, and discrimination in public and private sector services delivery. These factors considerably weaken the enforcement of legislation and policies enabling women’s rights, rendering them ineffective for most women. Improvement in the rights-enabling environment is thus essential to closing the gender gap, in voice and agency. B. Elimination of violence against women 46. Throughout the period under review, the Ministry of Women’s Affairs Legislative Committee continued its review of the Elimination of Violence against Women Law of 2009. In January, at a national coordination and rule of law conference on combating violence against women convened by the Office of the Attorney General, delegates representing the prosecution office, police, courts, the Ministry and provincial departments of women’s affairs concluded that all cases of violence against women should be addressed pursuant to the law of 2009; mediation should be undertaken only in relation to civil – and not criminal – cases; and that cases involving girls (such as forced or underage marriage or giving away girls for dispute resolution (baad)) would be treated as rape, given that a child is unable to give informed consent to sexual relations. 47. The Government took steps to combat impunity for sexual harassment and abuse. On 11 July, a case of sexual harassment of female footballers was referred to the court responsible for judging cases of violence against women in Kabul. Although six individuals 7 8 Policy to be overseen and monitored by the Ministry of Women’s Affairs and implemented by the Office of the Attorney General, the Afghanistan Independent Human Rights Commission, the Afghanistan Independent Bar Association and the ministries of justice, education, higher education, Hajj and religious affairs, and industry and commerce).