A/HRC/43/74 I. Introduction 1. The present report, prepared in cooperation with the United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA and submitted to the Human Rights Council pursuant to its decision 2/113 and resolution 14/15, covers the period between 1 January and 30 November 2019. 2. The United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights focuses on the five priority areas of work of the UNAMA Human Rights Service, namely the protection of civilians in armed conflict; children and armed conflict; the elimination of violence against women and the promotion of women’s rights; the prevention of torture and respect for procedural safeguards; and civic space and the integration of human rights into peace and reconciliation processes. 3. During the period under review, the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) continued to provide technical and financial support to the UNAMA Human Rights Service. II. Context 4. The first half of 2019 was marked by a significant decrease in conflict-related civilian casualties; the extreme violence documented by UNAMA/OHCHR in July, August and September, however, resulted in unprecedented numbers of civilian casualties. In the third quarter of 2019, UNAMA/OHCHR witnessed the highest number of civilian casualties in a single quarter since it started its systematic documentation in 2009. This steep increase in civilian casualties was mainly due to a spike in suicide and non-suicide attacks using improvised explosive devices attributable to anti-government elements, mainly the Taliban. Following the trends documented in 2018, civilian casualties due to airstrikes carried out by pro-government forces also increased. 5. On 7 September, following the killing of a soldier from the United States of America claimed by the Taliban on 5 September, the United States announced that it would halt direct talks with the group, which has been ongoing for more than a year. Earlier in the year, unofficial intra-Afghan talks were held in Moscow and Doha, with participants attending in their personal capacity. The first round of the presidential election was held on 28 September. Voter turnout was lower than in the 2014 presidential and 2018 parliamentary elections. III. Protection of civilians 6. The armed conflict continued to have a devastating effect on civilians, causing loss of life, limbs and livelihoods, restricting access to education and health care, and displacing many families. During the period under review, a slight decrease in the number of civilian deaths and injuries was documented in comparison to 2018. Women and children were severely affected, accounting for 42 per cent of civilian casualties. The use of explosive devices, including in suicide attacks, was the leading cause of civilian casualties, followed by ground engagements. Anti-government elements continued to cause the majority of civilian casualties. While civilian casualties attributed to anti-government elements declined by 9 per cent in comparison to 2018, those caused by pro-government forces increased by 16 per cent. 7. From 1 January to 30 November, UNAMA/OHCHR documented 9,720 civilian casualties (3,138 deaths and 6,582 injured). It attributed 62 per cent of these casualties to anti-government elements and 28 per cent to pro-government forces (the Afghan national security forces, international military forces and pro-government armed groups). The remaining civilian casualties resulted from incidents that could not be attributed to either party, including crossfire between parties to the conflict and explosive remnants of war. 8. In the first 11 months of 2019, UNAMA/OHCHR documented a decrease in civilian casualties in half of the regions of Afghanistan, and an increase in the central highlands, northern, north-eastern and western regions. 2