A/HRC/34/41 incidents, the Head of the Department of Women’s Affairs in the city of Ghazni was attacked by unknown assailants on 26 July 2016. 49. Harassment of women in the workplace, including sexual harassment, remained of concern. Pursuant to the 2015 regulation on the elimination of harassment against women, committees have been established in several provinces to prevent and respond to incidents of harassment. UNAMA/OHCHR was instrumental in advocating for the prompt establishment of such committees and disseminating their terms of reference. On 9 November, the Wolesi Jirga (the lower house of parliament) approved a law on the elimination of harassment against women and girls. 50. At the end of October 2016, women’s presence in the Afghan National Police increased to 2,880, equal to only approximately 1.8 per cent of the total force. Consultations carried out by UNAMA/OHCHR in June 2016 with 314 women police officers and Afghan National Police officials in 19 of the country’s 34 provinces revealed that measures taken by the Ministry of the Interior to integrate women into the Afghan National Police had produced observable progress in the professionalization and empowerment of women police officers. Concerns remain, however, regarding their protection, particularly their harassment in the workplace, and regarding the implementation of gender policies at the district level. UNAMA/OHCHR shared the findings of that consultation and related recommendations with the Government and donors. 51. On 11 July 2016, the Ministry of the Interior established a complaint mechanism to prevent and respond to sexual harassment against women police officers. UNAMA/OHCHR were among the four international organizations asked to provide technical support to the mechanism, which was due to hold its first meeting before the end of 2016. 52. The Government stepped up efforts to ensure women’s representation in the public sphere. Notably, the election law that was approved on 22 August 2016 and published on 25 September contains temporary special measures, such as reserving at least 25 per cent of seats for women representatives in the provincial, district and village councils. However, numerous obstacles continue to hamper women’s entry and increased representation in Government institutions.7 53. On 3 February 2016, the Government identified the former governor of Bamyan Province and current adviser to the Chief Executive on women’s rights, Dr. Habiba Sarabi, as the person to represent women in the negotiating team for future peace talks. She was also appointed, on 21 February 2016, as one of six deputies to the new head of the High Peace Council.8 In addition, joining four male advisers, two women — the director of the Afghan Women’s Network and a presidentially appointed Senator — were asked to play an advisory role to the Council. The Afghanistan peace and reconciliation strategy envisions a 30 per cent participation by women in the Council at both the central and local levels. UNAMA/OHCHR provided technical support to the female member of the Council on strategies aimed at achieving an inclusive peace process based on women’s meaningful participation, including through the integration of women’s voices, experiences and recommendations. 7 8 Afghanistan, Ministry of Women’s Affairs, “Workplace obstacles: analysis and recommendations”, (2016). The Afghanistan High Peace Council is part of the Afghanistan Peace and Reintegration Programme, established on 5 September 2010 by former President Hamid Karzai to promote peace in Afghanistan. 11