A/HRC/34/41 United Nations General Assembly Distr.: General 11 January 2017 Original: English Human Rights Council Thirty-fourth session 27 February-24 March 2017 Agenda items 2 and 10 Annual report of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights and reports of the Office of the High Commissioner and the Secretary-General Technical assistance and capacity-building The situation of human rights in Afghanistan and technical assistance achievements in the field of human rights Report of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights Summary The present report is being submitted pursuant to Human Rights Council decision 2/113 and resolution 14/15. It describes the human rights situation in Afghanistan from January to November 2016 and provides an overview of the core work and technical assistance conducted by the Human Rights Unit of the United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan in cooperation with the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights. The report focuses on the five principal areas of work of the Unit, namely: protection of civilians in armed conflict; human rights and the protection of children in armed conflict; the elimination of violence against women, increasing women’s participation in peacebuilding and security, and gender equality; the prevention of torture and arbitrary detention; and the integration of human rights into peace and reconciliation processes. The report concludes with concrete recommendations to the Government, antigovernment elements and the international community. GE.17-00443(E) 