A/HRC/22/37 ANP registered 62 “runaway” cases, prosecutors 31 cases and courts 9 cases. President Karzai’s reiteration, at an International Women’s Day event, on 11 March, of the Government’s commitment to promoting constitutional guarantees of gender equality and fundamental freedoms was particularly welcome. A decree issued on that occasion pardoned a number of female prisoners who had run away from home. Also, in September 2012, the Ministers of Justice and Women’s Affairs and the Deputy Interior Minister publicly condemned the practice, which condemnation was welcomed by national and international women’s rights organizations. Such official statements are critical but require full political support and effective implementation. 44. Reduced violence can empower more women to participate in public life and contribute to peace and reconciliation. Women’s rights activists fear that advances over the last decade could be negotiated away as the Government engages the Taliban and other insurgent groups in peace talks, although the Government has remained publicly steadfast in its commitment to women’s rights. Women in public life and those holding public office have been increasingly subjected to threats and intimidation. Afghan civil society have underscored that the time is conducive for a visit to Afghanistan of the United Nations Special Rapporteur on violence against women, its causes and consequences. V. Peace and reconciliation (including accountability and transitional justice) 45. Attempts to begin a sustained political dialogue with the Taliban have been fraught with difficulties and the prospect of reaching consensus on formal peace talks with the Taliban has reached an impasse. In a message purported to be from Mullah Omar on the occasion of Eid al-Fitr, the Taliban leader emphasized the continuation of jihad, full withdrawal of international military forces and establishment of an Islamic Emirate. 46. The United Nations Security Council de-linked the Taliban from Al-Qaida in June, dividing the sanctions list from its resolution 1267 (1999) into two separate sanctions lists under its resolution 1988 (2011) for Taliban and 1989 (2011) for Al-Qaida. Also, on 19 July, in response to a request from the Government of Afghanistan, the 1988 Sanctions Committee approved the de-listing of Abdul Wasay Mu’tasim Agha, former Minister of Finance under the Taliban regime. A total of 20 individuals have been de-listed since 17 June 2011. 47. UNAMA continued to support the Afghan Peace and Reintegration Programme as an Afghan-led programme aimed at drawing lower-level fighters off the battlefield and to provide analytical, advisory and logistical support to the work of the High Peace Council, together with the United Nations Development Programme. Despite these positive steps, UNAMA is concerned that the lack of transparency and implementation of the standard procedures could undermine the reintegration process and the programme’s credibility and effectiveness. UNAMA also observed that the vetting process sometimes did not occur until late in the reintegration phase of the programme, rather than at the initial stage, as envisaged in the programme document and the standard operating procedure on vetting. 48. In an effort to promote an inclusive peace and reconciliation process, UNAMA/OHCHR will be supporting civil society to facilitate the second phase of the Afghan People’s Dialogue on Peace10 in 34 provinces. Similar to the first phase, Phase II of the dialogue will centre on focus group discussions with a wider number of people – 4,000 10 The findings from Phase 1 were documented in the report – Afghan People’s Dialogue: Laying the Foundations for an Inclusive Peace Process, published on 4 December 2011. 13