A/HRC/26/4 regarding that issue, including: the signing by relevant bodies of the Protocol for the Elimination of Violence against Women and the Elimination of Child and Forced Marriages; the incorporation of forced and child marriage as a crime in the Family Law and the Elimination of Violence against Women Law; and awareness-raising through media campaigns, workshops, seminars and campaigns at the provincial level. Regarding “running away”, the delegation confirmed that running away from home was not a crime. The Government would not punish a woman or a girl for running away from home unless crimes were associated with that act. Regarding the media, the country’s record had improved over a period of 12 years; there were currently more than 55 television stations, 150 radio stations and 1,000 printing and publication companies in the country. Article 34 of the Constitution recognized freedom of speech. Journalism-related issues were regulated by the Law on Mass Media. A number of amendments had recently been made to the Law on Mass Media for the benefit of media organizations and journalists. The delegation confirmed that media organizations could prepare their programmes free of censorship by or intervention from the Government. However, oversight of and support activities for media organizations were carried out through the Ministry of Information and Culture and the High Council of Media. 131. Regarding the role of women in the peace process in Afghanistan, the delegation confirmed that the Government believed in the Afghan-led peace process, with the participation of women and the inclusive structure of peace negotiations. In addition to the nine female members of the High Peace Council, several members of the provincial peace committees and the Secretariat of the High Peace Council were women. The High Peace Council activities were guided by a gender-balance strategy that guaranteed the presence of women at the negotiations table. 132. The head of the delegation stated that the Penal Code criminalized honour killing and that perpetrators of such crimes were not exonerated. The Penal Code was currently under review; the article on honour killing most probably would be revised in line with the State’s commitment to the international community and CEDAW. 133. Regarding the Afghan Independent Human Rights Commission, the head of the delegation stated that the Commission had been established in accordance with the Afghan Constitution and General Assembly resolution 48/134. The principles relating to the status of national institutions for the promotion and protection of human rights (the Paris Principles) had also been considered during the recent selection of the members of the Commission. The Commission was the most influential institution monitoring human rights in Afghanistan and maintained its independence. A total of US$2 million had been allocated for its budget: US$500,000 for 2012 and US$1.5 million for 2013. 134. The delegation stated that a legal aid programme had been set up and that there was a law on legal aid, which benefited women and girls in particular; the aid was free of charge. 135. The head of the delegation concluded his remarks by thanking all international partners and human rights monitoring bodies for their continued and fruitful assistance and cooperation, which helped Afghanistan strengthen its commitment to human rights. He expressed his gratitude to all those countries that supported and helped Afghanistan and that were interested in the issues of Afghanistan, and to all those who had participated in the Working Group. The head of the delegation thanked the President of the Council and the participants for the interactive discussions. He stated that the people of Afghanistan were striving towards development and the enjoyment of human rights in a nation affected by generations of war and terrorism. He affirmed the State’s commitment to respecting, promoting and protecting human rights. 12