A/HRC/7/27 page 17 indiscriminately opened fire approximately for five minutes, adding to the number of casualties. Many PSCs have upgraded equipment since an October 2007 incident in Kandahar in which a PSC was caught in a six-hour battle, causing casualties on both sides. A draft regulation on PSCs was discussed throughout 2007 by involved government institutions and international actors, but had yet to be finalized as of December 2007. C. National human rights institutions 69. AIHRC remains an effective and key national partner in the promotion and protection of human rights in Afghanistan. It was recently recommended to be accredited with status “A” by the International Coordinating Committee of National Institutions for the Promotion and Protection of Human Rights. In addition to gaining international recognition, this accreditation accords AIHRC participatory and speaking rights in United Nations human rights forums. The subcommittee responsible for accreditation applications however noted with concern that funding from external sources, such as from donors, should not compose the core funding of AIHRC and that it is the responsibility of the State to set aside a minimum allocation in the national budget. 70. AIHRC often finds itself in a difficult balancing act on contentious issues, not simply to avoid risking direct attacks, but to preserve its own space for action. The worsening security situation has restricted access by AIHRC staff in conflict-affected areas, and its staff members continued to face intimidation. Hostility by some Parliamentarians towards the work of AIHRC and some of its members led to the passing of amendments to the Law on the Structure of Government, which require, inter alia, heads of all independent commissions including AIHRC to be appointed only after receiving a vote of confidence by the Wolesi Jirga. In this regard, the International Coordinating Committee stressed the need for amendments to the law not to be retroactively applied so as to ensure that AIHRC’s independence and effectiveness are preserved, both in reality and in appearance. 71. To strengthen its capacity in the field of international humanitarian law and the protection of civilians, the AIHRC, with support of UNAMA, established a new Special Investigations Team (SIT). This investigations team is responsible for supervising, coordinating and analysing AIHRC’s activities related to the most serious conflict-related violations of international humanitarian law and human rights law, as well as for conducting the investigation of and reporting on emblematic cases. UNAMA has seconded an adviser for SIT’s first year. VII. TECHNICAL COOPERATION 72. In 2007, OHCHR funded several activities by UNAMA Human Rights Officers in the regions, including to legal aid clinics, workshops and trainings aimed at raising human rights awareness. Several events and activities were organized in conjunction with Peace Day celebrations on 21 September and Human Rights Day on 10 December. This year Human Rights and Remembrance Day was marked by victims and their families, women’s groups, and the media as a day of action to demand justice for past violations. President Karzai acknowledged