UPR Sexual Rights Database

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UN Member State that is reviewed on its human rights record as part of the UPR process.

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Source of Reference

Recommending State

UN Member State or Permanent Observer making sexual rights related recommendations, comments or asking questions to the State under Review.

Review Documentation

Sources of information used as the basis for a State’s review.  Includes the State’s National Report, UN Compilation Report and a Stakeholder Summary.

UN Regional Group to which State under Review belongs.

UN Regional Group to which Recommending State belongs.

This will only match recommendations where the Source of Review is a State.

Implementation notes

State responses to recommendations and issues raised in the UN Compilation and Stakeholder summary.

Displaying 151 - 175 of 58304 recommendations found
  • State Under Review:

    Afghanistan

    Afghanistan
    Regional group
    Asia-Pacific Group
    Political group
    OIC
    Source Of Reference:

    UN Compilation

    Issue:
    • Birth registration
    Type:
    Review Documentation
    Session:
    18th session, February 2014
    Status:
    Neglected
    Contents:
    CRC was concerned that the majority of children remained unregistered. It urged Afghanistan to ensure that all children, including children born out of wedlock, were registered at birth. [Para 54]
  • State Under Review:

    Afghanistan

    Afghanistan
    Regional group
    Asia-Pacific Group
    Political group
    OIC
    Source Of Reference:

    United States

    United States
    Regional group
    WEOG
    Political group
    OAS
    Issue:
    • Women's and / or girls' rights
    Type:
    Recommendation
    Session:
    5th session, May 2009
    Status:
    Accepted
    Contents:
    Commit resources to enforce existing legislation to protect women, and equip courts and police to fully protect the rights of all women and enhance their access to justice, any new legislation should protect those rights.
    Implementation
    • National Report:
      Para 50) The following proceedings are carried out regarding establishment of training centers for female police and revision of discriminatory provisions in the laws of the country: • Provision of educational opportunities, hostel and fair allowances for women in police academy; • Provision of training centers for female police; • Removal of obstacles against women to join police ranks.
      Para 56) A number of serious and practical actions were taken in the direction of law enforcement and protection of women's rights during the past four years. For example the establishment of Special Prosecution Office for Elimination of Violence against Women is one of important practical measures. The establishment of Human Rights Protection Unit of the MoJ as an inter-ministerial mechanism and establishment of human rights units in some other ministries and establishment of gender units in 22 ministries with the financial and technical support of the international community, extended efforts in establishment of infrastructure for the improvement of human rights situation in the country, preparation of NAPWA pursuant to UN Security Council Resolution 1325 are also a number of effectives measures that were adopted by the GIRoA. The MoFA has taken positive steps for improvement of human rights and the establishment of infrastructure.
  • State Under Review:

    Afghanistan

    Afghanistan
    Regional group
    Asia-Pacific Group
    Political group
    OIC
    Source Of Reference:

    Hungary

    Hungary
    Regional group
    EEG
    Political group
    EU
    Issue:
    • Violence against women / gender-based violence
    Type:
    Recommendation
    Session:
    5th session, May 2009
    Status:
    Accepted
    Contents:
    Take the necessary steps to prevent the assassination or intimidation of female teachers and students.
    Implementation
    • National Report:
      Para 80) In accordance with point 2, article 5 of Police Law, ensuring security of individuals and the society and protecting their legal rights and liberties shall be one of the duties of police. In this regard, adopting necessary measures for the prevention of murdering and threatening of female teachers and students have also been included in the duties of police, and police has been performing its duties in accordance with the adopted measures and prepared security plans.
  • State Under Review:

    Afghanistan

    Afghanistan
    Regional group
    Asia-Pacific Group
    Political group
    OIC
    Source Of Reference:

    UN Compilation

    Issue:
    • Gender equality
    Type:
    Review Documentation
    Session:
    31st Session, November 2018
    Status:
    Not Followed up with a Recommendation
    Contents:
    The Committee against Torture urged Afghanistan to increase the presence of women among the staff of the police and the judiciary, ... [Para 50]
  • State Under Review:

    Afghanistan

    Afghanistan
    Regional group
    Asia-Pacific Group
    Political group
    OIC
    Source Of Reference:

    Stakeholder Summary

    Issue:
    • Women's and / or girls' rights
    Type:
    Review Documentation
    Session:
    31st Session, November 2018
    Status:
    Reference Addressed
    Contents:
    ODVV recommended to guarantee the right to education and allocate an inclusive budget for education for all its citizens, equally and without discrimination based on gender … [Para 34]
  • State Under Review:

    Afghanistan

    Afghanistan
    Regional group
    Asia-Pacific Group
    Political group
    OIC
    Source Of Reference:

    Australia

    Australia
    Regional group
    WEOG
    Political group
    PIF
    Commonwealth
    Issue:
    • Violence against women / gender-based violence
    • Women's participation
    Type:
    Recommendation
    Session:
    32nd Session, January 2019
    Status:
    Accepted
    Contents:
    Fully implement and enforce its Elimination of Violence Against Women Law and its National Action Plan for the implementation of Security Council resolution 1325.
  • State Under Review:

    Afghanistan

    Afghanistan
    Regional group
    Asia-Pacific Group
    Political group
    OIC
    Source Of Reference:

    Canada

    Canada
    Regional group
    WEOG
    Political group
    OAS
    OIF
    Commonwealth
    Issue:
    • Violence against women / gender-based violence
    Type:
    Recommendation
    Session:
    32nd Session, January 2019
    Status:
    Accepted
    Contents:
    Ensure prompt investigations of violence against women and ensure that perpetrators are brought to justice in accordance with the Elimination of Violence Against Women Law.
  • State Under Review:

    Afghanistan

    Afghanistan
    Regional group
    Asia-Pacific Group
    Political group
    OIC
    Source Of Reference:

    Cyprus

    Cyprus
    Regional group
    Asia-Pacific Group
    Political group
    EU
    OIF
    Commonwealth
    Issue:
    • Gender equality
    Type:
    Recommendation
    Session:
    32nd Session, January 2019
    Status:
    Accepted
    Contents:
    Implement all necessary actions in order to provide girls with education.
  • State Under Review:

    Afghanistan

    Afghanistan
    Regional group
    Asia-Pacific Group
    Political group
    OIC
    Source Of Reference:

    Argentina

    Argentina
    Regional group
    GRULAC
    Political group
    OAS
    OEI
    Issue:
    • Women's and / or girls' rights
    Type:
    Recommendation
    Session:
    32nd Session, January 2019
    Status:
    Accepted
    Contents:
    Deepen measures to investigate and sanction discriminatory and degrading customs and traditions towards women and girls, such as the virginity test.
  • State Under Review:

    Afghanistan

    Afghanistan
    Regional group
    Asia-Pacific Group
    Political group
    OIC
    Source Of Reference:

    Lithuania

    Lithuania
    Regional group
    EEG
    Political group
    EU
    Issue:
    • Violence against women / gender-based violence
    Type:
    Recommendation
    Session:
    32nd Session, January 2019
    Status:
    Accepted
    Contents:
    Introduces effective measures to eradicate all forms of violence against women and girls including abolishing referral of such crimes to mediation, to ensure prompt investigation of violence and ensure effective redress for victims.
  • State Under Review:

    Afghanistan

    Afghanistan
    Regional group
    Asia-Pacific Group
    Political group
    OIC
    Source Of Reference:

    Oman

    Oman
    Regional group
    Asia-Pacific Group
    Political group
    OIC
    AL
    Issue:
    • Empowerment of women
    Type:
    Recommendation
    Session:
    32nd Session, January 2019
    Status:
    Accepted
    Contents:
    Provide further support for the empowerment of women in the economic sphere.
  • State Under Review:

    Afghanistan

    Afghanistan
    Regional group
    Asia-Pacific Group
    Political group
    OIC
    Source Of Reference:

    Moldova

    Moldova
    Regional group
    EEG
    Political group
    CIS
    OIF
    Issue:
    • Early marriage
    • Violence against women / gender-based violence
    Type:
    Recommendation
    Session:
    32nd Session, January 2019
    Status:
    Accepted
    Contents:
    Adopt and implement a national action plan to end child marriage and to adopt the necessary legal and regulatory measures to ensure a consistent implementation at central and local levels of the laws on violence against women.
  • State Under Review:

    Afghanistan

    Afghanistan
    Regional group
    Asia-Pacific Group
    Political group
    OIC
    Source Of Reference:

    Outcome Report

    Issue:
    • Violence against women / gender-based violence
    Type:
    Comment
    Session:
    32nd Session, January 2019
    Status:
    N/A
    Contents:
    Afghanistan Independent Human Rights Commission (by video message) ...was concerned with violence against women. ... [Para 468]
  • State Under Review:

    Afghanistan

    Afghanistan
    Regional group
    Asia-Pacific Group
    Political group
    OIC
    Source Of Reference:

    National Report

    Issue:
    • Women's and / or girls' rights
    Type:
    Review Documentation
    Session:
    5th session, May 2009
    Status:
    N/A
    Contents:
    In order to implement reforms in legal and judicial sectors, the GoA has adopted several national programs including: ... establishment of the Ministry of Women's Affairs as a human rights protecting mechanism for women. [Para 19]
  • State Under Review:

    Afghanistan

    Afghanistan
    Regional group
    Asia-Pacific Group
    Political group
    OIC
    Source Of Reference:

    National Report

    Issue:
    • International human rights instruments
    • Gender equality
    • Women's and / or girls' rights
    • Women's participation
    Type:
    Review Documentation
    Session:
    5th session, May 2009
    Status:
    N/A
    Contents:
    During last seven years Afghanistan has achieved great success in reference to ensuring Women's Rights. The formation of Ministry of Women Affairs in the government structure, joining the United Nations Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW), exerting equal rights of men and women in the Constitution, presence and active participation of women in social, economic and cultural spheres, all are considered major gains in such a relatively short span of time. [Para 79]
  • State Under Review:

    Afghanistan

    Afghanistan
    Regional group
    Asia-Pacific Group
    Political group
    OIC
    Source Of Reference:

    UN Compilation

    Issue:
    • Gender equality
    • Women's and / or girls' rights
    Type:
    Review Documentation
    Session:
    5th session, May 2009
    Status:
    Reference Addressed
    Contents:
    UNICEF noted that there are still enormous gender gaps (in access to education) and that lack of security is a major challenge. [Para 46]
  • State Under Review:

    Afghanistan

    Afghanistan
    Regional group
    Asia-Pacific Group
    Political group
    OIC
    Source Of Reference:

    Stakeholder Summary

    Issue:
    • HIV and AIDS
    Type:
    Review Documentation
    Session:
    5th session, May 2009
    Status:
    Neglected
    Contents:
    HIV-related stigma and discrimination undermine Afghanistan's responses to the epidemic, because they prevent people from accessing information and important HIV prevention and treatment services. The take-up of HIV counselling and testing services, for example, is low. Discrimination against people living with HIV affects their access to information and knowledge, employment, housing, insurance, social services, education, health, and inheritance rights for women and men. Strong prejudice against people living with HIV has been found in health services. [Para 39]
  • State Under Review:

    Afghanistan

    Afghanistan
    Regional group
    Asia-Pacific Group
    Political group
    OIC
    Source Of Reference:

    Iran

    Iran
    Regional group
    Asia-Pacific Group
    Political group
    OIC
    Issue:
    • Women's and / or girls' rights
    Type:
    Recommendation
    Session:
    18th session, February 2014
    Status:
    Accepted
    Contents:
    Take necessary measures to implement a national public awareness campaign on human rights, especially women and childrens rights.
    Implementation
    • National Report:
      Para 37) … MoJ has conducted 95 trainings for 2,164 individuals (1,612 men and 552 women) since 2013. It has also conducted training through its Legal Aid Department in different provinces on women and children rights. … The MoHRA organized workshops for religious scholars on the social status of women, their right to education, right to choose their husband, violence against women and children rights. Furthermore, MoHRA printed 2,214 books in 2017–2018 about women rights in Islam and 2,000 books about “bad customary practices”. They are also publishing monthly brochure on human rights topics.
      Para 38) The national radio and television as long reach medium of communication promote human rights for all citizens, particularly in rural areas. Programs and short awareness videos are being broadcasted in the field of human rights, reduction of violence against women, elections, and women rights in Islam.
  • State Under Review:

    Afghanistan

    Afghanistan
    Regional group
    Asia-Pacific Group
    Political group
    OIC
    Source Of Reference:

    Sweden

    Sweden
    Regional group
    WEOG
    Political group
    EU
    Issue:
    • Gender equality
    Type:
    Recommendation
    Session:
    18th session, February 2014
    Status:
    Accepted
    Contents:
    Take initiatives to improve recruitment and retention of female police officers.
  • State Under Review:

    Afghanistan

    Afghanistan
    Regional group
    Asia-Pacific Group
    Political group
    OIC
    Source Of Reference:

    Chile

    Chile
    Regional group
    GRULAC
    Political group
    OAS
    OEI
    Issue:
    • Gender equality
    Type:
    Recommendation
    Session:
    18th session, February 2014
    Status:
    Accepted
    Contents:
    Ensure the inclusion of provisions relating to equality between men and women in the Constitution and the legislative system, and continue to pursue the implementation of effective measures to combat gender inequality.
    Implementation
    • National Report:
      Para 112) The MoWA continues its efforts to place gender equality and women’s empowerment in all national documents to reflect women’s requirements. Therefore, in addition to the National Action Plan for Women, it has drafted for the first time a five-year strategic plan for the period 2018–2022. It highlights the priorities of the Ministry and predicts the required resources and facilities. 2,228 Women received assistance from the MoWA for small businesses.
      Para 113) The creation of the Women Chamber of Commerce improves women’s access to markets.
      Para 114) MoIC established a department for women’s entrepreneurship and drafted a 5-year Plan from 2018–2022 for the empowerment of women entrepreneurs in the private sector. To improve women’s empowerment, MoIC supports special exhibitions for women inside and outside Afghanistan, where women can exhibit their products. Furthermore, MoIC supports conferences In Kabul and several provinces on development and improvement of women’s private entrepreneurship, where women can address and discuss problems and challenges they face to find a solution. MoIC designed a 5-year project, dealing with import and export of women products, enhancing the quality and design of Afghan products, and branding (made by Afghan Women). It is planned that 5,600 women shall receive support during this 5-years period. To support women in trade, small grant are being given to women to start their businesses or they are being given land in industrial parks. Furthermore, they are being provided support in access to raw material and benefit from a tax reduction.
      Para 115) MRRD shall ensure social, economic, and political welfare of rural society, especially poor and vulnerable people, through the provision of basic services, strengthening local governance, and promoting sustainable livelihoods. It created the Afghanistan Rural Enterprise Development Program for economic empowerment of women.
      Para 116) More than 760 private companies are being led by women, 400 women merchants are working on an international level.
      Para 120). The Independent Administrative Reform and Civil Service Commission (IARCSC) has implemented a policy aiming to increase the number of women by 2%. They furthermore have conducted awareness raising activities for female college students. It has furthermore created a CV pool of women eligible to apply for civil service positions to ensure equity in the Government. The gender representatives of Ministries and Independent Institutions are present during recruitment processes and in order to increase the ratio of women’s recruitment, a 5% extra mark is considered for female applicants in accordance with the recruitment manual.
      Para 121) Women’s representation in different areas:
      • National Assembly 27%.
      • Provincial Councils 20,9%.
      • Cabinet 15%.
      • Decision Making levels of the Government 10%.
      • Health Sector 33%.
      • Private Sector 21,7%.
      • Government Agencies 26%.
      • Judiciary 12%.
      • Security Sector 1%.
      • Decision Making levels of private sector 9,8%.
      • Private Sector 21,7%.
      • Economic Sector 6 %.
      • The percentage of women at the AGO increased from 15 % 2017 to 23 % in 2018. It has 10 women directors. The AGO offered an internship for 241 women. 153 of them got a job at the AGO.
      • The women percentage at the Supreme Court is 23 %.
      • The 2016 Elections Law has taken into consideration the 25% women’s quota in the district councils and stipulates that “At least 25% of the seats should be dedicated to women candidates in each district council”.

      UN Compilation:
      Para 31) OHCHR/UNAMA noted that the Government had been making efforts to build a representative political system and national institutions by increasing the representation of ethnic communities and women, particularly through the parliamentary elections. Despite those efforts, women remained underrepresented in the political sphere at the national, provincial and district levels, and their representation in the institutions of governance remained low. Moreover, women’s meaningful participation in decision-making processes required serious attention.
  • State Under Review:

    Afghanistan

    Afghanistan
    Regional group
    Asia-Pacific Group
    Political group
    OIC
    Source Of Reference:

    Croatia

    Croatia
    Regional group
    EEG
    Political group
    EU
    Issue:
    • Violence against women / gender-based violence
    Type:
    Recommendation
    Session:
    18th session, February 2014
    Status:
    Accepted
    Contents:
    Ensure the full implementation of the Elimination of Violence against Women law and hold accountable police and prosecution supervisors who are not ensuring the enforcement of the law.
    Implementation
    • National Report:
      Para 26) The GoIRA protects and promotes human rights by strengthening and establishing human rights units within the power structures as following:
      …
      • Judiciary Power: Division of Violence Against Women and Children in the Supreme Court review all cases of women and children rights violations;
      Para 105) The Criminal Procedure Code 2014 and Penal Code 2018 have been ratified. Discriminatory human rights violating elements have been taken out and new provisions regarding protection of women’s rights were included. The criminal procedures law enriches specific provisions on the victim’s rights and protection of evidence. Beside the new penal code, the EVAW Law still remains enforced and the cases related to violence against women will be reviewed in accordance with this specific law.
      Para 106) Different measures for better implementation of the EVAW Law have been taken in to account. These measures include the establishment of institutions, policies, regulations, training of judges, prosecutors, police, and other relevant employees as well as legal awareness campaigns for citizens. The AGO plans to draft a National Action Plan for the Implementation of EVAW Law in near future.
      Para 107) Following mechanisms are in place:
      • Monthly meetings of the EVAW high commission and provincial commissions of all 34 provinces to monitor critical areas. Findings are being submitted to the relevant government departments and the President’s office. Establishment of 28 women’s shelters centers in Kabul and 20 in different provinces.
      • Establishment of special units at all 34 Provincial Office of Attorney’s for EVAW cases. In 31 provinces, units are just being led by women.
      • Establishment of special EVAW units at the Supreme Court in Kabul and 15 provinces.
      • Legal assistance centers and family dispute resolution units were established in 34 provinces under the police headquarters framework.
      • A mediation department has been established at the AGO to mediate in family matters.
      • The Supreme Court established special courts for EVAW cases in 22 provinces. Till 2020 all provinces will be having a special court for EVAW cases.
      • A telephone hotline has been established for women and children in case of violence.
      • On 11th of July 2016, the MoI established a complaint mechanism to prevent and respond to sexual harassment against women police officers.
      Para 108) The AGO established a Deputy AGO for Elimination of Violence against Women & Children, which is led by a woman. This office has two sub-departments responsible for reducing violence against women and for its social consultants. Another department deals with women rights, victims and witnesses with help of IDLO.
      Para 109) The Afghanistan AGO established a monitoring mechanism on the implementation of EVAW law within its offices.
      Para 110) With support of IDLO the AGO established a database within the Deputy AGO for EVAW. This database includes all activities of prosecutors, the case itself and the work which has been done so far. Through this database, the Deputy GA can monitor his employees and held them accountable if needed.
      Para 111) Between 2014 and 2018, 5921 cases have been investigated. 4840 cases of violence against women have been addressed in the three-layer courts of the country based on the provisions of EVAW.

      UN Compilation:
      Para 25) OHCHR/UNAMA noted that the ongoing armed conflict affected women’s access to justice. The Mission noted that the failure of law enforcement authorities to take action undermined efforts to promote the rights of women, eroded the rule of law and contributed to an expectation of impunity. It observed that the gap in relation to the available range of punishments for criminal offences of violence against women contributed to the wide use of mediation. The Mission highlighted that the wide use of mediation in criminal offences of violence against women also promoted impunity, enabled its reoccurrence, eroded trust in the legal system and constituted a human rights violation on the part of Afghanistan.
      Para 42) The Committee against Torture remained deeply concerned by the high prevalence of violence against women, in particular domestic violence, rape, battery, laceration, crimes committed in the name of “honour” and cases of stoning.
      Para 44) The Secretary-General of the United Nations noted the decree amending the Penal Code with regard to crimes of violence against women ...
      Para 45) OHCHR/UNAMA noted that harmful acts of violence against women, including murder, beating, mutilation, child marriage and ba’ad, remained widespread, despite the Government’s concrete efforts to criminalize those practices and establish measures for accountability. Harmful practices that had been criminalized under the Elimination of Violence against Women Law, such as forced and child marriage, honour killings, ba’ad, badal (the exchange of women for marriage purposes to settle disputes) and forced self-immolation, were often confused as being aspects of Islamic law or teachings and therefore ingrained in the local traditions. The Mission documented 280 cases of murder and “honour killings” of women from January 2016 to December 2017. It found that the police had often failed to forward those cases to prosecutors. The majority of Afghan women continued to be denied fair treatment before the law, as discriminatory provisions in laws and policies were still prevalent. As such, law enforcement and other judicial practitioners, including prosecutors and courts, had often failed to enforce the Elimination of Violence against Women Law, resulting in widespread impunity for the criminal acts of violence against women. OHCHR/UNAMA consistently found that implementation of the Elimination of Violence against Women Law had been slow and non-uniform.

      Stakeholder Summary:
      Para 10) AIHRC noted that violence against women is one of the most serious violations of human rights. During 2014-2017, AIHRC registered, investigated and followed around 19,920 cases of violence against women and referred them to the relevant legal entities. Out of these cases, 845 cases were cases of women who were murdered. The real statistics of women's violence and murders are much higher. The prosecution and punishment of perpetrators of violence against women by government agencies, as well as the implementation of the EVAW Law and the Law for the Prevention of the Sexual Harassment against Women and Children have been ineffectively done and challenges remained unchanged. Statistics showed that the government and the law enforcement agencies have failed to properly and timely investigate cases of violence against women and cases of murder. AIHRC attributed that insecurity, corruption, the increased culture of impunity, lack of rule of law, the spread of harmful custom and tradition in society, lack of awareness of people of the law and human rights, poverty and economic problems are among the factors of violence against women which have not been adequately and practically addressed by the government. AIHRC reported that Taliban also continued to commit killings and extra judicial and arbitrary punishment of women in the area of under their control. AIHRC recalled that under Resolution 1325 and the SDGs, the government has to accelerate the process of gender mainstreaming in the departments.
      Para 34) HRW noted that violence against women, including rape, murder, mutilation and assault is widespread, and the perpetrators are rarely brought to justice. In the 2014 UPR, the Afghanistan delegation accepted numerous recommendations on improving implementation of the 2009 Law on the Elimination of Violence Against Women (EVAW law), including the measures recommended to Afghanistan by the Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women in July 2013. During the review, the Afghan delegation committed to implement the EVAW law, and that perpetrators of violence against women would be prosecuted and punished. However, HRW found that Afghan women seeking justice after facing violence continue to face formidable obstacles. Afghan authorities routinely turn victims away or pressure them to accept mediation. Mediation does not provide justice to female victims of serious crimes, offering victims only a promise from her abuser not to repeat the crime. In some case, mediators themselves inflict abuse, for example by ordering girls or women to be given as compensation for murder, forcing women and girls to marry men who raped them, or excusing murder in the name of “honor.” Afghan police and prosecutors continue to jail women and girls for on charges of “moral crimes” that include “running away” from home, and committing or attempting to commit sexual intercourse outside marriage “zina”, or having sex outside of marriage. Rape victims can be charged with “zina” and imprisoned. These girls and women are subjected to invasive vaginal and anal examinations performed by Afghan government doctors, sometimes repeatedly on the same girl or woman including young girls. Afghan officials claimed that the government had since banned the examinations, but officials have told HRW that the practice remained widespread, and many judges, prosecutors, and police officials told them that they routinely order “virginity tests.”
      Para 35) ODVV also noted that one of the most serious human rights violations in Afghanistan is violence against women, particularly girls. In 2017 there were 4340 cases of violence against 2286 women. This is while in the previous year there were approximately 2046 reported cases of violence against women. These figures indicate that not only violence against women in Afghanistan has not dropped, but the abuses have increased. There have also been report of 277 women being murdered, while only 40 of them have been prosecuted. This shows a weakness in enforcing the law, additionally, victims’ families’ were reluctant to file a complaint against perpetrators of crimes.
  • State Under Review:

    Afghanistan

    Afghanistan
    Regional group
    Asia-Pacific Group
    Political group
    OIC
    Source Of Reference:

    Turkey

    Turkey
    Regional group
    WEOG
    Political group
    OIC
    Issue:
    • Violence against women / gender-based violence
    Type:
    Recommendation
    Session:
    18th session, February 2014
    Status:
    Accepted
    Contents:
    Take further steps on effectively implementing the Law on Elimination of Violence against Women.
    Implementation
    • National Report:
      Para 26) The GoIRA protects and promotes human rights by strengthening and establishing human rights units within the power structures as following:
      …
      • Judiciary Power: Division of Violence Against Women and Children in the Supreme Court review all cases of women and children rights violations;
      Para 105) The Criminal Procedure Code 2014 and Penal Code 2018 have been ratified. Discriminatory human rights violating elements have been taken out and new provisions regarding protection of women’s rights were included. The criminal procedures law enriches specific provisions on the victim’s rights and protection of evidence. Beside the new penal code, the EVAW Law still remains enforced and the cases related to violence against women will be reviewed in accordance with this specific law.
      Para 106) Different measures for better implementation of the EVAW Law have been taken in to account. These measures include the establishment of institutions, policies, regulations, training of judges, prosecutors, police, and other relevant employees as well as legal awareness campaigns for citizens. The AGO plans to draft a National Action Plan for the Implementation of EVAW Law in near future.
      Para 107) Following mechanisms are in place:
      • Monthly meetings of the EVAW high commission and provincial commissions of all 34 provinces to monitor critical areas. Findings are being submitted to the relevant government departments and the President’s office. Establishment of 28 women’s shelters centers in Kabul and 20 in different provinces.
      • Establishment of special units at all 34 Provincial Office of Attorney’s for EVAW cases. In 31 provinces, units are just being led by women.
      • Establishment of special EVAW units at the Supreme Court in Kabul and 15 provinces.
      • Legal assistance centers and family dispute resolution units were established in 34 provinces under the police headquarters framework.
      • A mediation department has been established at the AGO to mediate in family matters.
      • The Supreme Court established special courts for EVAW cases in 22 provinces. Till 2020 all provinces will be having a special court for EVAW cases.
      • A telephone hotline has been established for women and children in case of violence.
      • On 11th of July 2016, the MoI established a complaint mechanism to prevent and respond to sexual harassment against women police officers.
      Para 108) The AGO established a Deputy AGO for Elimination of Violence against Women & Children, which is led by a woman. This office has two sub-departments responsible for reducing violence against women and for its social consultants. Another department deals with women rights, victims and witnesses with help of IDLO.
      Para 109) The Afghanistan AGO established a monitoring mechanism on the implementation of EVAW law within its offices.
      Para 110) With support of IDLO the AGO established a database within the Deputy AGO for EVAW. This database includes all activities of prosecutors, the case itself and the work which has been done so far. Through this database, the Deputy GA can monitor his employees and held them accountable if needed.
      Para 111) Between 2014 and 2018, 5921 cases have been investigated. 4840 cases of violence against women have been addressed in the three-layer courts of the country based on the provisions of EVAW.

      UN Compilation:
      Para 25) OHCHR/UNAMA noted that the ongoing armed conflict affected women’s access to justice. The Mission noted that the failure of law enforcement authorities to take action undermined efforts to promote the rights of women, eroded the rule of law and contributed to an expectation of impunity. It observed that the gap in relation to the available range of punishments for criminal offences of violence against women contributed to the wide use of mediation. The Mission highlighted that the wide use of mediation in criminal offences of violence against women also promoted impunity, enabled its reoccurrence, eroded trust in the legal system and constituted a human rights violation on the part of Afghanistan.
      Para 42) The Committee against Torture remained deeply concerned by the high prevalence of violence against women, in particular domestic violence, rape, battery, laceration, crimes committed in the name of “honour” and cases of stoning.
      Para 44) The Secretary-General of the United Nations noted the decree amending the Penal Code with regard to crimes of violence against women ...
      Para 45) OHCHR/UNAMA noted that harmful acts of violence against women, including murder, beating, mutilation, child marriage and ba’ad, remained widespread, despite the Government’s concrete efforts to criminalize those practices and establish measures for accountability. Harmful practices that had been criminalized under the Elimination of Violence against Women Law, such as forced and child marriage, honour killings, ba’ad, badal (the exchange of women for marriage purposes to settle disputes) and forced self-immolation, were often confused as being aspects of Islamic law or teachings and therefore ingrained in the local traditions. The Mission documented 280 cases of murder and “honour killings” of women from January 2016 to December 2017. It found that the police had often failed to forward those cases to prosecutors. The majority of Afghan women continued to be denied fair treatment before the law, as discriminatory provisions in laws and policies were still prevalent. As such, law enforcement and other judicial practitioners, including prosecutors and courts, had often failed to enforce the Elimination of Violence against Women Law, resulting in widespread impunity for the criminal acts of violence against women. OHCHR/UNAMA consistently found that implementation of the Elimination of Violence against Women Law had been slow and non-uniform.

      Stakeholder Summary:
      Para 10) AIHRC noted that violence against women is one of the most serious violations of human rights. During 2014-2017, AIHRC registered, investigated and followed around 19,920 cases of violence against women and referred them to the relevant legal entities. Out of these cases, 845 cases were cases of women who were murdered. The real statistics of women's violence and murders are much higher. The prosecution and punishment of perpetrators of violence against women by government agencies, as well as the implementation of the EVAW Law and the Law for the Prevention of the Sexual Harassment against Women and Children have been ineffectively done and challenges remained unchanged. Statistics showed that the government and the law enforcement agencies have failed to properly and timely investigate cases of violence against women and cases of murder. AIHRC attributed that insecurity, corruption, the increased culture of impunity, lack of rule of law, the spread of harmful custom and tradition in society, lack of awareness of people of the law and human rights, poverty and economic problems are among the factors of violence against women which have not been adequately and practically addressed by the government. AIHRC reported that Taliban also continued to commit killings and extra judicial and arbitrary punishment of women in the area of under their control. AIHRC recalled that under Resolution 1325 and the SDGs, the government has to accelerate the process of gender mainstreaming in the departments.
      Para 34) HRW noted that violence against women, including rape, murder, mutilation and assault is widespread, and the perpetrators are rarely brought to justice. In the 2014 UPR, the Afghanistan delegation accepted numerous recommendations on improving implementation of the 2009 Law on the Elimination of Violence Against Women (EVAW law), including the measures recommended to Afghanistan by the Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women in July 2013. During the review, the Afghan delegation committed to implement the EVAW law, and that perpetrators of violence against women would be prosecuted and punished. However, HRW found that Afghan women seeking justice after facing violence continue to face formidable obstacles. Afghan authorities routinely turn victims away or pressure them to accept mediation. Mediation does not provide justice to female victims of serious crimes, offering victims only a promise from her abuser not to repeat the crime. In some case, mediators themselves inflict abuse, for example by ordering girls or women to be given as compensation for murder, forcing women and girls to marry men who raped them, or excusing murder in the name of “honor.” Afghan police and prosecutors continue to jail women and girls for on charges of “moral crimes” that include “running away” from home, and committing or attempting to commit sexual intercourse outside marriage “zina”, or having sex outside of marriage. Rape victims can be charged with “zina” and imprisoned. These girls and women are subjected to invasive vaginal and anal examinations performed by Afghan government doctors, sometimes repeatedly on the same girl or woman including young girls. Afghan officials claimed that the government had since banned the examinations, but officials have told HRW that the practice remained widespread, and many judges, prosecutors, and police officials told them that they routinely order “virginity tests.”
      Para 35) ODVV also noted that one of the most serious human rights violations in Afghanistan is violence against women, particularly girls. In 2017 there were 4340 cases of violence against 2286 women. This is while in the previous year there were approximately 2046 reported cases of violence against women. These figures indicate that not only violence against women in Afghanistan has not dropped, but the abuses have increased. There have also been report of 277 women being murdered, while only 40 of them have been prosecuted. This shows a weakness in enforcing the law, additionally, victims’ families’ were reluctant to file a complaint against perpetrators of crimes.
  • State Under Review:

    Afghanistan

    Afghanistan
    Regional group
    Asia-Pacific Group
    Political group
    OIC
    Source Of Reference:

    Spain

    Spain
    Regional group
    WEOG
    Political group
    EU
    OEI
    Issue:
    • International human rights instruments
    • Trafficking in women and / or girls
    Type:
    Recommendation
    Session:
    18th session, February 2014
    Status:
    Accepted
    Contents:
    Ratify the Palermo Protocol and the Convention on Preventing and Combating Trafficking in Women and Children for Prostitution of the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation.
  • State Under Review:

    Afghanistan

    Afghanistan
    Regional group
    Asia-Pacific Group
    Political group
    OIC
    Source Of Reference:

    Canada

    Canada
    Regional group
    WEOG
    Political group
    OAS
    OIF
    Commonwealth
    Issue:
    • Sexual abuse
    Type:
    Question
    Session:
    18th session, February 2014
    Status:
    Not Followed up with a Recommendation
    Contents:
    In October, the AIHRC announced that it was launching a national program to investigate the practice of bacha bazi - a form of child sexual abuse - in Afghanistan. The AIHRC asked for the assistance of security institutions in carrying out its investigation. What steps is the Government of Afghanistan taking to facilitate the AIHRC's investigation? What actions is the Government of Afghanistan taking of its own volition to investigate and address cases of abuse?
  • State Under Review:

    Afghanistan

    Afghanistan
    Regional group
    Asia-Pacific Group
    Political group
    OIC
    Source Of Reference:

    UN Compilation

    Issue:
    • Gender equality
    Type:
    Review Documentation
    Session:
    18th session, February 2014
    Status:
    Reference Addressed
    Contents:
    ... It urged Afghanistan to take more effective measures to counter inequality between the sexes and discrimination against women, implement a national public awareness campaign ... [Para 21; CESCR]

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