Geneva, September 28, 2006

Citing the recent killing of a leading woman’s rights advocate in southern Afghanistan, the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights today said the deteriorating security situation in the country carries grave implications for human rights.

Addressing the 47-member Human Rights Council in Geneva, Louise Arbour referred to a series of killings of pro-government actors, including last Monday’s slaying of Safia Ama Jan, Director of the Women’s Affairs Department of Kandahar province. “Civilians have been victims of attacks by insurgents as well as by Government and international military forces.”

Ms. Arbour added that a lack of security also severely affects the work of institutions. The Afghanistan Independent Human Rights Commission continues to function effectively, in close cooperation with United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA), but for the first time since its establishment four years ago, the Commission has restricted its activities, particularly in the south and south-east, due to security concerns. The right to education has also been compromised due to a marked increase in the number of attacks on schools since late 2005.

Despite reform efforts, she also noted, the justice system continues to suffer from severe and systemic problems. While the new composition of the Supreme Court reflects a fairly even ethnic balance, no female judges were nominated. The number of human rights violations constraining freedom of conscience and religion and freedom of expression are increasing.

Responding to the High Commissioner’s statement, Afghanistan’s Ambassador, Assad Omer, said his Government was conscious that the challenges were numerous and the various international human rights conventions were not fully implemented. However, the Government had a firm will to improve the promotion and protection of human rights. Violence was a daily occurrence, affecting all regions of the country. Nevertheless, the Government was defending the people and it was making efforts to eradicate international terrorism in the region.