PAN, January 3, 2012

Violence on women increasing in east: official

Bidar said 49 cases of violence against women were registered with their department in last three months

By Abdul Mueed Hashmi

Sahar Gul, a 15-year old girl brutally tortured by her in-laws for refusing prostitution. She was found locked up in the basement of her in-law's house, a dark room with no windows. She told the police she had had her nails and clumps of her hair pulled out. Police say big chunks of the flesh on her body had been cut out with pliers.(Photo: RFE/RL)

The Independent Human Rights Commission (IHRC) on Tuesday said violence against women has been on the increase in eastern provinces, where 49 cases of violence were registered in last three months.

"Main reasons behind the increasing violence against women are non-prosecution of culprits and abject poverty," IHRC director for eastern provinces, Dr. Rafiullah Bidar, told a news conference.

He said they arranged 29 public awareness workshops in Nangarhar, Kunar, Laghman and Nuristan during last three months. A thousand people participated in the workshops which mostly focused on women rights, disabled, human rights and children.

Bidar said 49 cases of violence against women were registered with their department in last three months. Nine of the cases were traditionally resolved and defence lawyers were hired for the remaining 40 cases.

In response to a question, he said their department could not carry activities in 19 districts in Kunar, Nangarhar, Laghman and Nuristan provinces.

To another question, he said the commission was busy preparing a landmark report about war crimes and human rights abuses started from the communist revolution in the country.

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