UN report reveals corrupt judiciary system in cases of violence against women

The United Nation released a report on Sunday called Justice through the Eyes of Afghan Women in which cases of violence against women addressed through mediation and called adjudication.

This is the fifth report since 2010 provided by UNAMA and Office for Human Rights on issues related to the violence against women in which about 110 women are being interviewed from 18 provinces of Afghanistan.

According to the officials this reports was launched after brutal killing of an Afghan girl Farkhunda on the streets of Kabul by mob.

Based on the researches there is a lack of confidence on Afghan judiciary system and the report reveals that 65 percent of violent cases against Afghan women are being resolved through mediation and only five percent is being addressed by judiciary systems.

Ivan Simonovic the United Nation Assistant Secretary for Human Rights answers why women prefer mediations than judiciary systems.

“Interviews with women and girls subjected to violence revealed that negative perception of the justice system as slow, corrupt, misuses and lack of proficiency continue to discourage women from pursuing from criminal prosecution of the perpetrators,” he said.

The report also reveals that women are being threatened unfairly while they have addressed their complaints to governmental officials.

Nicholas Haysom, the UN special envoy for Afghanistan expressed the UN concerns regarding mediations on women rights violation cases.

“As demands for justice through mediation in Afghanistan increased in line with prevailing traditions, we encourage the Afghan government to develop policies to protect human rights and improve women access to justice,” Haysom added,” the mediation decisions has taken place in the absence of the victims by the families elders or the decisions are forced over the victims”.

Afghanistan Independent Human Rights Commission (AIHRC) also worries about violation of Afghan women rights.

Sima Samar Head of AIHRC said,” The last thirteen years achievements on human and women rights are fragile, because rule of law is very weak in Afghanistan. Violation against women will not decrease as far as there is a culture of exemption from punishment.”

The studies recommend Afghan government to bring reforms in laws, policies and institutions related to the human rights.

Reported by: Hameed Sediqi