Rights setbacks boost future fears: HRW

KABUL: (MEP) – Afghanistan’s human rights situation regressed in key areas in 2013, increasing uncertainty about the country’s future, Human Rights Watch said Tuesday in its World Report 2014.

The Afghan government of President Hamid Karzai made a series of decisions in 2013 that undermined human rights, particularly those of women and girls, the US-based group said in a 667-page report.

Taliban insurgents continued their campaign of targeted assassinations of government officials, including women.

According to the report, the opponents of women’s rights took advantage of waning international interest in Afghanistan to begin rolling back the progress made since the end of Taliban rule in 2001.

“Afghan women are all sufficiently aware that international donors are withdrawing from Afghanistan—and unfortunately those who want to restrict the rights of women also realize it,” said Brad Adams, executive director of Human Rights Watch’s Asia Division.

Seeking to undermine Afghans’ gains of past decade, the armed oppositions get benefit from the less attention of the international community to the country, Adams added.

The Afghan Parliament is yet to approve the Act on elimination of violence against women—and this delay is said to have contributed to continued violence against women.

“The human rights crises in Afghanistan require immediate attention of the government and international donors of Afghanistan. Giving less priority to the human rights in the election year and less attention of the international community threatens the past gains,” Brad Adams quoted in the report.