KABUL - The United Nations Special Rapporteur on violence against women, Rashida Manjoo, spoke to members of the media at a Kabul press conference, detailing her assessment of the situation of Afghan women following a weeklong investigative trip to the country.

At the end of the visit, which took Ms. Manjoo to Kabul, Jalalabad and Herat, the world body’s Special Rapporteur delivered a statement in which she detailed developments in the country related to the rights of Afghan women and girls, and identified the challenges they face.

“Violence against women and girls is a widespread and systemic problem that has an impact throughout the lifecycle of women and girls, whether it occurs in the public or private spheres,” said Ms. Manjoo. “It precludes the realisation of civil, political, economic, social, cultural, and development rights, and is a barrier to the effective exercise of citizenship by women and girls.”

Ms. Majoo called attention to legislative and institutional improvements that she characterized as a “reflection of political will” in addressing the promotion and protection of women’s rights. However, she said, such developments should not detract from the fact that violence against women continues to be a source of deep concern in Afghanistan.

“It is crucial to recognize that violence against women and girls is a human rights violation that is rooted in multiple and intersecting forms of discrimination and inequalities, and that it is strongly linked to the social, cultural and economic situation of women,” she said.

Ms. Manjoo’s findings from her trip to Afghanistan are expected to be released in a comprehensive report that she will present to the United Nations Human Rights Council in June 2015.

Click the following links for the full statement of Ms. Manjoo in English | Dari | Pashto

Click here for the news release by the UN Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights on Ms. Manjoo's visit to Afghanistan

Read more about Rashida Manjoo