BAMYAN - Today the UNAMA human rights team held a public meeting in the capital of the Central Highlands Region to share the results of its December 2010 report on violence against women, titled Harmful Traditional Practices. Around 30 people from Afghan Independent Human Rights Commission, civil society, government offices and the Provincial Council participated in the discussion.

The participants raised many ideas and points about how to combat these practices, with a focus on the Commission for Elimination of Violence Against Women (CoEVAW) in Bamyan. They also emphasised that more training is needed for the judicial sector on the EVAW law.

“This discussion in Bamyan on the harm caused to women of some traditional practices is an important step in raising awareness among community leaders and officials,” said Anne Fuller, UNAMA deputy chief of human rights. “This is an important step toward local action to address and prevent this harm.”