30 November 2010 - Religious scholars have vowed to raise public awareness on the elimination of violence against women in mosques and other areas in eastern Laghman province.

The scholars, also called “Ulemas,” expressed their commitment to work towards ending violence against women, which is widespread in the east of Afghanistan, during an interaction with the UN Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA) last week.

On the eve of the start of a 16-day public campaign on 25 November, UNAMA’s Human Rights team met with 18 Ulemas in Mehterlam, the provincial capital, to brief them about the Afghan laws pertaining to the elimination of violence against women (EVAW). The 16 Days of Activism for the Elimination of Violence against Women ends on 10 December, International Human Rights Day.

The Ulemas were also reminded of their role and responsibilities under the EVAW law as recommended by the Department of Religious Affairs.

The religious scholars said they would start raising awareness against violence against women immediately. Copies of the EVAW law in local Pashto language were also made available to all the Ulemas who promised to relay information concerning the law to persons in their communities during their mosque sermons.

The Afghanistan Independent Human Rights Commission (AIHRC) and the Department of Women’s Affairs (DoWA) of Nangarhar province celebrated the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women in Jalalabad city, the provincial capital, on 23 November.

Sabrina Hamidi of AIHRC in Jalalabad said more than 500 cases of violence against women have been registered in eastern provinces during the last seven years, out of which 75 cases were registered in last nine months. Many of these cases were resolved by the AIHRC, with the help and mediation of elders.

“If you compare the number of cases registered this year with the cases reported in 2003 and 2004, it shows some increase but it doesn’t mean that the number of cases increased. This is a result of our work that people were aware of women’s rights, and were encouraged to report the cases to us or other relevant entities. This is our achievement,” said Ms Hamidi.

“Now, many cases are reported not only by victims themselves but by their neighbours and community elders,” she added, citing the case of an 11-year-old girl who was married off to a 30-year-old man under the “Baad” arrangement where women or girls are used to settle disputes or debts.

“She was beaten by her husband and mother-in-law several times. After many efforts, through some close relatives, she was able to contact AIHRC,” she added.

With the efforts made by the AIHRC and the local Government, the parents of her husband were convinced to allow their daughter-in-law to stay with her parents until the case is resolved.

AIHRC and the Government are still working to seek the final settlement of this case and of tens of other cases in the region.

By Shafiqullah Waak, UNAMA