PAKTYA - The Afghanistan Independent Human Rights Commission (AIHRC) office in the southeastern region has noted that the incidents of violence against women has increased in Paktya, Paktika and Khost provinces.

The head of AIHRC, Noor Ahmad Shamim said that so far 99 cases of violence against women had been registered over the past six months, compared to 73 cases in the corresponding period last year, showing 25 percent surge.

He said the incidents happened this year included beatings, runaway from homes, honour killings, suicide, suicide attempts and others.

Shamim said that the key factors for increased violence against women were insecurity, social norms and delay in investigation of their cases by the judiciary.

He said they had been calling for the establishment of women shelter houses in Paktya and its adjacent provinces, but some civil society groups were opposed to the idea because they believed such facilities were against cultural norms.

The Department of Women’s Affairs (DoWA) in Paktia acknowledged increase in incidents of violence against women in the recent past.

The head of DoWA, Nasrin Oraykhel, said they had registered 5 cases last year, but the number rose to 8 this year. She said there were some other cases which had not been registered, but they were aware of them.

Source: Awoshtoon Radio