KABUL - The United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA) condemns the intentional killing of two human rights workers today in Jalalabad.

The two killed were employees of the respected Afghanistan Independent Human Rights Commission (AIHRC). Six other AIHRC staff were injured when a remote-controlled improvised explosive device detonated against an AIHRC minibus.

“An intentional attack against people who dedicate their lives to protecting the rights of Afghan citizens is an atrocity,” said Nicholas Haysom, the Secretary-General’s Special Representative for Afghanistan and head of UNAMA. “Victims of human rights violations and abuses in Afghanistan often rely on AIHRC to document and draw attention to their plight. The climate of fear created by such attacks, threatens vital human rights work carried out throughout Afghanistan.”

UNAMA encourages relevant authorities to undertake prompt, thorough and impartial investigations, to hold those found responsible to account, and to ensure an effective remedy for victims. Authorities should take robust measures to ensure adequate protection of human rights defenders, women’s rights activists, journalists, civil society organizations and other individuals and organizations working to promote and protect human rights.

UNAMA emphasizes that the deliberate targeting of civilians and the indiscriminate use of explosives in civilian populated areas are violations of international humanitarian law and may amount to war crimes.

UNAMA extends its condolences to the families, friends and colleagues of all those killed in the attack and wishes a speedy recovery for the injured.