25 child deaths linked to sexual assaults

KABUL (Pajhwok): Powerful individuals, illegal commanders and armed men were involved in most of 245 sexual abuse cases occurred in various provinces over the past six months, a survey said on Wednesday.

The survey by the New Afghanistan Association (NAWA) was conducted in Kunduz, Takhar, Jawzjan, Herat, Balkh and Sar-i-Pul provinces, interviewing 2,000 people including women.

The survey said 65 of the 245 cases of sexual assaults involved children, including toddlers, and 25 of the victims had immediately died or been killed after the attacks.

Speaking at a press conference, NAWA director Shafiqa Habibi said 35 percent of the cases involved powerful individuals, commanders and irresponsible gunmen.

Deputy Minister of Women’s Affairs Syeda Muzhgan Mustafawi told Pajhwok Afghan News violence against women was one of the serious problems facing the gender and the worst form of it was sexual abuse.

She said the NAWA’s survey had tried to find real reasons of sexual abuses and their consequences.

Despite the fact that 13 organizations have been working to eliminate violence against women, the cases have not decreased so far.

Based on figures from the Ministry of Women’s Affairs, 1,500 cases of violence against women were registered during the first half of 2013 while the numbers rose to about 3,000 cases this year.

mds/ma

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