Rights Group Criticizes Afghan Government for Failing to Rein in Abuses by Phillip Walter Wellman, Stars and Stripes
Afghanistan’s national unity government has “squandered important opportunities” to end torture, protect women’s rights and reduce civilian casualties, Human Rights Watch said in a report issued Wednesday.
“As reforms have slipped, so have essential human rights protections for detainees, women, and the media,” Patricia Gossman, a senior Afghanistan researcher with the group, said in a statement. “Donors will need to work more closely with the Afghan government to ensure that the fragile gains of the past 14 years aren’t lost.”
The Taliban and other insurgents continued to take a heavy toll on civilians, accounting for 70 percent of all civilian casualties, the report said. Improvised explosive devices remained a leading cause of civilian casualties. The Taliban also targeted Afghan government officials and aid workers, the report said…