UNPFA Plans to Eliminate Gender-Based Violence in Afghanistan

The United Nations Population Fund (UNPFA), the Afghanistan Independent Human Rights Commission (AIHRC), UN agencies, and donors came together to review efforts toward elimination of all forms of gender-based violence (GBV) today in Kabul. A press release from UNPFA sent to Killid stated that gender-based violence affects women and girls in Afghanistan and they have very limited choices. The statement added that Afghan girls’ transition from adolescent to adulthood is full of challenges from their environment including, their families and communities. They are forced to drop out of school, forced to marry and begin childbearing early and are denied any say in decisions that affect their lives. “Gender-based violence harms not only the survivors, but also the perpetrators. It harms families, communities and nations”, said Dr. Bannet Ndyanabangi, UNFPA Representative, “GBV affects the health and wellbeing of people. It affects individuals, families and communities in such a way that all parties involved lose social and economic opportunities.”  The statement further stated that for 2017, UNPFA will liaise with all programmes addressing GBV in the country to further strengthen bridge between various interventions to prevent and respond to GBV in Afghanistan.