The Afghanistan Independent Human Rights Commission (AIHRC) has called on the International Criminal Court (ICC) to launch an investigation into human rights violations in Afghanistan. 
 
In view of the ongoing situation in the country, Afghanistan’s legal and judicial institutions are not able to investigate war crimes in the country, therefore, the Afghan government should ask for help from the International Criminal Court, said AIHRC chairperson Sima Samar while delivering a speech at the inauguration of “National Research on The Protection of Rights of Victims of War and Terrorism”.
 
The AIHRC chairperson raised deep concerns over the fragile situation of human rights in Afghanistan and said that Afghan civilians have been the main victims of terrorist attacks. 
 
“In view of current circumstances, the judicial system may not access the criminals, but we can ask for help from the international criminal court so that justice is provided to the victims,” said Samar.
 
She said that militant groups have no problem in destroying water canals and agriculture and livestock during the wars. 
 
She also said that government and non-government organizations have failed to address the plight of Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs).
 
Samar called on government forces and the warring factions to respect the Geneva Convention on the protection of civilians during war.
 
“During the armed conflict, civilians and civilian installations such as mosques, holy places, schools, hospitals and water channels are protected and they should not be harmed,” she said. 
 
“In order to end the culture of impunity, provide justice to the victims of war and holding accountable those who have committed war crimes and human rights violations, the International Criminal Court should intervene in Afghanistan,” Samar said. 
 
Meanwhile, the United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA) has said that the change which has been witnessed in the war has increased the civilian toll in the country. 
 
According to UNAMA, 77,000 civilians have been killed in Afghanistan since 2009. 
 
“The national study being conducted by the AIHRC is so important, because the rights of victims should be central in all discourse relating to the armed conflict, states hold the obligation to protect and preserve the lives of all people living in their territory, this includes the obligation to prevent violations from occurring and to investigate them  when they do,” said UNAMA's Director of Human Rights in Afghanistan, Danielle Bell.
 
The gathering was also attended by the deputy minister of interior, deputy minister of defense, deputy minister of justice, deputy minister of social affairs and labor and deputy minister of health. They pledged to work together to improve the human rights situation in the country.