Human Rights Watch (HRW) said in a recent report that the Afghan government had not made any considerable achievements in improving human rights in 2016 and that internal political rifts and the lack of political will could put the achievements of the past 15 years in jeopardy.
 
In the report it said 8,000 civilians were killed and wounded in 2016 with a big percentage of these having been carried out by insurgents.
 
According to the report, in 2016 thousands of families left their homes due to insecurity.
 
“Government should have protecting civilians and their property as its priority. But they failed to do so. Thus, they need to look back and concentrate on protecting civilians,” said Musa Mahmoudi, executive director of Afghanistan Independent Human Rights Commission (AIHRC).
 
The report also stated that in 2016, insurgents and public uprisings belonging to politically powerful men also led to the deaths and injuries of innocent civilians.
 
In the first nine months of 2016, 12 journalists were killed, the report stated. In addition, it said Taliban and some government departments were guilty of committing violence against journalists.
 
It stated that government failed to implement its commitments to stop attacks on journalists. As such 2016 had been the deadliest year so far for media in the country, the report stated.
 
“We have not seen any action that shows government is trying to reduce attacks and violence against journalists,” said Mujibullah Khalwatgar, head of NAI, an organization supporting open media (NAI).
 
According to the report, National Unity Government (NUG) leaders are caught up in a power struggle  and HRW senior researchers have warned if the NUG does not bring reforms, the last 15 years’ worth of achievements will be lost.
 
Government however said it has made good progress.
 
“Fundamental reforms have been made in legal and judicial centers and Afghan prisons are being monitored fully. Civilian causalities also decreased and government has good cooperation with international powerful countries,” said Shahhussain Murtazawi, deputy spokesman for the president.