Brussels, 21/06/2012 (Agence Europe) - EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs Catherine Ashton said on Wednesday 20 June that she is “deeply troubled” by the comments attributed to Afghan Minister of Justice Habibiullah Ghalib, likening shelters for women to places of immorality and prostitution.
“His comments set back efforts to fight violence against women in Afghanistan, including the need to provide victims with safe places to take shelter”, Ashton said in a press release. “Too many Afghan women have experienced violence, gender-based and sexual, often on a repeated basis”, she went on, stating that women forced to resort to shelters are “amongst the bravest Afghans we know” and that “they deserve the support of the international community and from the Afghan government”.
The minister said on Sunday that the foreign NGOs which fund the shelters were encouraging young women to defy their parents. “What safe houses? What sort of immorality and prostitution was not happening at those places?” he asked. Afghanistan has 12 shelters, accommodating mainly victims of domestic violence. (LC/transl.rt)