The United Nations in it’s latest report has revealed that female police officers are facing pervasive sexual violence and harassment by their male colleagues.
The unpublished UN report was circulated among the senior interior ministry officials only, The New York Times reported.
Female police officer in Afghanistan. (Photo: Khaama Press)
Afghan and Western officials familier with the report said that the reveals that 90 percent ofthe policewomen interviewed described sexual harassment and sexual violence as a serious problem.
The officials further added, according to the report 70 percent of the policewomen said that they had personally experienced sexual harassment or sexual violence themselves.
UN in it’s report also added that women are constantly at risk despite a much smaller fraction reported either being raped or toherwise sexually assaulted.
In the meantime, former Afghan interior minister Ghulam Mujtaba Patang questionned the findings of the reprot and said a team has been sent to investigate the situation of female police officers.
“If an Afghan policewoman is being raped or sexually harassed, they would report that — they wouldn’t keep it secret,” Mujtaba Patang quoted by The Times said.
He said majority of the female police officers complained about discontent with salaries or a lack of promotions during his visit to various provinces of Afghanistan. However, he said he never heard a complaint about sexual abuse.
Interior ministry spokesman Sediq Sediq also said he thought the report had “some exaggeration of the issues and the problems.”