UN human rights chief Navi Pillay has expressed concern that the human rights situation in Afghanistan is deteriorating.
Pillay, who is in Afghanistan on a two-day visit, said on September 17 that Afghan civil society activists told her there is a risk that progress made over the past 12 years may be reversed.
Pillay said she was presented with evidence of a sharp U-turn in human rights, especially for women.
She added that human rights should not be "sacrificed to political expediency" as Afghanistan takes over security amid a gradual withdrawal of NATO-led international forces, due to be completed by the end of next year.
A presidential election is also scheduled for 2014.
The threat to Afghan women was highlighted on September 17 when the senior policewoman in southern Afghanistan died after being shot by gunmen.
Pillay, who is in Afghanistan on a two-day visit, said on September 17 that Afghan civil society activists told her there is a risk that progress made over the past 12 years may be reversed.
Pillay said she was presented with evidence of a sharp U-turn in human rights, especially for women.
She added that human rights should not be "sacrificed to political expediency" as Afghanistan takes over security amid a gradual withdrawal of NATO-led international forces, due to be completed by the end of next year.
A presidential election is also scheduled for 2014.
The threat to Afghan women was highlighted on September 17 when the senior policewoman in southern Afghanistan died after being shot by gunmen.
