Over 100 forced marriages prevented in Paktika this year – Pajhwok Afghan News

Report on Social Justice and Institutional Accountability in Paktika Province

Advancements in Gender Equality (SDG 5)

The Promotion of Virtue, Prevention of Vice and Complaints Handling Department in Paktika province has made significant strides in promoting gender equality and empowering women and girls. During the current year, a total of 631 cases pertaining to women’s rights were registered and resolved, directly contributing to several targets within Sustainable Development Goal 5.

• Elimination of Harmful Practices (Target 5.3): Authorities successfully intervened in and prevented 108 instances of forced marriage, safeguarding the rights and well-being of women and girls. A notable case involved the rescue of a girl from a forced marriage claim initiated 17 years prior.
• Combating Violence Against Women (Target 5.2): The department addressed 345 cases of domestic violence, providing resolution and support to victims in accordance with humanitarian and Islamic principles.
• Securing Women’s Economic Rights (Target 5.a): Action was taken to resolve 178 cases related to inheritance rights, ensuring women’s access to economic resources and property.

Enhancing Peace, Justice, and Strong Institutions (SDG 16)

The department’s activities also align with the objectives of SDG 16 by fostering accountable institutions and ensuring public access to justice. Efforts to address public grievances against government officials underscore a commitment to transparency and the rule of law.

1. Fostering Institutional Accountability (Target 16.6): A total of 141 complaints were officially registered by the public against government employees, indicating a functional mechanism for citizen oversight.
2. Ensuring Access to Justice (Target 16.3): Of the complaints filed, 117 have been fully resolved, with rights being delivered to the rightful individuals.
3. Ongoing Processes: The remaining 24 cases are currently under investigation to ensure a thorough and just resolution.

Departmental Mandate

The department’s core mission is to reform society and prevent unlawful and immoral activities. Officials have reiterated their commitment to enforcing these principles and actively working to eliminate prohibited practices, thereby contributing to a more just and equitable society in line with global development goals.

Analysis of Sustainable Development Goals in the Article

1. Which SDGs are addressed or connected to the issues highlighted in the article?

The article addresses issues that are directly connected to two Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs):

• SDG 5: Gender Equality – This goal is central to the article, which focuses on the protection of women’s rights. The text explicitly mentions the resolution of cases involving forced marriages, domestic violence, and inheritance rights for women, all of which are key components of achieving gender equality.
• SDG 16: Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions – This goal is addressed through the actions of the “Promotion of Virtue, Prevention of Vice and Complaints Handling Department.” The department’s work in registering and resolving public complaints against government personnel, ensuring rights are delivered, and enforcing principles of justice demonstrates an effort to build effective, accountable, and just institutions.

2. What specific targets under those SDGs can be identified based on the article’s content?

Based on the article’s content, the following specific SDG targets can be identified:

1. Under SDG 5 (Gender Equality):
   • Target 5.2: Eliminate all forms of violence against all women and girls in the public and private spheres. The article directly relates to this target by stating that “345 domestic violence cases” were resolved. This is a clear action aimed at combating violence against women.
   • Target 5.3: Eliminate all harmful practices, such as child, early and forced marriage. This target is explicitly addressed when the article reports that the department “prevented around 108 forced marriages” and rescued a girl from a forced marriage situation.
2. Under SDG 16 (Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions):
   • Target 16.3: Promote the rule of law at the national and international levels and ensure equal access to justice for all. The department’s work in resolving “631 cases related to women’s rights and protection” including inheritance rights, and settling complaints where “rights were delivered to the rightful individuals” directly supports the promotion of the rule of law and access to justice.
   • Target 16.6: Develop effective, accountable and transparent institutions at all levels. The article highlights this target by mentioning that “141 complaints were lodged by the public against government employees, of which 117 were resolved.” This process of handling public grievances against officials is a core component of building accountable institutions.

3. Are there any indicators mentioned or implied in the article that can be used to measure progress towards the identified targets?

Yes, the article provides specific quantitative data that can serve as direct indicators to measure progress towards the identified targets:

• For Target 5.2 (Eliminate violence against women), the indicator is the number of cases addressed. The article states that 345 domestic violence cases were resolved. This number serves as a direct measure of the response to violence against women.
• For Target 5.3 (Eliminate harmful practices), the indicator is the number of harmful practices prevented. The article provides the specific figure of 108 forced marriages prevented. This is a clear metric of progress in combating this harmful practice.
• For Target 16.3 (Ensure equal access to justice), the indicators are the number of legal and rights-based cases processed and resolved. The article mentions a total of 631 cases involving women’s rights were resolved and 117 complaints against officials were settled, demonstrating the provision of access to a dispute resolution mechanism.
• For Target 16.6 (Develop accountable institutions), the indicator is the mechanism for public complaints and their resolution rate. The article provides the data that 141 complaints were registered against government employees and 117 of them were resolved, which can be used to calculate a resolution rate (approximately 83%) as a measure of institutional effectiveness and accountability.

4. Table of SDGs, Targets, and Indicators

Source: pajhwok.com