In addition to those root causes, weak and fragile State institutions in part...

In addition to those root causes, weak and fragile State institutions in parts of Afghanistan have, regrettably, restricted the Government's ability to fully protect the rights of women. An infant justice system and police force do not yet have the training or the resources to adequately investigate, prosecute and punish crimes. And our underdeveloped bureaucracy has not yet acquired the capacities necessary to meet the demands placed upon it. In Afghanistan, there is not a lack of will for progress, but circumstances have proved to be a formidable opponent to its achievement. Despite these continuing challenges, Afghanistan is committed to ensuring that all women fully enjoy their rights in safety. With the help and support of the international community, we are addressing weak and insufficient governance through capacity-building and the strengthening of our institutions and our security apparatus. In that regard, we emphasize the importance of the new focus of the international forces on protecting the population, which will help to minimize violence against women. Further, we are continually trying to improve the legal status of Afghan women and to uphold international juridical and legislative standards, for example through the review of more than 60 of the more controversial articles of the proposed Shia family relations law.