WASHINGTON - Women have borne the brunt of the conflict for over 30 years, the Afghan ambassador to the UN on Friday told the Security Council, calling 2014 a deadly for females. Last year, 12 percent more women were killed and injured than in 2013.      

The women of Afghanistan had been the biggest victims of violence, Zahir Tanin told members of the Security Council during an open debate on the protection of civilians.

He said: "This past year in Afghanistan was particularly deadly for women, with 12 percent more women killed and injured than the previous year. Women in Afghanistan, including women in public roles and girls seeking education, are often targeted."

Even when their lives were not directly at risk, women's livelihoods were impacted by the consequences of the violent conflict, he said, adding they had to support families when their husbands, parents, siblings or guardians died or became handicapped.

“Many lack access to paid work and financial resources, and this impedes their ability to provide for themselves and their families and makes them vulnerable to exploitation. Women displaced by conflict are also economically vulnerable and at heightened risk of exploitation,” he noted.

Calling the protection of civilians a pressing priority for the Afghan government, the diplomat said people had suffered for over 30 years as a result of the war and continued to suffer today. “This past year was the deadliest year for civilians in Afghanistan since 2001,” he said. (Pajhwok)