KABUL - Women trying to kill themselves by self-immolation in north Afghanistan has increased this year, the Afghanistan Independent Human Rights Commission (AIHRC) said on Thursday.

AIHRC Women's Affairs officer for the north Fawzia Nawabi told TOLOnews that reported cases of general violence against women are rising, driven by "the powerful and the armed".

At least 20 girls and women have set themselves on fire since the end of March (start of the Persian year), ostensibly for being in situations of some form of abuse, Nawabi said, adding that at least 12 rapes including child rape have been reported in the same period.

"Although the security situation is going well in the north, unfortunately violent cases have increased against women and children this year in the north," she said.

"The perpetrators of these disasters are the powerful and the armed," she added.

Nawabi also points to poverty, unemployment, and a low level of education as causes behind the violence.

Afghanistan Women Minister, Husn Bano Ghazanfar said the reports are worrying and that efforts are underway to address it.

"According to the law, the offenders are guilty so no one has the right to excuse them, neither the government nor anyone else. The offenders will surrender or face the law," she said.

Activists have said the lack of penalties and failure to pursue reported cases contribute to the culture of violence. (Tolo News)