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| Afghanistan's top female police officer dies after shooting | Afghanistan's top female police officer dies after shooting |
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| The top female police officer in the Afghan province of Helmand has died from gunshot wounds sustained in an attack on Sunday, officials said. | The top female police officer in the Afghan province of Helmand has died from gunshot wounds sustained in an attack on Sunday, officials said. |
| Sub-Inspector Negar, 38, suffered a bullet wound to the neck and died early on Monday, the provincial government spokesman Omar Zawak and police spokesman Fareed Ahmad Obaidi said. | Sub-Inspector Negar, 38, suffered a bullet wound to the neck and died early on Monday, the provincial government spokesman Omar Zawak and police spokesman Fareed Ahmad Obaidi said. |
| Negar was getting into her car to go to work when two gunmen drove up on a motorbike and shot her in the right shoulder, Zawak said. Her bodyguards fired back at the gunmen but they escaped. | Negar was getting into her car to go to work when two gunmen drove up on a motorbike and shot her in the right shoulder, Zawak said. Her bodyguards fired back at the gunmen but they escaped. |
| Negar, known by just one name, worked in the Helmand police's criminal investigation department in Lashkar Gah city. She had been in the police for five years. | Negar, known by just one name, worked in the Helmand police's criminal investigation department in Lashkar Gah city. She had been in the police for five years. |
| She had spoken out about the need for female police officers in Afghanistan, which has seen a string of attacks on prominent women. | She had spoken out about the need for female police officers in Afghanistan, which has seen a string of attacks on prominent women. |
| Negar served as a sub-inspector in the police criminal investigation department in Helmand province. She had taken over the duties of Islam Bibi, a well-known police officer who was shot dead in July by unknown gunmen as she headed to work. Bibi, 37, told reporters she had even been threatened by male members of her own family over her job. | Negar served as a sub-inspector in the police criminal investigation department in Helmand province. She had taken over the duties of Islam Bibi, a well-known police officer who was shot dead in July by unknown gunmen as she headed to work. Bibi, 37, told reporters she had even been threatened by male members of her own family over her job. |
| Women make up just 1% of police officers in Afghanistan. | Women make up just 1% of police officers in Afghanistan. |
| Several prominent Afghan women have been attacked or kidnapped in recent months. | Several prominent Afghan women have been attacked or kidnapped in recent months. |
| Earlier this month, a female MP who had been held captive for about four weeks was freed by the Taliban in exchange for several detained militants, a regional official told Associated Press. The Taliban said the freed prisoners were "four innocent women and two children". | Earlier this month, a female MP who had been held captive for about four weeks was freed by the Taliban in exchange for several detained militants, a regional official told Associated Press. The Taliban said the freed prisoners were "four innocent women and two children". |
| In August, insurgents ambushed the convoy of a female Afghan senator, seriously wounding her in the attack and killing her eight-year-old daughter and a bodyguard. | In August, insurgents ambushed the convoy of a female Afghan senator, seriously wounding her in the attack and killing her eight-year-old daughter and a bodyguard. |
| Female police officers seem to be a favourite target of insurgents, and several have been threatened or killed. Lieutenant Colonel Malalai Kakar, who worked in southern Kandahar province and was perhaps the best-known female police officer in the country, was shot dead by the Taliban in 2008. | Female police officers seem to be a favourite target of insurgents, and several have been threatened or killed. Lieutenant Colonel Malalai Kakar, who worked in southern Kandahar province and was perhaps the best-known female police officer in the country, was shot dead by the Taliban in 2008. |
| According to a report released this month by Oxfam, efforts to recruit more women into Afghanistan's police force have met with limited success. In 2005 the national police force employed just 180 women out of 53,400 personnel, the report said. By July 2013 that had risen to 1,551 policewomen out of 157,000. | According to a report released this month by Oxfam, efforts to recruit more women into Afghanistan's police force have met with limited success. In 2005 the national police force employed just 180 women out of 53,400 personnel, the report said. By July 2013 that had risen to 1,551 policewomen out of 157,000. |
| The female officers, especially in the deeply conservative southern provinces, face numerous challenges, including disapproval from their own families. Many also face sexual harassment and assault by male colleagues and some in the job are given menial tasks such as serving tea, the report said. | The female officers, especially in the deeply conservative southern provinces, face numerous challenges, including disapproval from their own families. Many also face sexual harassment and assault by male colleagues and some in the job are given menial tasks such as serving tea, the report said. |
| Despite the challenges, recruiting more women police officers could have major benefits for the Afghan population, especially women and girls who feel uncomfortable or afraid reporting crimes to male police, Oxfam said. | Despite the challenges, recruiting more women police officers could have major benefits for the Afghan population, especially women and girls who feel uncomfortable or afraid reporting crimes to male police, Oxfam said. |
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