More than 70 cases of violence against women, including under-age marriages, have been registered in southern Helmand province so far this year, an official said on Saturday.

AVA- Helmand Women’s Affairs director Qamar Niazi said this while launching a 16-day awareness campaign regarding crimes against women in Lashkargah, the provincial capital. She said all workers of her department were taking part in the campaign aimed at reducing violence against females.
Niazi said though many women assisted the government in running its affairs, the gender continued to face violence in most of the areas.
She said 71 cases of violence against women were registered so far this year in Helmand and the cases included under-age marriages, beatings, runaway from homes and other forms of domestic violence.