KABUL, Afghanistan, Feb. 1 (UPI) -- Victims of human rights violations in Afghanistan should be heard, say officials from the U.N. mission in Afghanistan.
The Afghan parliament voted Wednesday to give amnesty to those guilty of committing war crimes over the past 25 years, in an effort to boost national reconciliation efforts.
On Thursday, U.N. officials said national unity cannot occur unless the suffering of victims is heard and acknowledged.
"No one has the right to forgive those responsible for human rights violations other than the victims themselves," said a U.N. statement. "International experience shows that truth is vital to reconciliation.
"The struggle and sacrifice of the Afghan people in their quest for peace, freedom, independence and a better life over 25 years of conflict deserve full recognition."
U.N. officials also reiterated their support for the implementation of the Afghanistan Action Plan on Peace, Reconciliation and Justice, which, among other things, calls for accountability for those guilty of human rights abuses.
