Kabul, Dec 8 (IANS): The United Nations Sunday called for implementation of the law for elimination of violence against women in the conflict-ridden country.

"The Elimination of Violence against Women law, when it is applied, has provided protection to Afghan women facing violence," Xinhua quoted Georgette Gagnon, director of human rights of the UN Assistance Mission in Afghanistan, as saying.

Georgette Gagnon said a report on implementation of the law which had been obtained from police, prosecutors and the court in 18 of Afghanistan's 34 provinces from October 2012 to September 2013 indicates both advancement and continuing gap in enforcement of the law in the provinces, including the capital Kabul.

According to the report, 650 cases of violence were registered against women in this period with prosecutors using the law in 109 or 17 percent of the cases and the court applying the law in 60 decisions.

The law, aimed to end violence against women and provide protection to them, was enacted by President Hamid Karzai in 2009.

The law punishes acts of violence against women and practices like child marriage, forced marriage, domestic violence against women and girls, giving away a woman or girl to settle a dispute between two families or tribes, rape and beating.