Afghan HRW Calls For Preserving Legal Protections For Women

Women in Kabul protest in Kabul against plans for legislative changes curbing protections.

Human Rights Watch (HRW) has called on Afghanistan’s parliament to reject a proposed criminal law revision that would effectively do away with legal protection for women from domestic violence.

A statement from the organization titled "Escalating Setbacks for Women" issued on July 16 said that a new draft of the criminal procedure code would silence victims and witnesses because it would prohibit relatives of a criminal defendant from being questioned as witnesses against the accused.

HRW's Brad Adams was quoted as saying the move would "stop prosecutions of people who beat, forcibly marry, and even sell their female relatives."

HRW says that the draft being considered in the lower house of the Afghan parliament is just the latest effort to weaken the already inadequate protections for women, including by the parliament.