Afghanistan's criminal justice system has made little progress in the way it treats women accused of so-called "moral crimes," despite public commitments by President Hamid Karzai to protect women's rights, according to a prominent rights organization.
In a report released on March 28, the New-York-based Human Rights Watch (HRW) said that, 10 years after the fall of the Taliban, women are still being imprisoned for running away from domestic violence or for having sex outside of marriage.
It estimates some 400 Afghan women are currently in jail for so-called "moral crimes."
The report claims President Karzai has "often made compromises that have negatively impacted women's rights."
The report is based on interviews with 58 women who have been jailed, primarily for running away or adultery, as well as prosecutors, judges and nongovernmental organizations.
In a report released on March 28, the New-York-based Human Rights Watch (HRW) said that, 10 years after the fall of the Taliban, women are still being imprisoned for running away from domestic violence or for having sex outside of marriage.
It estimates some 400 Afghan women are currently in jail for so-called "moral crimes."
The report claims President Karzai has "often made compromises that have negatively impacted women's rights."
The report is based on interviews with 58 women who have been jailed, primarily for running away or adultery, as well as prosecutors, judges and nongovernmental organizations.