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The Taliban has issued a new 90-page penal code in Afghanistan, which amounts to legalizing violence against women and children. This poses a serious threat to their rights.
The Taliban's New Penal Code: Legitimizing Violence (Image Source: Internet)
New Delhi: The new 90-page penal code, signed by Taliban Supreme Leader Hibatullah Akhundzada, legalizes violence against women and children. Under this law, husbands are allowed to physically harm their wives and children, provided it does not cause "broken bones or open wounds."
Furthermore, this law completely fails to prevent mental or sexual abuse. Even in severe cases of violence, only a 15-day jail sentence is imposed, and the victim must present evidence of her injuries to court, which is virtually impossible under Taliban rules.
Under this penal code, women are required to wear full veils in public and must be accompanied by their husbands or male guardians for any legal proceedings. For example, if a woman wants to file a case of violence against her husband, she must accompany him to court, which is often impossible.
A legal advisor explained that obtaining justice for women has become a "very long and difficult process." He cited a case in which a woman was attacked by a Taliban guard while visiting her husband in prison. The woman filed a complaint, but authorities said it would not be valid without a male companion.
Under this law, wives are viewed as the husband's "property." Protections like the Elimination of Violence Against Women (EVAW) law, previously in place, have now been eliminated. The EVAW law criminalized forced marriage, rape, and other gender-based abuses.
The human rights organization Rawadari, working in exile, has warned that the new penal code legitimizes domestic violence against women and children and puts them in constant danger.
Nearly five years after the Taliban came to power, the rights of Afghan women and girls continue to be restricted. Girls are not allowed to enter secondary schools and universities, limiting most girls' education to the sixth grade. Due to poverty and security concerns, approximately 30% of girls do not even receive primary education.
Women are barred from most jobs and public spaces. Many sectors, such as NGOs, the civil service, and beauty salons, are now closed. This has led to women's workforce participation in Afghanistan being among the lowest in the world.
Furthermore, women's access to healthcare has become difficult. In some areas, the prohibition of treatment by male doctors and the lack of female health workers have made treatment even more difficult for women. Due to fear and discrimination, many women are unable to get necessary medical treatment.
