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WORLD MUST KEEP UP PRESSURE ON AFGHAN LAW AGAINST WOMEN
By Emma Bonino (677 words)

//NOT FOR PUBLICATION IN CANADA, NEW ZEALAND, CZECH REPUBLIC, IRELAND, POLAND, THE UNITED STATES, AND THE UNITED KINGDOM//

IPS COLUMNIST SERVICE, APRIL 2008


The new Shi'ite Personal Status Law recently passed in Afghanistan legalises rape within marriage and officially relegates women to second class citizens; it is a barefaced denial of human rights that needs to be condemned loudly, unequivocally and universally, writes Emma Bonino, vice-president of the Italian Senate.


In this analysis, Bonino argues that the new legislation is both a direct violation of international law and a contravention of a host of articles in the Afghan Constitution. It legitimises restrictions on everything women do, including where they go and whom they visit; it legalises their subjugation to the whims of others; it denies them a say in decisions about their children and access to education and health care.

Though Afghan president Hamid Karzai declared his intention to have the law reviewed following resounding condemnation within and outside Afghanistan, now is not the time for complacency. We should maintain our outrage: sign the international appeal, voice your opinion to your elected officials and to the Afghan authorities, take innovative, nonviolent action. The women of Afghanistan deserve no less than our total, unflinching support.

(END/2009)
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This is an abstract from the column. Editors interested in acquiring the full text of this column, please contact romacol@ips.org specifying the name and address of the publication as well as a proposed rate. Unfortunately, we cannot comply with requests from individuals or organisations that do not represent print media outlets.
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