President Karzai: Reject new law that silences women in Afghanistan!

Afghanistan may pass a new law to silence victims of gender-based, domestic violence, by not allowing family members to the accused to testify against him. As the majority of cases of violence against women occur within the family, this new law would allow men to beat, rape and sell their wives and other female members of the household, without the risk of judicial punishment.

The bill is now in the hands of President Hamid Karzai, who we urge to not sign the new criminal procedure code.

This new law will make it close to impossible to protect women and girls from domestic abuse, forced marriage, and honour killings.

Together, we can ensure that President Hamid Karzai does not sign the bill, and acts quickly to ensure that the goals that have been set to eliminate and criminalize violence against women in Afghanistan are pushed forward.

Let's support the many organizations doing amazing things for women and girls in Afghanistan!

Read more:

http://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2014/feb/06/law-afghan-men-hurt-rape-female-relatives-karzai

http://www.womenforafghanwomen.org/index.php/documents/174-waw-stands-against-new-law-?utm_content=vanessa%40womenforafghanwomen.org&utm_source=VerticalResponse&utm_medium=Email&utm_term=press%20release&utm_campaign=Support%20WAW%20in%20Fighting%20New%20Afghan%20Lawcontent

http://www.international.gc.ca/media/state-etat/news-communiques/2014/02/04a.aspx

http://girlsglobe.org/2014/02/05/afghanistan-the-legal-system-that-condones-violence-against-women/

http://www.theguardian.com/world/2014/feb/04/afghanistan-law-victims-violence-women

http://www.hrw.org/news/2014/02/04/afghanistan-reject-new-law-protecting-abusers-women

http://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/asia/new-afghanistan-law-could-silence-women-who-are-victims-of-domestic-violence-9108408.html

http://www.womenforafghanwomen.org/

Featured image: Photo: Graham Crouch / World Bank