KABUL, Afghanistan — The United Nations recently voiced serious concerns over a new marriage law from Afghanistan’s Taliban government. This law, known as Decree No. 18, includes troubling provisions related to child marriage and discrimination against women and girls.
The Taliban insists the decree aligns with Islamic law and states that forced marriages are banned. However, the UN argues that the law institutionalizes harmful practices.
This decree outlines rules for marital separation. One of the most controversial provisions allows a girl’s silence upon reaching puberty to be interpreted as consent to marriage. This has raised red flags about child marriages being implied as acceptable.
According to the United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA), this undermines the idea of free consent and the best interests of children. The law also permits marriages to be voided under specific conditions relating to dowry and treatment by the husband. However, it places significant obstacles for women seeking divorce, making it easier for men to refuse their requests.
Women and girls in Afghanistan face severe inequalities. They are barred from secondary schools and most jobs, and restrictions limit their social activities. Recent statistics show a drastic decline in female participation in education and the workforce since the Taliban regained power in 2021.
Georgette Gagnon from the UN highlighted a worrying trend: “Decree No. 18 is part of a broader decline in the rights of Afghan women and girls.” While the Taliban initially advertised some limited rights post-takeover, subsequent decrees have rolled back those protections.
Despite these tough conditions, men maintain unilateral rights to divorce, while women must navigate complex legal pathways, which reinforces existing discrimination.
User reactions on social media reflect frustration and outrage over these developments. Many Afghans and international observers argue that such laws deepen poverty and hinder the nation’s growth.
Afghanistan’s government maintains that it is committed to Islamic principles and the protection of women’s rights. However, many remain skeptical.
For ongoing discussions on women’s rights in Afghanistan and the evolving situation, you can follow reports by UNAMA and other credible sources.
