ISLAMABAD: The United Nations has said that a new decree issued by Afghanistan’s Taliban authorities on marital separation “further entrenches systematic discrimination” and weakens the rights of women and girls in the country.
According to AFP, the 31-article regulation—published in mid-May—outlines various grounds for divorce in Afghanistan, including a husband’s prolonged disappearance, “lack of harmony” between spouses, apostasy from Islam, and a husband failing to fulfill marital responsibilities.
The decree, published in the official government gazette, also states that marriages arranged for underage boys or girls by their relatives may be annulled, a provision the UN says effectively acknowledges the continued practice of child marriage in Afghanistan.
In most cases, the procedure for women seeking divorce remains significantly more complex than for men.
Georgette Gagnon, Deputy Special Representative of the UN Secretary-General, said the measure—approved by Taliban Supreme Leader Hibatullah Akhundzada—is part of a “deeply concerning pattern” in which the rights of Afghan women and girls are steadily being eroded.
The UN statement further noted that the decree “deepens systematic discrimination in both law and practice,” depriving women and girls of autonomy, opportunities, and access to justice.
Since returning to power in 2021, the Taliban have banned girls from education beyond primary school and restricted women from accessing parks, gyms, swimming pools, and beauty salons. Women are also required to fully cover themselves in public and have been barred from numerous jobs, with violations potentially leading to arrest and imprisonment.
According to the UN Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA), although an earlier 2021 decree recognized certain women’s rights—including consent in marriage—subsequent regulations have effectively undermined those protections.
