You can help improve the safety of women in Afghanistan

http://www.dailylife.com.au/

Do you remember the 12-year old Afghan girl Sahar Gul? She was sold into marriage, then chained in a basement, tortured and sexually assaulted by her husband and his family, because she would not become a prostitute for them. Her case shocked the world, and her abusers were sent to jail. But last month Afghanistan was on the brink of changing the law to enable this kind of abuse to be meted out against girls and women across Afghanistan. It sounds too horrendous to be true, but the proposed law would have allowed people to attack their wives, sisters and daughters without fear of punishment, because family members would not have been allowed to testify as witnesses to the crimes. If they could not testify, the woman’s claim would be unlikely to be believed – and victims of violence would have been silenced.

The law was passed recently by the conservative Afghan parliament, but after a huge outcry from women within Afghanistan, as well as the international community, President Karzai decided at the 11th hour not to sign the law into force. Only a few months ago, Afghan women also were at risk of another brutal law, which would have legalised public stoning to death for people committing the crime of 'adultery', an allegation usually directed at women. Again, after an international outcry, the law was not approved – however, these kind of last-minute reprieves may be coming to an end. In the last 2 years, conservative decision-makers in Afghanistan have made several attempts to return to Taliban-era repression of girls and women, and the situation is becoming even more dangerous for Afghan girls and women. On 5 April, Afghans will elect a new President, and whoever is elected may not want to make such politically unpopular decisions to support women's safety and freedom. If you'd like to show your support for women in Afghanistan, check out Amnesty's campaign page( http://www.amnesty.org.au/afghanwomen/ ) and be sure to sign the forthcoming petition calling on the incoming President to protect women's rights.