UN Voices Serious Concern Over Taliban’s Child Marriage Regulations
The Taliban regime in Afghanistan has introduced new regulations regarding child marriage, prompting a serious response from the United Nations, which describes the situation as “grave.”
According to a recent decree from Afghanistan’s Ministry of Justice, there are several provisions concerning the legal separation of couples, which notably includes directives about girls who have reached puberty.
The United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan expressed that these rules could allow men to interpret the silence of pubescent girls as consent for marriage. One particular aspect of the decree also hinted at the acceptance of child marriage.
“These regulations undermine the principle of free and full consent and neglect to safeguard the best interests of the child,” stated the agency.
Additionally, the decree mentions that if a minor girl or boy is given as a gift by a father or grandfather without an appropriate dowry, the marriage may be deemed invalid.
U.N. Special Representative Georgette Gagnon remarked that this decree fits into a wider and alarming pattern of diminishing rights for women and girls in Afghanistan. Moreover, while the rules would allow women to seek divorce, they make it significantly easier for men to initiate such proceedings.
“Men can unilaterally decide to divorce, whereas women must navigate complex and restrictive judicial processes,” reported UNAMA. “This reinforces structural discrimination and restricts women’s autonomy, which is vital for their dignity and well-being.”
In an interesting twist, a spokesman for the Afghan government commented, saying, “Those against Islam aren’t a new phenomenon, and we shouldn’t concern ourselves with them.”
It’s important to note that the Taliban gained control in Afghanistan following the withdrawal of U.S. troops ordered by former President Joe Biden in 2021. This shift of power enabled the Taliban to seize a significant amount of military resources that had been abandoned.
