Criminal Justice

Dear Representative,

The proposed new marriage law in Afghanistan doesn't go far enough to protect women from sexual assault and other unacceptable human rights abuses. Meanwhile, enforcement of human rights protections for women in the country is virtually nonexistent. With the expanded U.S. role in Afghanistan comes a responsibility to the promote human rights for all of the country's citizens. A recent report from the U.N. calls on the international community to play a larger role in guaranteeing these rights to women. The report says: "The current reality is that the lives of a large number of Afghan women are seriously compromised by violence. Women are denied their most fundamental human rights and risk further violence in the course of seeking justice for crimes perpetrated against them. Despite the hopes expressed nearly eight years ago, the rights and aspirations of Afghan women, and the men who support them, remain largely unfulfilled. The vast majority of Afghan women suffer a significant human rights deficit; for them, human rights are values, standards, and entitlements that exist only in theory and at times, not even on paper. The government of Afghanistan, in partnership with civil society and other actors, should provide leadership and commitment in rolling back the phenomenon of violence against women. The government must meet its responsibilities to protect, respect and fulfill women's rights, including its responsibility to end impunity through prosecuting perpetrators of violence against women and girls in Afghanistan." Please take action to support full and equal rights for women in Afghanistan. Thank you.

[Your name here]