By Brendan Sweeney
The Civil Society and Human Rights Network (CSHRN) organized by the Danish Institute for Human Rights in Afghanistan consists of 60 human rights NGOs promoting civil and political rights and economic, social and cultural rights.
In a recently released statement, members point out that the new legislation on family law is “against the values of Islam” as well as internationally recognised human rights norms.
“The adoption and signature of this document will badly damage the role of women in the field of economic, social, political and cultural spheres in society [and] the restriction of the role of women will negatively influence the national economy of Afghanistan,” says the CSHRN statement.
According to Malek Sitez, Senior Programme Adviser at DIHR who is responsible for the Institute’s projects in the country and works closely with CSHRN, the new legislation is also in conflict with the Afghan constitution and all the principles which the Afghan government officially supports. He describes the new family law as “deeply worrying” because it turns back the clock of human rights work to promote equal treatment for women.
Mr Sitez urges the international community to put pressure on the Afghan President, Hamid Karzai, to repeal the law and uphold the constitution.
“We have to make it quite clear to him that he should now take the opportunity to show his dedication to the constitution and not distort the law by giving in to ideological and religious pressure groups,” says Malek Sitez.
However, there are indications that the Afghan parliament are bowing to pressure from human rights activists and the international community.
“Politicians are currently reconsidering the decision to introduce this legislation and it seems likely that President Karzai will take action to repeal this law once this process is completed,” says Mr Sitez.
CSHRN member organisations mainly work in three areas in Afghanistan: capacity building of member organizations in the network, organising secretariats for the network for instance and ensuring capacity building of the secretariats and steering committees; coordination, especially the coordination of civil society organizations working for human rights in Afghanistan, and advocacy, working with parliamentarians, to promote human rights in Afghanistan through legislation.
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