Afghanistan: President Karzai Blocks Law Protecting Perpetrators of Domestic Violence

http://www.amnesty.org/en/news/afghanistan-president-karzai-blocks-law-protecting-domestic-violence-2014-02-17

Afghanistan: President Karzai blocks law protecting perpetrators of domestic violence

Afghan women take part in a demonstration to protest violence against women in Kabul on February 13, 2014.

“This is an important step against retrograde legislation that would have let rapists and perpetrators of domestic violence off the hook,” said Horia Mosadiq, Afghanistan Researcher at Amnesty International.  “This draft code would have taken Afghanistan back decades in terms of discrimination of women and girls in the country. President Karzai has taken a crucial step by refusing to sign the amended code. Meanwhile he must ensure that victims of domestic violence, rape and other crimes have a viable path to justice, including by putting in place witness protection programmes.”

Source: 

Horia Mosadiq, Afghanistan Researcher at Amnesty International