We went to war for this?

I don't think for a second that any government has gone to war in order to secure rights for women, but one of the offshoots of the Afghan 'war' is that schooling was made available to girls because troops provided security for them.

I agree absent

Iam64 I don't think western governments do believe that and, what's more, I don't think they care.

It's just dreadful isn't it. I genuinely don't get why any western government believes military action will improve the lot of women, gay, lesbian, any minority group, in countries with a history like that of Afghanistan.

I could weep.. Buckets and buckets of tears

Sadly though mollie it wasn't up to the police who were doing their job regardless of their personal feelings and not responsible for making such laws.

There have been tremendous gains for women in Afghanistan since 2002, but these advances are constantly under threat. Afghan women are rightly worried about who will protect their rights after the allied forces withdraw from Afghanistan this year. Not enough safeguards have been put in place to ensure that the place of women in public life will continue and this latest law, if enacted, will effectively silence witnesses to abuses of women. The Elimination of Violence Against Women Law (EVAW) that came into force in 2009 is ineffectively policed, but that the law exists does at least give some protection to women (and girls) - especially when individual cases come into the spotlight and receive media attention in the West. Up to US$16 billion in development aid (from international donors) is contingent upon Karzai's government producing a report that the EVAW is being implemented. The deadline for this report has passed, but I anticipate that the donors will expect that when the report is produced it will include Karzai taking a stand for Afghan women by sending the new law back to parliament with a message that he will not sign it until it is revised in line with the goals of the EVAW law.

I agree, Agus. Lots of reasons but I doubt our police ever thought violence in the home should be ignored just because it was 'domestic'. I might be wrong but I think the police can proceed without the victim making a formal complaint now but I might be wrong...

Not always the case mollie. Also there were some withdrawn at the 11th hour due to fear of reprisals from violent husbands/partners.

The police response to DV here was more to do with the time wasted trying to make a case only to have the victim withdraw the complaint at the 11th hour and not simply because it was family business.

Taliban terrorising a big chunk of Pakistan and the US is apparently awash with cheap heroin according to article in today's independent, just to put the icing on the cake. Oh sorry it was the "war on terror" wasn't it not the "war on drugs". silly me. Meanwhile Saudi Arabia is still our friend.

I can only hope that Manizha Naderi's campaign goes from strength to strength finally gaining enough support to stop this inhuman law.

Was it only in the 50's, not that long ago in the UK when DV was deemed acceptable according to the law? Whenever police were called out to wife beating cases the response was, it's a domestic, we don't interfere!

It only goes to show how absolutely ignorant and backward these countries are. I feel terrible sorry for anyone who has lost a son (or indeed daughter) to this hopeless cause.

It's completely outrageous.

It's not just there, look at Pakistan, I feel it's worse there...

How did it get to such a state for the poor women there? Is it entirely religion? I can't imagine even lasting a day.

....will anybody?

I never thought women would be better off once we left.....

It's appalling but I don't remember this being the reason given for war in Afghanistan... no-one has ever invaded another country to improve the lives of women and children as far as I know. There's always another reason, often to do with power and influence but never to improve the lot of women...