The UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Navi Pillay is urging Afghanistan to repeal a new law that would undermine women’s rights.  The law, which was signed by President Karzai, “denies Afghan Shi’a women the right to leave their homes except for ‘legitimate’ purposes; forbids women from working or receiving education without their husbands’ express permission; explicitly permits marital rape; diminishes the right of mothers to be their children’s guardians in the event of a divorce; and makes it impossible for wives to inherit houses and land from their husbands.”  This law, though it directly addresses only Shi’a women, is likely to negatively impact all Afghan women and is the latest in a string of other human rights setbacks in the country. Read more at the links below:

http://www.ohchr.org/EN/NewsEvents/Pages/Media.aspx

http://www.nytimes.com/2009/04/05/world/asia/05afghan.html?ref=asia