Afghan women rally against domestic abuse

About 100 women have marched through Kabul protesting against domestic violence and retrograde laws being considered by the Afghan parliament.

Afghan women chant slogans during a demonstration

Afghan women marched through Kabul protesting domestic violence and new draft laws. (AAP)

Afghan women are marching in Kabul to protest violence against women and decry a new draft law that activists say will severely limit justice for victims of domestic abuse.

Afghanistan's parliament recently passed a new criminal procedure code that would ban relatives from testifying against alleged abusers.

The legislation - currently awaiting signature from President Hamid Karzai - has prompted statements of concern from human rights organisations, the US, European Union and others.

Legal experts say the law would seriously curb prosecutions involving violence against women, where relatives are often the only witnesses.

About 100 women marched through Kabul on Thursday, chanting "no more violence" and "justice, justice".

Women's rights leader Fatana Gailani says the law will put too many limitations on women's lives.


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Published 14 February 2014 12:19am
Updated 14 February 2014 7:22am
Source: AAP

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