The Problem of Women's Abuse in Afghanistan

Women in Afghanistan are constantly getting abused by men in their own homes and this kind of violence happens everywhere, every day in Afghanistan. Afghanistan is one of the worst countries in the percentage of the abused women and its severity, even though the issue of gender inequality is common all around the world.

According to the global rights' study from 2006, 87 percent of Afghan women have experienced domestic violence and more than 60 percent of Afghan women are reported to be suffering from the multiple forms of violence. In the country, females of all ages are enduring physical, mental, and sexual abuse in their homes. They have suffered abuse from not only their husbands but their fathers and brothers.

Girls in Afghanistan have no opportunity to get educated and have their own voice in their home because they are sold as a wife by their father when they are powerless and weak. According to the Afghan laws, women have few rights at home; A husband who tortured his wife could still get custody of their children if the women remarry with another man after the divorce. Even when the father is the one who abused his wife and children.

Also, there is an Afghanistan’s Civil Law that says; The custody belongs to the father after the age of seven for boys and girls. The second custody is the grandfather and sometimes, the male cousins and uncles can receive the custody right before the mothers. These unjust laws are used by male abusers who try to manipulate and force the women to stay in their abusive marriage. Gender inequality and domestic abuse are not the issues only in Afghanistan.

There are many countries suffering from the same problem. In Afghanistan, domestic abuse is much more serious. Violence against women has a long pedigree in all communities in Afghanistan, among the Shia Hazara and the northern Tajiks, as well as the Sunni Pashtun. Moreover, underage marriage is very common among all ethnic groups. According to Unifem, 57% of Afghan marriages are child marriages. Women in Afghanistan are not allowed to leave the house or family compound, as well as to take jobs. They have no chance to escape their miserable lives without help from outside of their country.

In conclusion, the issue of domestic violence is continuously occurring in Afghanistan because some misogynistic behaviors are still regarded as manly in their society.