ISLAMABAD: The interim Afghan government&#39;s new decree on marriage separation &quot;reinforces systemic discrimination&quot; and erodes the rights of Afghan women and girls, the United Nations said on Thursday. Published in mid-May, the 31-article code sets out various grounds for separation in Afghanistan, including a husband&#39;s prolonged disappearance, &quot;incompatibility&quot; between couples, renunciation of Islam and &quot;failure on the part of the husband&quot;. The decree, which appeared in the country&#39;s Official Gazette, also states that marriage contracts drawn by relatives &quot;on behalf of a minor boy or girl&quot; can be annulled, which suggests child marriage is permitted in Afghanistan, according to the UN. In most cases, the procedures for women seeking a separation are more complicated than those for men. The document, approved by Supreme Leader Hibatullah Akhundzada, &quot;is part of a broader and deeply concerning trajectory in which the rights of Afghan women and girls are being eroded&quot;, said Georgette Gagnon, deputy special representative of the UN secretary-general. It &quot;further entrenches systemic discrimination in law and practice&quot;, the UN statement said, adding that women and girls are denied &quot;autonomy, opportunities and access to justice&quot;. Since returning to power in 2021, the Taliban government in Afghanistan has banned girls from continuing their education beyond primary school, walking in parks and going to gyms, swimming pools or beauty salons. They are required to cover themselves from head to toe and are barred from many jobs. Any breach of the rules can result in arrest and imprisonment. The UN&#39;s Afghanistan mission (UNAMA) said that following a decree issued in 2021 in which the Taliban authorities had &quot;recognized certain rights for women, including women&#39;s consent to marriage&quot;, subsequent legislation has ultimately eroded those protections.

Afghanistan

The United Nations says the Taliban’s new marriage separation decree further restricts Afghan women’s rights, reinforces systemic discrimination, and raises concerns over child marriage and access to justice in Afghanistan.

UN says Taliban marriage decree deepens discrimination against Afghan women

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ISLAMABAD:&nbsp;Pakistan&rsquo;s president and prime minister emphasized that protecting women&rsquo;s rights and enabling their meaningful participation in society are crucial for national growth and prosperity. They said this in separate messages honoring women worldwide, including Pakistan, on <a href="https://www.pakistantv.com/article/on-womens-day-indias-gender-reality-tells-another-story" target="_blank" style="color: rgb(0, 115, 230);">International Women&rsquo;s Day</a>. In his message, President Zardari extended greetings to the women of Pakistan and across the world. He said the day serves as a reminder of the central role women play in the life of every nation. The country&rsquo;s founder, Muhammad Ali Jinnah, he said, &ldquo;made it clear that no country can progress without the full participation of its women.&rdquo; He said that the principle remains relevant and guides national efforts. He said that women in public institutions, the private sector, and communities across the country continue to contribute with &ldquo;dedication and skill.&rdquo; From &ldquo;cockpits to tractor steering wheels, from intensive care units to classrooms, from sports fields to the floor of Parliament, Pakistani women have stepped forward wherever the nation has needed their talent and determination.&rdquo; &ldquo;They have taken part in public service and civic engagement and have also led historic democratic movements, including reaching the office of the prime minister,&rdquo; he stated. The president also recalled the &ldquo;Mother of the Nation&rdquo;, Fatima Jinnah, who stood for constitutional rule and democratic values at a critical time. He said that her courage strengthened the path for greater participation of women in public life. He said Pakistan has ensured women&rsquo;s representation in Parliament and provincial assemblies through constitutional provisions that enable women to play a direct role in legislation and public policy. Referring to this year&rsquo;s&nbsp;UN theme, &ldquo;<a href="https://www.pakistantv.com/article/formal-justice-eludes-afghan-women-under-taliban-authorities-un" target="_blank" style="color: rgb(0, 115, 230);">Rights. Justice. Action. For ALL Women and Girls</a>,&rdquo; the president said removing barriers to&nbsp;opportunity remains essential.&nbsp; &ldquo;Equal rights determine whether a girl completes her education, whether a woman can work without harassment and whether she can inherit property, open a bank account or seek protection through the courts,&rdquo; he said. &ldquo;In rural areas,&rdquo; he said, &ldquo;women play a vital role in agriculture and livestock, sustaining households and local economies while managing family responsibilities.&rdquo; The president said Pakistan&rsquo;s constitution guarantees equality and fundamental rights to every citizen. Pakistan is also committed to its obligations under the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women, which requires action against discrimination in public and private spheres. Zardari said educating girls strengthens families and communities. He said social protection and empowerment initiatives by provincial and federal governments aim to improve financial security and expand economic and digital opportunity. &nbsp;&ldquo;The measure of our commitment will be seen in outcomes that improve the everyday lives of our mothers, daughters and sisters,&rdquo; he said. Prime Minister&rsquo;s message In a separate message, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif said protection of women&rsquo;s rights guarantees sustainable development and national prosperity. According to a statement issued by the Prime Minister&rsquo;s Office, PM Sharif paid tribute to women in Pakistan and around the world and expressed goodwill toward women, especially Pakistani mothers, sisters and daughters. He said this year&rsquo;s International Women&rsquo;s Day theme set by the UN reflects a commitment to protecting women&rsquo;s rights. The prime minister said the hard work, determination and courage of women and their services in every sphere of life are a source of pride and strength for the nation. Women play a key role not only in families but also in society and the nation. From education to sports, from homes to government, the perseverance and achievements of Pakistani women are playing a role in building a strong and prosperous country, he stated He said women have opened new paths for coming generations in positions including prime minister, speaker of the assembly, chief minister, the judiciary, law enforcement agencies, health, education, business and the armed forces. The prime minister said the Pakistani government is committed to ensuring an environment where women can realize their full potential without discrimination or fear. &ldquo;Pakistan has effective legislation in place to protect women&rsquo;s rights,&rdquo; he said, describing it as a reflection of national resolve against harassment and exploitation. He stated that women&rsquo;s access to quality education, financial inclusion, support for women entrepreneurs, safety at work and effective measures against harassment and violence were among the government&rsquo;s top priorities. He called for collective efforts to create a society where every woman has equal opportunities for respect, dignity and development so that Pakistan can move toward a more just, developed and inclusive future.

President Asif Ali Zardari and Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif paid tribute to women in Pakistan and around the world on International Women’s Day. (MOFA)

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In separate messages on International Women's Day, they emphasize that protecting women’s rights and ensuring their full participation in society remain essential for national progress and sustainable prosperity.

Women’s rights essential to national progress, say Pakistan president, PM

ISLAMABAD: United Nations Under-Secretary-General for Political and Peacebuilding Affairs Rosemary DiCarlo concluded a high-level visit to Kabul on Sunday, where she pressed the Taliban to lift restrictions on women&rsquo;s access to education, employment, and public life, according to a United Nations statement. During talks with senior Taliban officials, DiCarlo raised deep concerns over the increasingly severe limits placed on women&rsquo;s roles, including restrictions affecting female UN staff and broader societal bans on women&rsquo;s participation in public life. She urged the authorities to immediately rescind these measures to improve the humanitarian and human rights situation in the country.&nbsp; DiCarlo praised the vital role Afghan women working for the United Nations play in supporting humanitarian and development efforts across the country.&nbsp; According to the UN statement, she also met separately with Afghan women and civil society representatives to discuss the human rights situation in Afghanistan, underscoring the UN&#39;s concern over the status of women and girls in the country. The meetings come as Afghanistan remains under Taliban rule, with girls banned from attending school beyond the sixth grade and severe restrictions on women&#39;s employment and movement. Afghanistan remains heavily dependent on humanitarian assistance amid economic isolation, banking restrictions, and widespread poverty, with UN agencies warning of prolonged vulnerability for millions. The UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) estimates that 21.9 million people (roughly 45% of the population) will require assistance in 2026. Doha process meetingIn a separate development during the visit, Taliban officials said DiCarlo and Interior Minister Sirajuddin Haqqani discussed continued engagement on the UN-led Doha Process, a diplomatic framework aimed at easing Afghanistan&rsquo;s political, security, and humanitarian crises.<div class="fr-embed"><div class="twitter-tweet twitter-tweet-rendered" style="display: flex; max-width: 550px; width: 100%; margin-top: 10px; margin-bottom: 10px;"><iframe id="twitter-widget-1" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" allowtransparency="true" allowfullscreen="true" title="X Post" src="https://platform.twitter.com/embed/Tweet.html?dnt=false&embedId=twitter-widget-1&features=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%3D%3D&frame=false&hideCard=false&hideThread=false&id=2015276343949459966&lang=en&origin=https%3A%2F%2Fmain.d1wrm1qseko1cp.amplifyapp.com%2Farticles%2F&sessionId=be69938480a04f03355573a307aee5882e3a6c03&theme=light&widgetsVersion=2615f7e52b7e0%3A1702314776716&width=550px" style="position: static; visibility: visible; width: 550px; height: 648px; display: block; flex-grow: 1;" data-tweet-id="2015276343949459966"></iframe></div></div> According to the Taliban&rsquo;s Ministry of Interior, the talks covered international engagement, counter-narcotics cooperation, economic stability, and private-sector restrictions, as well as the effectiveness of UN humanitarian assistance, Bakhtar News Agency reported on Saturday. The Taliban statement said that DiCarlo announced that the next round of Doha Process working group meetings will be held in Kabul. The United Nations has not formally confirmed the location of the next working group sessions, which have previously been held in Qatar&#39;s capital.

Under-Secretary-General Rosemary DiCarlo concluded her visit to Kabul, Afghanistan, on 25 January. (Photo/United Nations)

United Nations Under-Secretary-General Rosemary DiCarlo discusses humanitarian access, economic conditions, and continued political engagement, while Taliban authorities said Kabul would host the next Doha process working group meeting.

UN envoy presses Taliban on women’s rights during Kabul visit

ISLAMABAD: Nearly half of the world&rsquo;s 304 million international migrants are women, yet many face damaging stereotypes that expose them to violence, discrimination and reduced access to essential services, the UN warned Monday.&nbsp;A new UN Women policy brief, Migrant Women: Narratives and Perceptions, reports that migrant women are frequently depicted as &ldquo;promiscuous,&rdquo; &ldquo;a burden&rdquo; or &ldquo;a threat,&rdquo; shaping how societies and institutions treat them during crises. These narratives, the report noted, are emerging across regions, from Latin America to Eastern Europe and the Middle East.&nbsp;In Colombia, Ecuador and Peru, Oxfam surveys from 2019 and 2023 cited in the UN Women brief show that nearly half of respondents believed migrant women would eventually engage in sex work. Venezuelan women are widely accused of &ldquo;stealing husbands,&rdquo; a trope also echoed in T&uuml;rkiye with Russian women and in Poland with Ukrainian women.&nbsp;The report also highlights the deadly consequences of stigma. In Saudi Arabia, 37% of all documented suicides involve Ethiopian migrant domestic workers. According to the brief, &ldquo;narratives about migrant women that are rooted in stigma and discrimination can be potentially life threatening.&rdquo;&nbsp;In Ukraine, where the Gender in Humanitarian Action Working Group has documented similar trends, only one in eight people enrolled in the national opioid substitution therapy program is a woman. Kateryna Hrytsayenko of the Hope and Trust Foundation said women often conceal drug use due to fear of public shaming. Many avoid reporting domestic violence because Ukrainian law allows children to be removed from parents with addiction.&nbsp;Despite nationwide workforce deficits of about 30%, displaced women and female-headed households in Ukraine continue to face pay gaps, poor job opportunities and greater unpaid care responsibilities, according to labor analysis presented at the same meeting.&nbsp;The UN brief situates these narratives within a broader global political shift. Over the past decade, it stated, &ldquo;the world has seen a dramatic rise in right-wing nationalism that deliberately weaponizes migration,&rdquo; with 2024 elections in more than 60 countries amplifying anti-immigrant rhetoric.&nbsp;To counter this, UN Women urged governments to &ldquo;conduct regular perception studies that include sex-disaggregated data on migration.&rdquo; It also called on media outlets to &ldquo;center migrant women&rsquo;s voices as storytellers, not just subjects,&rdquo; and to avoid framing migration with charged terms such as &ldquo;crisis&rdquo; or &ldquo;invasion.&rdquo;

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Africa

From Latin America to Eastern Europe and the Middle East, women caught in migration or war are being portrayed through harmful narratives that shape access to healthcare, employment and safety. 

UN warns toxic narratives endangering migrant women worldwide

PARIS:&nbsp;Thousands of protesters across France braved the cold on Saturday to express their anger over the persistence of violence against women and demand more public action and funds to combat the scourge. In Paris, crowds of demonstrators -- 50,000 according to organizers, 17,000 according to the police -- waved signs, chanted, danced and sang as they moved through the capital in the protests organized by the Greve feministe (Feminist Strike) collective of some 60 organizations. &ldquo;A man kills a woman every 2.5 days in France,&rdquo; read one placard distributed by the feminist collective NousToutes (All of us Women).<figure class="fr-media"><img src="https://paktv-assets-7d41fab8.s3.eu-west-2.amazonaws.com/uploads/d8643eab-513b-4cac-a05f-ce1f564629cc-France women protest1.jpg" alt="France women protest1.jpg" class="fr-fic fr-dib"><figcaption class="caption-cover-image text-sm text-gray-600 italic">PARIS: Protesters take part in a demonstration called by the French collective NousToutes (Us all) to protest against violence against women, at Place de La Republique in Paris, on November 22, 2025. -- Photo by AFP</figcaption></figure> &ldquo;Nine out of 10 victims know their rapist,&rdquo; read another. &lsquo;Loved without being abused&rsquo;&nbsp;&ldquo;It&#39;s 2025, is it still normal to count our dead women?&rdquo; said Sylvaine Grevin, president of the national femicide victims&#39; federation, whose sister was killed in 2017, ahead of the start of the Paris demonstration. Hundreds of protesters also gathered in the cold in other cities, creating crowds awash in purple -- a color linked to feminism. &ldquo;We have the right to be loved without being abused,&rdquo; said 20-year-old student Juliette in Lille in northern France. Intimate partner femicidesThe associations behind the protests are calling for the adoption of a comprehensive framework law against violence, along with a three-billion-euro budget ($3.5-billion) to implement it. They are also calling for improved education and funding for groups that support victims of violence. According to official figures published Thursday by MIPROF, a government organization tasked with protecting women from violence and fighting human trafficking, the number of intimate partner femicides rose by 11% between 2023 and 2024, with 107 women killed by their partner or ex-partner. &lsquo;Every two minutes&rsquo;&nbsp;A woman is a victim of rape, attempted rape, or sexual assault every two minutes, and every 23 seconds of sexual harassment, indecent exposure, or the unsolicited sending of sexual content, according to MIPROF. The Women&#39;s Foundation rights group estimates the minimum annual budget the government should allocate to protecting victims of domestic, gender-based and sexual violence in France is 2.6 billion euros -- equivalent to 0.5% of the state budget.

A woman is a victim of rape, attempted rape, or sexual assault every two minutes, and every 23 seconds of sexual harassment, indecent exposure, or the unsolicited sending of sexual content, according to MIPROF.

Articles tagged with "Women rights"

UN says Taliban marriage decree deepens discrimination against Afghan women

Women’s rights essential to national progress, say Pakistan president, PM

UN envoy presses Taliban on women’s rights during Kabul visit

UN warns toxic narratives endangering migrant women worldwide

Thousands march in France to demand action on violence against women