The Chair of the United Nations Committee on the Rights of the Child, Sofi Kiladze, has stated that the Taliban’s new decree on the marriage of minor girls legitimizes child marriage and is in conflict with international human rights principles.
In an interview with Arab News, she said that child marriage is not a cultural or personal issue, but a fundamental and critical matter of children’s rights. She described the Taliban’s recent decree as a direct challenge to international standards and emphasized that the non-recognition of the Taliban government does not exempt Afghanistan from its international human rights obligations.
The Taliban Ministry of Justice announced on 24 Hoot that the “Principles on the Dissolution of Marriage” had been published in the official gazette following approval by the Taliban leader, Hibatullah Akhundzada. The regulation includes provisions related to the dissolution of marriage, child marriage, and child guardianship.
One of the controversial provisions of the decree states that if a girl remains silent regarding marriage after reaching puberty, this silence may be interpreted as her consent. However, this provision does not apply to boys.
Kiladze stated that any provision allowing marriage after puberty and interpreting a girl’s silence as consent is in violation of international human rights standards and the Convention on the Rights of the Child. She added that puberty is not equivalent to the legal age of marriage, and according to international standards, anyone under the age of 18 is considered a child and does not have the legal capacity to provide full and free consent to marriage.
The Chair of the UN Committee on the Rights of the Child further noted that the Taliban’s decree violates the core principles of the Convention on the Rights of the Child, including the rights to education, health, protection from violence, and freedom of expression.
She also highlighted restrictions on girls’ education, stating that secondary education plays a crucial role in preventing child marriage, as girls who remain in school are less likely to be exposed to such risks.
The Committee on the Rights of the Child has previously called on the Taliban to repeal laws related to child marriage.
Writer:Saeed Sameer
