Afghanistan’s New Domestic Violence Code and What It Means for Women and the World

Afghanistan has introduced a new criminal law that drastically changes how domestic violence is treated. What is being called a “policy update” is, in reality, a law that allows husbands to physically punish their wives and children as long as no broken bones or open wounds occur. Bruises, fear, emotional trauma, and long-term harm are ignored. In the eyes of this law, abuse is only abuse if it leaves visible marks.

For Afghan women, the consequences are terrifying. Reporting abuse is nearly impossible. A woman must prove her injuries in court, appear fully covered, and be accompanied by a male guardian, sometimes the very person who abused her. Leaving an abusive home can lead to jail time. A woman who seeks safety by visiting her parents or escaping her husband’s control can be punished, while a man who seriously harms her may face only a few days in prison, if any.

This law does not exist in isolation. It comes after years of restrictions on women’s access to education, employment, public spaces, and decision-making. Combined, these policies strip women of autonomy, safety, and dignity. The home, which should be a place of refuge, has become a site of fear, with legal backing for abuse.

This is not about culture or tradition. It is about control. By narrowly defining violence and punishing women who try to protect themselves, the law enforces obedience and silences those who are most vulnerable. It tells women that their pain, their fear, and their lives are negotiable.

The implications go beyond Afghanistan. When inequality is written into law, it sets a dangerous precedent for the world. It challenges the international commitment to human rights and women’s equality, showing what happens when abuse is sanctioned by power. The global community cannot remain silent.

FAME Foundation stands in solidarity with Afghan women and girls who are living under these laws. They deserve safety. They deserve dignity. They deserve protection from fear and violence. Laws are meant to protect people, not control them. The world must act to ensure women’s rights are respected and upheld.