RIGHTS AND FREEDOMS OF AFGHAN WOMEN

Early day motion 1256, tabled 1 April 2009 by Lord Campbell of Pittenweem (Liberal Democrat). Signed by 59 members.

That this House notes with concern reports that the President of Afghanistan supports the introduction of legislation designed to restrict the rights and freedoms of Afghan women, including articles which would legalise rape within marriage and end a woman's freedom to enter employment or access education and health services without her husband's permission, despite the Afghan constitution and a number of the international treaties Afghanistan has signed guaranteeing equal rights for women; and urges the Government unequivocally to convey its opposition to the introduction of such repressive laws given the support the United Kingdom and British troops in particular are giving the Afghan government in its struggle against the Taliban, an ogranisation synonymous with the repression of women.

Signatures by party: Liberal Democrat 27, Labour 25, Conservative 2, DUP 2, Independent 2, Social Democratic and Labour Party 1.