The Taliban’s approval of the “Regulation on the Separation of Spouses” and the official recognition of child marriage mark one of the most alarming legal and social developments in Afghanistan under Taliban rule. This 31-page document, drafted within the framework of family law, not only outlines provisions related to the marriage of minors, annulment of marriage, and child custody, but in practice grants legal legitimacy to child marriage — a move that stands in clear contradiction to fundamental principles of human rights, children’s rights, and human dignity.
By adopting these regulations, the Taliban have once again demonstrated that their approach toward women and children is rooted in restricting freedoms and reinforcing traditional patriarchal structures. While much of the world is striving to combat child marriage and protect children’s rights, the Taliban have chosen the opposite path, turning this harmful practice into part of the country’s formal legal structure and paving the way for its continuation and expansion.
Child marriage is considered one of the most serious forms of violations of children’s rights. Marriage at an early age deprives children of their most basic human rights, including the right to education, personal development, psychological security, and the freedom to choose their own future. Girls who are forced into marriage during childhood often lose the opportunity to continue their education and become trapped in cycles of economic dependency, poverty, and social deprivation. Denial of education not only destroys the individual future of these children but also severely harms the social and economic development of society as a whole.
The physical consequences of child marriage are equally widespread and alarming. Pregnancy at a young age significantly increases the risks of maternal mortality, dangerous childbirth complications, malnutrition, and physical and psychological illnesses. Children’s bodies are not prepared to bear the responsibilities of motherhood, and imposing such conditions can leave irreversible impacts on their health. Many forced marriages involving minors are accompanied by domestic violence, abuse, and severe psychological pressure — issues that can affect an individual’s personality and mental health for the rest of their life.
From a psychological perspective, child marriage causes anxiety, depression, feelings of insecurity, and loss of self-confidence. A child who should be experiencing growth, education, and the development of their personality is suddenly confronted with the heavy responsibilities of married life — responsibilities they neither understand nor are prepared to accept. Under such circumstances, children are effectively deprived of a normal childhood and pushed into a cycle of coercion and restriction.
The social consequences of this phenomenon are also deep and long-term. The expansion of child marriage contributes to the reproduction of poverty, inequality, and deprivation within society. Children raised in such families are more likely to face educational, economic, and psychological difficulties, allowing this destructive cycle to continue from one generation to the next. As a result, a society emerges in which human development is weakened and opportunities for social and economic progress are drastically reduced.
Granting official legitimacy to child marriage will further isolate Afghanistan internationally. At a time when international institutions and conventions emphasize banning child marriage and protecting the rights of women and children, the adoption of such laws demonstrates the Taliban’s growing distance from global human rights standards. This moves not only damages Afghanistan’s international credibility but also weakens the hopes of millions of Afghan girls for a safe and equal future.
The Taliban’s decision to legitimize child marriage must be explicitly and firmly condemned. No group or government has the right to sacrifice the fate of children for extremist ideologies and oppressive structures. Issuing such decrees constitutes a clear assault on fundamental human rights and a direct violation of internationally accepted principles regarding the protection of children. Children are neither tools for consolidating power nor silent victims whose future and freedom can be determined behind closed doors.
The international community, the United Nations, human rights organizations, and all advocates for women’s and children’s rights must not remain silent or passive in the face of this crisis. Silence toward the legalization of child marriage means turning a blind eye to the suffering and destruction of the lives of thousands of children. The world cannot remain indifferent to the fate of girls who are deprived of education, freedom, and a future. Today, the responsibility of international institutions goes beyond merely expressing concern; they must use political, legal, and humanitarian pressure to force the Taliban to reverse their anti-human rights and anti-human policies.
Defending children means defending humanity. Any law or decree that deprives children of the right to freedom, education, and security must be condemned without hesitation. Afghanistan’s future depends on protecting its children, not sacrificing them in the name of ideology and extremism.
