Sex Abuse of Afghan Women

https://www.nytimes.com/2018/01/01/opinion/sex-abuse-afghan-women.html

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To the Editor:

“#MeToo, Say Wary Afghan Women” (news article, Dec. 11) exposes the disturbing plight of Afghan women who face public humiliation for bringing instances of sexual abuse to light. But the consequences can be even more serious than being shamed by their community, as the state often brings criminal charges against women who speak up.

Public defenders at my organization, the International Legal Foundation, recently represented a 14-year-old Afghan girl charged with adultery after she told her parents that she was raped by her uncle. Because of the outstanding advocacy of our Afghan lawyers, trained and supported by international experts, the charges were dismissed, but only after the girl was incarcerated for four months.

The #MeToo movement must prioritize action, including where state institutions are the offender. As countries around the world seek to strengthen the rights of women, support should focus on organizations attacking this problem from all sides: protecting victims and fostering confident, capable female advocates who will shape society and the legal system.

JENNIFER SMITH, NEW YORK

The writer is executive director of the International Legal Foundation.