Baharan Lahib

Afghanistan- Child marriage and forced marriage are anong the most prominent human rights and humanitarian challenges in Afghanistan, having affected the lives of thousands of girls over the past decades. The impact of this phenomenon is not limited to depriving children of their right to education, proper development, and freely choosing their future, but also extends to exposing them to domestic violence, health problems, and long-term psychological effects.

Despite the limited efforts made in the past toreduce this problem, poverty, harmful social customs, and gender inequality remain among the most important factors contributing to its continuation and spread.

After the Taliban's return to power in 2021, concerns escalated over the increasing cases of forced marriage and child marriage. With wide‑ranging restrictions imposed on girls' education, declining economic opportunities for families, and the absence of independent supporting institutions, many families resorted to marrying off their daughters at an early age. Human rights activists warn that this situation threatens the future of a new generation of Afghan girls with grave risks.

Under these circumstances, the Taliban announced changes in laws and regulations related to family and marriage. The new marital law, emphasized by the Taliban's Ministry for the Propagation of Virtue and the Prevention of Vice, stresses women's obedience to their husbands, imposes further restrictions on their individual freedoms, and reinforces their traditional role within the family.

The effects of child marriage and forced marriage are not limited to childhood alone. Many girls who marry at an early age face domestic violence, dropping out of school, high‑risk pregnancies, as well as health and psychological problems. The testimonies of these girls show that early marriage not only steals their childhood but also deprives them of the opportunity to live independently and safely.

Forced marriage

Nafisa Noorullah is one of these girls. She lives in Khost province. Signs of hardship are clear on her face and eyes. She said: "When I was only fourteen years old, my family forced me to marry a man more than twice my age. At that time, I was still dreaming of going to school and continuing my education, but no one asked for my opinion."

Nafisa would pause for a long time while speaking, and speak slowly and deliberately. Sometimes faint smiles appeared on her lips, hiding a lot of pain behind them.

She adds: "From the very first days, I faced many problems. My husband prevented me from speaking freely with my friends or family members. Every small mistake was met with insult, humiliation, and sometimes beatings. I felt as if I had moved from one prison to another. I was still a child and did not know how to handle the heavy burdens of married life."

When asked about her health condition, she explained that during five years of marriage she became the mother of three children, in addition to her daily responsibilities of housework, working in the fields, and caring for her husband and children. "A few months after my marriage, I developed severe anemia, accompanied by constant weakness and fatigue. Then I faced many problems due to pregnancy at an early age. Doctors told me that my body was not yet ready for pregnancy. Besides physical problems, I suffer from anxiety and insomnia at night. I have often felt despair and depression."

Nafisa Noorullah has not forgotten that she was robbed of her childhood and wishes that no girl would live the fate she lived. "Girls must be given the opportunity to study, to make decisions about their future, and to choose their husbands freely. If they are allowed to complete their childhood and education, they will be able to build a better life and a brighter future for themselves and their society. This was also my dream. I loved the teaching profession very much and wanted to become a teacher, but no one supported me or allowed me to achieve this dream. I feel relieved that I was not blessed with a daughter; otherwise, she would be as miserable as me."

Impact of early marriage on women's lives

Noria Ahmad lives in Paktia province. She became the third wife of an older man. In the house, there are many children – boys and girls – and some of her husband's sons were older than her.

She says: "I am 19 years old. When I was thirteen, my family married me off to a much older man without my consent. I was in the sixth grade then, and I dreamed of continuing my studies, but no one cared about my desires or dreams."

As happened with Nafisa, Noria did not know that a man had proposed to her, nor did she know that the men of her family had agreed to marry her off in exchange for a large sum of money.

She recounts that story: "It was a hot summer day. My brother's wife brought me several new dresses and other things and said that I had to prepare for my wedding. I was a child, so I was very happy with those things and did not realize at all that I would become a bride. The next day, my marriage contract was concluded with a much older man. When they sent me off with him, I realized the magnitude of the disaster I had fallen into."

She adds: "Life was very hard for me from that day because of my young age. I was unable to handle the heavy household responsibilities, which caused me to be repeatedly blamed, humiliated, and beaten. Also, the conflicts between my husband's wives increased the psychological pressures I lived with. On many days, I felt alone, and there was no one to share my pains and suffering with."

Noria gave birth to her first child at the age of fifteen. Today, she suffers from multiple illnesses. "I tried several times to end my life, but the existence of my two children forced me to continue this life full of hardship and suffering."