A concurrent resolution expressing the sense of Congress that the Shi'ite Personal Status Law in Afghanistan violates the fundamental  human rights of women and should be repealed.

Bill: 111-sconres-19
Sponsor: Sen. Boxer, Barbara [D-CA]
Introduced: 2009-04-23 in the Senate
Policy area: International Affairs
Subjects: Afghanistan
Asia
Crimes against women
Diplomacy, foreign officials, Americans abroad
Human rights
Religion
Sex offenses
Women's rights

Summary:
action_date: 2009-04-23
text: 
Urges the government of Afghanistan and President Hamid Karzai to declare the provisions of the Shi'ite Personal Status Law on marital rape and restrictions on women's freedom of movement unconstitutional and an erosion of development in Afghanistan.
 
Encourages the Secretary of State, the Special Representative to Afghanistan and Pakistan, the Ambassador-at-Large for International Women's Issues, and the United States Ambassador to Afghanistan to address the status of women's rights and security in Afghanistan to ensure that these rights are not being eroded. 

action_date: 2009-05-13
text: 
Urges the government of Afghanistan to revise the Shi'ite Personal Status Law, including its provisions on marital rape and women's freedom of movement, to ensure its consistency with internationally recognized rights of women, including those contained in treaties to which Afghanistan is a party.
 
Supports President Karzai's decision to analyze the draft law and strongly urges him not to publish it until it has been revised to be consistent with internationally recognized rights of women.
 
Encourages the Secretary of State, the Special Representative to Afghanistan and Pakistan, the Ambassador-at-Large for Global Women's Issues, and the U.S. Ambassador to Afghanistan to consider the status of women's rights and security in Afghanistan. 
 
Encourages the government of Afghanistan to solicit information and advice from the Ministry of Justice, the Ministry of Women's Affairs, the Afghanistan Independent Human Rights Commission, and women-led nongovernmental organizations to ensure that legislation and policies uphold the equal rights of women.

action_date: 2009-05-21
text: 

(This measure has not been amended since it was reported to the Senate on May 13, 2009. The summary of that version is repeated here.)

 
Urges the government of Afghanistan to revise the Shi'ite Personal Status Law, including its provisions on marital rape and women's freedom of movement, to ensure its consistency with internationally recognized rights of women, including those contained in treaties to which Afghanistan is a party.
 
Supports President Karzai's decision to analyze the draft law and strongly urges him not to publish it until it has been revised to be consistent with internationally recognized rights of women.
 
Encourages the Secretary of State, the Special Representative to Afghanistan and Pakistan, the Ambassador-at-Large for Global Women's Issues, and the U.S. Ambassador to Afghanistan to consider the status of women's rights and security in Afghanistan. 
 
Encourages the government of Afghanistan to solicit information and advice from the Ministry of Justice, the Ministry of Women's Affairs, the Afghanistan Independent Human Rights Commission, and women-led nongovernmental organizations to ensure that legislation and policies uphold the equal rights of women.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2009-06-02
text: Referred to the House Committee on Foreign Affairs.
action_date: 2009-06-02
text: Received in the House.
action_date: 2009-05-22
text: Message on Senate action sent to the House.
action_date: 2009-05-21
text: Resolution agreed to in Senate with an amendment and an amended preamble by Unanimous Consent. (text: CR S5883-5884)
action_date: 2009-05-21
text: Passed/agreed to in Senate: Resolution agreed to in Senate with an amendment and an amended preamble by Unanimous Consent.(text: CR S5883-5884)
action_date: 2009-05-21
text: The committee substitute agreed to by Unanimous Consent.
action_date: 2009-05-21
text: Measure laid before Senate by unanimous consent. (consideration: CR S5883-5884; text of measure as reported in Senate: CR S5883)
action_date: 2009-05-13
text: Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 61.
action_date: 2009-05-13
text: Committee on Foreign Relations. Reported by Senator Kerry with an amendment in the nature of a substitute and with an amended preamble. Without written report.
action_date: 2009-05-13
text: Committee on Foreign Relations. Reported by Senator Kerry with an amendment in the nature of a substitute and with an amended preamble. Without written report.
action_date: 2009-05-05
text: Committee on Foreign Relations. Ordered to be reported without amendment favorably.
action_date: 2009-04-23
text: Referred to the Committee on Foreign Relations. (text of measure as introduced: CR S4699)
action_date: 2009-04-23
text: Introduced in Senate