11 Years of the Elimination of Violence Against Women (EVAW) Law: A Literature Review of the Implementation of the EVAW Law (2009–2020)

On 20 July 2009, the Elimination of Violence Against Women (EVAW) Law was adopted through Presidential Decree No. 91. At the time, the law seemed like a “breakthrough.” It includes protection for women against violence, as well as forced marriages, underage marriages and polygamous relationships. The law is based on a universal legal framework of three Ps: prosecution, protection and prevention. Almost a decade after the law’s enactment in 2018, Human Rights Watch and the United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA) have regretted that, despite a strong text, violence against women is still largely ignored by the Afghan justice system, which turns victims away or pushes them to accept mediation, in clear violation of the EVAW law. Eleven years after the law was adopted, what do we know of the current state of implementation and the impact? This study that was conducted before the changes that took place during August 2021, provide more details.