The United Nations has expressed strong condemnation of new regulations introduced by the Taliban that recognize child marriage and include alarming guidelines for 'virgin girls' and those who have reached puberty. According to the UN Assistance Mission in Afghanistan, these regulations effectively legitimize child marriage by regulating marriages involving minors instead of prohibiting them. A particularly concerning provision states that a girl's silence upon reaching puberty can be interpreted as consent to marriage, undermining the principle of free and full consent. The regulation, known as 'Principles of Separation Between Spouses', consists of 31 articles that address various marital issues, including child marriage and forced separation. Under Article 5, marriages arranged by relatives other than a girl's father or grandfather are considered legally valid, provided the spouse is socially compatible. The Taliban's oppressive restrictions on women and girls have escalated since their return to power in August 2021, including bans on education and severe limitations on women's rights. Additionally, a new penal code permits husbands to physically discipline their wives, complicating women's ability to seek justice for domestic violence. The international community continues to voice concerns over the erosion of women's rights in Afghanistan under Taliban rule.