Big improvements or small improvements?

In the beginning of April 2009 big part of the Western world was shaken by the news of the new Family-law in Afghanistan. Not having seen the original text of the law, thus depending on the sources of Finnish media, the law jeoperdizes the already fragile position and value of women even more, for instance by allowing a man to force intercourse with his wife, and allowing 9 year old girls to marry. The law also hinders women's ability to leave their homes and to study and work.

Once again there is evidence that outside pressure does have an effect on issues and practices: Due to international attention against the law it has been decided to at least post pone. Some changes have also been made; girls need to be 16 years old to marry, and women are allowed to leave their homes to study or work. Women's "responsibility to satisfy their husband sexually" has not yet been removed and the law may still be put to force.

It is outstanding that the government in Afghanistan has even as much as concidered changing any law because of international pressure. Still, I doubt how much protection the old law (was there any?) gave to women. Women in countries like Afghanistan and Soudi-Arabia for example have been so oppressed "forever" that I don't think any law makes much of a difference in their real lives. I am only happy, if I am wrong about this.

An incident comes to my mind from a few years back when a young women faced stoning to death. I think she was from Pakistan. Amnesty and several other human rights organizations, numerous individuals globally and even some states protested so heavily against the treatment of the woman, that she was pardoned. Big headlines screamed for her pardoning, and when the results came, there was only a small article saying that she will not be stoned to death after all. Reading further, she was to be executed on a more human way. Death faced her any way, but the pardon was, that she would face a more pleasant death. And her original crime? Being raped by her uncle.

Nevertheless, pressure from all levels, let it be individuals and multinational organizations, does help. Improvements in these processes may seem insignificant to us living in the western world, but they might mean the world to those in fragile, dangerous positions.