06/04/2009 (Agence Europe) - In a joint press release published on Monday 6 April, the foreign affairs ministers of the EU and the United States expressed their serious misgivings on the draft bill on personal status of Shi'ite women recently approved by the two houses of the Afghan parliament. Amongst other things, this bill authorises the marriage of girls of under 18 years old and bans women from leaving their homes alone, except in an emergency. Whilst noting significant progress on the status of women under Afghan law since 2002, the EU and the United States reaffirmed their commitment in favour of equal opportunities and the right of women to take full advantage of their fundamental democratic rights. (A.By./transl.fl)