More than thirty years of war and destruction have left Afghanistan one of the poorest and most fragile countries in the world. Denied to the rights of basic necessities in life, women have been the primary victims of the past 15 years of war. The worst of those years were during the Taliban Regime (1996 – 2001), when women were forbidden to work, leave the house without a male escort, not allowed to seek medical help from a male doctor, and were denied access to education.

Since the fall of the Taliban in late 2001, it is apparent that the political and cultural position of Afghan women has improved substantially; however, women continue to struggle as the poorest members of society and face numerous challenges at home and within their communities. Currently 87 percent of Afghan women are illiterate. A staggering 70-80 percent of women are subject to forced marriages. In their lifetime, one in every three Afghan women will experience physical, psychological or sexual violence.