Women in Afghanistan

After more than 20 years of war, Afghan women and girls emerged from the fall of the Taliban with urgent needs to be addressed in order to sustain their livelihood and become active participants in society.

Government policies which had removed women from public life as well as traditional customs which undermined women's basic human rights were at the heart of their daily struggles.

Prior to the collapse of the Taliban in 2001, Afghan women faced a shadowed life largely removed from the public eye.

Today, Afghan women are participating in society through public, private and not-for-profit spaces around the country. While women continue to face hardships in a country still emerging from the grasp of extremist forces, they continue to climb the ladder of success.

Afghan Women in Government

Dr. Husn Banu Ghazanfar currently serves as the Minister of Women's Affairs (MOWA).

Azra Jafari became the first female city mayor in Afghanistan when appointed by President Karzai in December 2008. After her return from Iran following the collapse of the Taliban, Jafari took part in the 2001 Loya Jirga. Since then she has acted as the Deputy Director of the Equal Rights Association, a reporter and researcher for the Constitution Commission of Afghanistan, Director of the International Federation of Business and Professional Women, and a Public Information Officer for the Afghan-Pakistan Joint Peace Jirga in Kabul.

Dr. Massouda Jalal was the only female candidate to run for president during Afghanistan's 2004 presidential elections. She received 1.1 percent of votes and placed 6th out of 17 male candidates.

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