Women’s Rights, Gender Equality, and Transition: Securing Gains, Moving Forward

This report is designed to contribute to the growing body of research on gender issues in Afghanistan with a specific focus on identifying gains and losses over the past decade at both the macro and micro levels. It assesses in what areas significant progress has been made in effecting sustained positive change in the lives of women and girls, and where it has been slower in coming, and it identifies some of the reasons for the varied progress. The paper highlights obstacles to making future advances in gender equality during and after the upcoming transition period and recommends priority areas for action through which to protect and advance women’s positions.