World Bank2012-06-192012-06-192005-03https://hdl.handle.net/10986/8486Throughout the 20th century, the debate on women's rights and their role in Afghan society has been closely interlinked with the national destiny. Women not only carry the burden of symbolizing the honor of the family, but often are seen as embodying the national honor as well. Gender has thus been one of the most politicized issues in Afghanistan over the past 100 years, and attempts at reform have been denounced by opponents as un-Islamic and a challenge to the sanctity of the faith and family. During the years of turmoil, concerns about women's security led to the imposition of ever-stricter interpretations of socially acceptable female behavior, supported by the most conservative reading of the holy scriptures. Despite the rhetoric, women suffered from very serious human rights violations throughout the conflict. With the overthrow of the Taliban regime in 2001, Afghanistan embarked upon a new beginning, recognizing anew the contribution of the female half of its society. This Country Gender Assessment report identifies critical areas in which gender-responsive actions are likely to enhance growth, poverty reduction and human well-being. The extent of gender discrimination in Afghanistan is pervasive, and the present report focuses on a few key sectors deemed particularly important for both short- and long-term interventions. Gender gaps are widespread in health, education, access to and control over resources, economic opportunities and power and political voice, and while women and girls bear the direct cost of these inequalities, the negative effects are felt throughout society. This report makes the case that improvements in women's situation are essential for the reconstruction of the country - and that sizable investments in this regard will yield large benefits.en-USCC BY 3.0 IGOACCESS TO HEALTHACCESS TO HEALTH SERVICESACCESS TO SERVICESADULT EDUCATIONADULT LITERACYADULT LITERACY RATEADULT WOMENAGEDAGRICULTURAL PRODUCTIONAGRICULTURAL PRODUCTSAGRICULTUREANIMAL HEALTHBASIC EDUCATIONBIRTH ATTENDANTSBIRTHSBREADWINNERSCHASTITYCHILD CARECHILD HEALTHCHILD MORTALITYCHILDBIRTHCITIESCIVIC EDUCATIONCOMMUNITY DEVELOPMENTCOUNTRY GENDER ASSESSMENTCRIMECULTURAL NORMSCURRICULACUSTOMCUSTOMARY LAWDAIRY PRODUCTSDECISION MAKINGDISCOURSEDISEASESDOWRYEDUCATIONEDUCATIONAL FACILITIESEMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITIES FOR WOMENENROLLMENTENROLLMENT OF GIRLSENROLLMENT RATESEQUAL RIGHTSEQUIPMENTEXTENDED FAMILIESEXTENDED FAMILYEXTENSIONFAMILY LAWFAMILY PLANNINGFEMALE EDUCATIONFEMALE EMPLOYMENTFEMALE HEADED HOUSEHOLDSFEMALE LITERACYFEMALE STAFFFEMALE TEACHERSFORCED MARRIAGESGENDERGENDER ANALYSISGENDER DEVELOPMENTGENDER DIFFERENCESGENDER DISCRIMINATIONGENDER DISPARITIESGENDER DISPARITYGENDER EQUITYGENDER FOCAL POINTSGENDER GAPSGENDER INDICATORSGENDER INEQUALITYGENDER INEQUITYGENDER ISSUESGENDER MAINSTREAMINGGENDER PERSPECTIVEGENDER POLICYGENDER RELATIONSGENDER ROLESGENDER WAGE GAPSGERGIRLSGIRLS IN SCHOOLGROSS ENROLLMENTGROSS ENROLLMENT RATIOSGROSS ENROLMENTGROSS ENROLMENT RATIOHEALTHHEALTH CAREHEALTH INDICATORSHEALTH POLICYHEALTH SERVICESHUMAN DEVELOPMENTHUMAN RESOURCESHUMAN RIGHTSHUMAN RIGHTS COMMISSIONHUMAN RIGHTS EDUCATIONHUMAN RIGHTS VIOLATIONSHUMANITARIAN AFFAIRSHUMANITARIAN ASSISTANCEHYGIENEINEQUALITYINSTITUTIONAL FRAMEWORKINTEGRATIONINTEGRATION OF GENDERINTERVENTIONINTERVENTIONSLABOR MARKETLAND REFORMLEADERSHIPLEARNINGLIFE EXPECTANCYLIVELIHOODSLIVESTOCKMAINSTREAMING OF GENDER ANALYSISMALE HEALTHMARKETINGMARRIAGE LAWMATERNAL HEALTHMATERNAL MORTALITYMATERNAL MORTALITY RATEMIGRATIONMINISTRY OF EDUCATIONMINISTRY OF WOMENMORTALITYNGOSNORMSNUTRITIONPEACEPHYSICIANSPOLICY DOCUMENTPOLIOPOLYGAMYPOWERPREGNANCYPROGRESS TOWARDS GENDER EQUALITYPROPERTY RIGHTSPROTECTION FOR WOMENPROTECTION OF WOMENPUBLIC SERVICESRAPEREADINGREFUGEESREPRODUCTIONREPRODUCTIVE AGEREPRODUCTIVE HEALTHRETENTION RATESRIGHTS FOR WOMENROLE OF WOMENRURAL AREASRURAL HOUSEHOLDSSCHOOL-AGE CHILDRENSCHOOLINGSECONDARY SCHOOLSSEXUAL ASSAULTSEXUAL INTERCOURSESEXUAL RELATIONSSHELTERSOCIAL FACTORSSOCIAL LIFESOCIETYSYMBOLSTRIBESUNDPUNESCOUNFPAUNICEFUNIFEMUNITED NATIONSUNITED NATIONS DEVELOPMENT FUND FOR WOMENUNITED NATIONS DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMMEUNITED NATIONS FUND FOR POPULATION ACTIVITIESVIOLENCEVIOLENCE AGAINST WOMENWATER SUPPLYWOMEN IN PUBLIC LIFEWOODWORKERSWORKING WOMENWORLD HEALTH ORGANIZATIONWorld Bank10.1596/8486