Afghan Women

Women in Afghanistan face numerous hardships and challenges. The country has been ravaged by a century of war and instability, which has destroyed the its infrastructure and economy thus causing high rates of poverty and much disregard for human rights. The deterioration of infrastructure and institutions makes it nearly impossible for most of the population to access education and health care. As a result, Afghanistan has one of the lowest literacy rates in the world and is rife with both medical and nutritional deficiencies. The long-standing instability and violence has also made it extremely difficult for groups outside of Afghanistan to access information about the population's needs and nearly impossible to administer aid. The legacy of the Taliban has only made the situation worse for the country's women, who were not allowed to attend school, go to work, or even leave their homes without a male family member. Despite the Taliban's fall from power, gender discrimination and gender-based violence is still prevalent, particularly in rural regions where they retain influence. 

Artisan Voices

Mariam, AIL graduate and embroidery instructor: “There were no courses in our area and also the population of our area has increased. Girls had lots of difficulties with transportation. So now, without any problem, we can get to a course...I would like to thank AIL for changing my life. I would also like to thank the AIL staff for their good work for our community.” Mariam struggled with unemployment because she was illiterate, but working with AIL allowed her to complete the 6^th grade. She also joined her center's embroidery class, which she now teaches. 

Afghan Embroidery

Embroidery work is a centuries-old Afghan tradition whose patterns vary by region. Broadly, embroidery from northern Afghanistan is distinguished by intricate geometric patterns, while the khamak embroidery found in southern Afghanistan is distinguished by looser geometric and floral design. Shishadur, commonly found in Afghan embroidery, involves stitching small mirrors into the fabric. These mirrors are intended to ward away evil spirits. Traditionally, embroidery has been used to embellish everything from home décor to clothing and gifts, as a proud expression of a family's cultural heritage. The long-running instability and violence in Afghanistan, however, has affected more than people's livelihoods; craftwork is similarly dying out as people struggle to meet daily needs. Income generation programs like AIL's allow women to support themselves in the midst of turmoil and to preserve their traditions. 

Region: South Asia

Capital: Kabul 

Government: Islamic Republic 

President: Hamid Karzai

Population: 29,835,392 (2011 est.)

Size: Slightly smaller than Texas

Languages: Afghan Persian or Dari (official), Pashto (official), Turkic languages, much bilingualism

Major religion(s): Muslim 99% (80% Sunni, 19% Shia)

Literacy rate: Total 28.1%; Men 43.1%; Women 12.6%

Poverty rate: 36% of the population lives below the poverty line

Unemployment rate: 35% (2008)

Maternal mortality rate: Lifetime risk of death in childbirth 1 in 11

Average number of years in school: Men 11 years; Women 7 years, total 9

Did you know: The national sport of Afghanistan is buzkashi, or “goat-grabbing”, a traditional Central Asian team sport played on horseback. The object of the game is to grab the carcass of a goat or calf and pitch it across a goal line.

All statistics from CIA World Factbook 2011, U.S. State Department, and UNICEF

Afghanistan is home to many different cultures and religious traditions. However, decades of civil war, foreign occupation, and Taliban rule have made it one of the poorest and least developed nations in the world. The Soviet Union invaded and occupied Afghanistan from 1979 until 1989, when the US-backed mujahedeen forces defeated it. The Taliban, an Islamic Fundamentalist group that had received much of the U.S. funding, began to capture cities throughout Afghanistan, claiming total control over the country by 1996. The members of the anti-terror coalition formally overthrew the oppressive Taliban regime in 2001. Afghanistan continues to be occupied by the U.S. and its partners in an ongoing effort to combat the Taliban insurgency. In December 2004, Afghanistan held its first democratic elections and Hamid Karzai emerged as the president. He was reelected in 2009 and his government continues to struggle with corruption and instability.  

Women

The Taliban sanctioned gender-based violence and oppression against women, causing them to face discrimination in every aspect of their lives. Afghan women were not allowed to go to school, work outside of their homes, or appear in public without wearing a burqa (full-body covering that exposes only the eyes) and being accompanied by a male relative. They were denied access to health care and forbidden to speak out. Women who had been professors and doctors found themselves without work and subject to violence. As a result, the rate of female illiteracy skyrocketed, leaving an entire generation of girls uneducated. Even now, the national literacy rate is under 30%, with the rate for women less than half that.  Women also suffered from anemia and vitamin D deficiencies because they did not have access to sufficient sunlight. This legacy remains as women still face discrimination at the hands of both government and society.

Health

Afghanistan has one of the least-developed health care systems in the world: medical training is nearly nonexistent, government services are minimal, and there is no welfare system. The majority of rural areas do not have hospitals or doctors and most Afghans do not have access to clean water. As a result, the country has extensive health problems: high rates of maternal mortality, low life expectancy, widespread malnutrition, poor sanitation and hygiene, and high instances of preventable diseases. The Taliban’s rule banned male physicians from treating female patients and prevented medical training for women, which make access to health care particularly difficult for women.

Drug Trade

The weakness of the Afghan state in recent decades has led to increased economic growth in one sector only: illicit drug production. Poppy cultivation and the opium trade now account for more than half of Afghanistan's GDP, and the country is the source of about 70% of the world's illegal opium. Additionally, Afghanistan is producing a far greater amount of opium than there is demand for. Concentrated in the rural provinces of the country, drug production provides income to many tribal ethnic groups and funds the ongoing Taliban insurgency. Drug control efforts have been hampered by Taliban control in many regions, as well as the farmers' dependency on poppy crops. The interrelation between the drug trade and the Afghan insurgency makes them both more difficult to combat.  Providing alternate sources of income is an important step towards weaning the country from its reliance on the illicit drug trade.