Gender and security : Afghan rural women's participation in local conflict resolution

Abstract

Afghan women have traditionally been excluded from the public sphere, but have recently emerged as a political and social force, as their participation in civic and political arenas is increasing. Most importantly, their participation is crucial for further development of the country and achieving stability in national security. However, women still face vast challenges, in the form of violence, security threats, lack of education and employment opportunities, which are limiting their opportunities in life.

“Gender and security: Afghan rural women’s participation in local conflict resolution” investigates the main security challenges facing rural women, as well as their opportunities for participation, based on interviews in Faryab, Badakhshan, Ghazni and Kabul. The research is further supported by secondary sources and a desk review. Through a discussion of security challenges identified through a human security perspective, the thesis shows how these threats are severe obstacles, limiting women from participating in community life and pursuing their ambitions. Violence, oppression, lack of education and employment opportunities, and limited access to legal protection are highly critical threats facing many Afghan rural women on a daily basis. The concept of gender, contextualized and rooted in Afghan culture, is essential for understanding how women experience insecurity and how it affects their lives.