Gender equity in Afghanistan is a complex issue with a host of interlacing factors playing a significant role: poverty, war and cultural traditions.

A 2006 study by Afghanistan Independent Human Rights Commission (AIHRC) says 85 percent of the girls and women are still illiterate and the number of girls going to school is half that of boys.

The study reports that every 30 minutes a woman dies in Afghanistan during pregnancy or childbirth and this figure indicates 60 deaths in 1,000 women. Afghan maternal mortality is the second highest in the world, and women's life expectancy (age 43) is among the lowest.

According to the United Nations' National Human Development Report (2004), only Niger and Burkina Faso are placed lower on the Gender Development Index.

A new World Bank report (2006) has warned that reconstruction and development in post-conflict Afghanistan will be severely affected unless pervasive gender gaps are addressed.

While Article 33 of the new Constitution facilitates women’s political participation by granting every citizen the right to elect and be elected, other constitutional provisions substantially limit this right. For example, Article 72(2) makes higher education necessary for membership in the National Assembly. Given that women have had very few or no opportunities for education, women will be disproportionately affected by this provision.