“September 2010”.

“Includes bibliography”—(p. 38-42).

“Human Rights Research and Advocacy Consortium (HRRAC)”—at head of title.

Summary: “This report examines some of the main factors that are hindering Afghan women’s participation in decision-making, political and policy-making processes. It focuses on female figures who are active in political, social and cultural areas in Afghanistan. Overall, three main elements are identified as obstacles to women’s full political participation at a leadership level: 1) a lack of political will within the Karzai administration; 2) the influence and threat of politicized Islam; 3) the lack of a broad socio-political approach to promote women leaders”—(p. 1).

Contents: Acknowledgements—organizational summary—Acronyms—Glossary—Executive summary—Key findings—Recommendations—To the government of Afghanistan (GoA)—To the international institutions—Methodology and respondent profiles—Chapter I : introduction (p. 6)—Chapter II : women’s leadership in Afghanistan : laws, policies, elections and appointments (p. 9)—Chapter III : “the space for women in Public life is shrinking” : the empty symbolism of Afghanistan’s gender-equality laws and policies (p. 14)—Chapter IV : women’s leadership in Afghanistan and the politicized Islam (p. 22)—Chapter V : failure to adopt broad socio-political reform : the need for education and economic opportunities as a foundation for real women’s leadership (p. 32)—Conclusion—Bibliography.