This case study examines changes to women's voice, leadership and access to decision-making in Afghanistan over the last decade.

It engages with two central questions: (i) what are the enabling factors for women's voice, leadership and decision-making in Afghan political processes? And (ii) what do we know about whether and how women's voice, leadership and presence in decision-making roles within these processes actually result in greater gender equality for Afghan women?

In particular, this report focuses on one example of an attempt to achieve political change in recent years: the formation and promotion of the Law on the Elimination of Violence Against Women (EVAW), which was brought to parliament in 2013. In unpacking the political processes and relationships that have determined the course of EVAW, this study makes several observations regarding women's greater influence over political processes in Afghan politics.

The study concludes with a number of recommendations for how the international development community may better assist parliamentary activities in Afghanistan and help strengthen the role of women in Afghan politics, in a less prescriptive manner than it may have been in the past.

This is an output of the Women's voice and leadership in decision-making project.

Anna Larson