Afghanistan in 2015 1

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Afghanistan in 2015
• Television ownership and viewership. The percent of respondents who own a television has
increased from 36.9% in 2007 to 62.1% in 2015. When asked which television shows they
watch the most, Afghans cite the six o’clock news (33.8%), followed by serials (25.8%), religious
programs (4.0%), and sports (3.1%).
• Internet access. Approximately one-fifth (21.0%) of respondents nationwide report having
someone in their household who has access to the internet. Internet use continues to grow. In
2013, 3.2% said they use the internet for news and information. This year, 9.6% say the same.
Women and society
• Assistance for women. Nearly one quarter (23.4%) of respondents know of an organization
that assists women with their problems, an increase over previous years. More urban respondents
(28.1%) than rural (21.9%) are aware of places where women can seek assistance. Almost half of
respondents (45.7%) identify the Directorate of Women’s Affairs, while 9.7% identify the District
Governor’s Office and 9.0 % identify the Human Rights Council/Office.
• Access to justice. Overall, 47.0% of Afghans who have taken a case to the state courts agree that
the state courts treat men and women equally. Notably more women (51.1%) than men (43.1%)
say that there is equal treatment of men and women by the state courts. Among respondents who
took a case forward for resolution by a jirga or shura, 67.2% agree there should be local women’s
jirgas and shuras.
• Customs and cultural practices: Most Afghans (80.5%) disagree with the practice of baad, where
a daughter is given to another party as a penalty or payment for some offense. Fewer, but still a
majority (64.7%), disagree with the practice of baddal, the exchange of daughters between families
for marriage. In both cases, the human rights concern is that the daughters may be forced to marry
without their consent. Meanwhile, 87.8% of respondents agree that a daughter is entitled to part
of her deceased father’s inheritance (miras), a right guaranteed by Islamic law.
• Women’s attire in public. Over a third (35.1%) of Afghans say that the burqa (a full-body covering)
is the most appropriate public dress for women, followed by 27.7% who say the niqab (a veil that
covers the full face, with the exception of the eyes). Only 1.2% of Afghans say it is appropriate for
a woman to be unveiled in public.
• Leadership. Among an array of leadership positions, Afghans are most likely to agree that a
woman should be allowed to sit on a community development council (74.4%) and least likely
to agree that a woman can run for president (52.9%). A majority of Afghans agree that women
should be eligible to serve as a government minister or cabinet member (58.5%), as a governor of a
province (57.6%), or chief executive officer of a large company (56.3%). However, support for the
idea of equal representation of men and women in political leadership positions has been steadily
declining, from 51.1% in 2008 to 43.6% in 2015.