Afghanistan has a deep and remarkable cultural legacy spanning more than 4,000 years, but recent decades of war and civil unrest have created broad challenges that touch every aspect of Afghan society. This complicated narrative includes definitions of masculinities and femininities, as well as with patriarchal power at all levels of society, presenting persistent and multifaceted threats to Afghan women. These threats sit alongside women’s and girls’ limited access to education, financial independence, and political participation — as well as ongoing security challenges limiting mobility and broader participation in public life — all of which heavily constrain the lives of Afghan women.

Against this backdrop comes the International Men and Gender Equality Survey (IMAGES) Afghanistan, an innovative countrywide survey intended to provide a comprehensive baseline from which to assess potential shifts related to masculinities, gender equality, and violence against women and girls. IMAGES Afghanistan is a wide-ranging effort including quantitative and qualitative research with men and women aged 18 to 59. The nationwide study and its dissemination were coordinated by Promundo and UN Women, with financial support from UN Women and Global Affairs Canada.