In the man-dominated society of Afghanistan, women have always been looked upon as goods for buying and selling. They are not protected both inside and outside their homes. There have been countless incidents of violence against women by their male family members inside their homes while at work and in public too they have to counter certain sort of brutality ranging from simple taunting to rape and murder.

Report about a very shameful act of a police chief has been running on the media recently. Chief of police for Samangan province has been accused of raping three policewomen. In a video, one of the policewomen not only claims that her chief has raped her and two other of her staff but is also ready for medical tests to prove her claim.

Nonetheless, there has been no immediate action from the government to pursue the case. This is quite disappointing that the voice of a woman is heard by none in this country where trumpet of democracy is blown. This is to discourage hundreds of women working with our police force.

Apart from this single incident, women in general face unaccountable challenges. Among the many areas where there have been failures to bring about any significant development one is the right of women and safeguarding them from brutal violence. For centuries the rights of women have been suppressed and Taliban's era 1996-2001 proved to be the worst for them as they were imprisoned in their own home deprived of their basic rights, such as access to education, work or health services. They were treated worse than animals.

Meanwhile, more than a decade after the ouster of Taliban from government, it seems like their rules, laws and regulations still apply in many parts of Afghanistan and the people are compelled to follow them by hook or crook. Over the last decade – an era considered as return of democracy -, the world has witnessed heart-wrenching incidents of violence against women. Women have been attacked with acid on their faces and their body parts have been chopped off. They have been brutally beaten and publically executed.

As the time for complete withdrawal of international troops from Afghanistan nears, fears grow that Afghan women might lose the little gains they have had so far in the decade. Now is the high time for Afghan government and it international backers to take some serious measures for protecting women rights at present and in the future.