Achieving Gender Equality in Afghanistan By 2020: Gunjan Priya 625 International Journal of Research (IJR) Vol-1, Issue-4, May 2014 ISSN 2348-6848 Achieving Gender Equality in Afghanistan By 2020 Gunjan Priya 1 ABSTRACT Women form 50 percent of the Afghan population and the stability of this nation will be best reflected only by an improvement in their condition since they have always been subjected to any change, turmoil and cultural and religious norms prevailing in the country. Gender equality refers to a concept that all men and women, are free to develop according to their personal capabilities and can also make their choices irrespective of the hindrances posed by traditional gender rules, prejudices etc. Therefore, gender equality deciphers an equal level of consideration for all human needs and aspiration. However, in the case of Afghanistan, achieving gender equality is a target that needs tons of effort to realize. This paper also discusses Afghanistan’s efforts to achieving gender equality in light of Millennium Development Goals, actions, progresses and challenges. Equality is an ideal term and in Afghanistan, which has been a victim of conflicts, terrorism and religious fundamentalism for decades, it becomes more important to change the hierarchy of societal structure to involve women in the process of its reconstruction. The paper analyses gradual changes in the status of women in Afghanistan and their visibility in different arenas to assess the present scenario and future prospects. KEYWORDS: Gender Equality, Afghan women, Millennium Development Goals (MDG), Violence Against Women (VOA), Sharia law 1 Research Scholar Central for Inner Asian Studies, School of International Studies JAWAHARLAL NEHRU UNIVERSITY, New Delhi-110067 Email: gunjanpri@gmail.com