Afghan women's organisations and NGOs have been catalysts in supporting and mobilising women and girls in many parts of the country to drive local change.
Shabnam, 17, from Kabul, has been boxing for six years and is a member of Afghanistan's first female boxing team. She had to work hard to convince the conservative community in which she lives that girls should be allowed to box.
'I want to be a good boxer and I want to make my country proud of me. Sport is very important for girls in Afghanistan. We have been badly affected by what has happened in our country, but sport makes us strong.'
Photo: Abbie Trayler-Smith/Oxfam
