IX. ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

This report was written by A.Widney Brown, advocacy director of the Women's Rights Division, and Farhat Bokhari, researcher with the Women's Rights Division, with contributions by Roya Boroumand, consultant to the Women's Rights Division, and Laura Grenfell, intern with the Women's Rights Division, based on field research conducted by Farhat Bokhari and Roya Boroumand. Judith Sunderland, researcher with the Women's Rights Division, provided additional editorial input. It was edited by LaShawn R. Jefferson, executive director of the Women's Rights Division; Vikram Parekh, researcher with the Asia Division; and Malcolm Smart, program director of Human Rights Watch. Wilder Tayler, legal and policy director, provided legal review. Tejal Jesrani, associate with the Women's Rights Division, provided production and research assistance.

We express our deepest gratitude to all those who care about the importance of Afghan women's rights and who assisted us in our investigation. Most of all, we would like to thank the Afghan women and men refugees we interviewed for this report. That they cannot be named is a sad indication of their continued vulnerability in Afghanistan and Pakistan.

The Women's Rights Division of Human Rights Watch gratefully acknowledges the generous support of the Ford Foundation, the John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation, the Sandler Family Supporting Fund, the Moriah Fund, and the Shaler Adams Foundation.

Human Rights Watch

Women's Rights Division

Human Rights Watch is dedicated to protecting the human rights of people around the world.

We stand with victims and activists to bring offenders to justice, to prevent discrimination, to uphold political freedom and to protect people from inhumane conduct in wartime.

We investigate and expose human rights violations and hold abusers accountable.

We challenge governments and those holding power to end abusive practices and respect international human rights law.

We enlist the public and the international community to support the cause of human rights for all.

The staff includes Kenneth Roth, executive director; Michele Alexander, development director; Reed Brody, advocacy director; Carroll Bogert, communications director; John Green, director of operations, Barbara Guglielmo, finance director; Lotte Leicht, Brussels office director; Michael McClintock, deputy program director; Patrick Minges, publications director; Maria Pignataro Nielsen, human resources director; Jemera Rone, counsel; Malcolm Smart, program director; Wilder Tayler, general counsel; and Joanna Weschler, United Nations representative. Jonathan Fanton is the chair of the board. Robert L. Bernstein is the founding chair.

Its Women's Rights Division was established in 1990 to monitor violence against women and gender discrimination throughout the world. LaShawn R. Jefferson is the executive director; Widney Brown is the advocacy director; Farhat Bokhari, Chirumbidzo Mabuwa, Isis Nusair, Judith Sunderland and Martina Vandenberg are researchers; and Tejal Jesrani and Smita Varia are the associates. Kathleen Peratis is chair of the advisory committee and Nahid Toubia is the vice chair.

Web Site Address: http://www.hrw.org