Afghanistan signed the Convention on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW) on 14 August 1980. Under the Taliban women suffered massive and systematic violations of their human rights. Since the end of the Taliban regime the improvement of women's rights and their involvement in society has become a priority in Afghanistan.

Through WOMANKIND Worldwide, A4ID lawyers assisted the Afghan Women's Network (AWN) as part of a consultation process to implement a sharia and CEDAW compliant law to protect women's rights on a cross-section of issues affecting women: from domestic violence to dowries, and divorce to harassment in the workplace.

A4ID member lawyers Richard McManus QC of Gray's Inn and Thea Constantinides of Linklaters provided legal advice to ActionAid on its International Guide to the Right to Education.

Education is a basic human right. However, despite the many International Conventions dealing with it, as well as varying domestic legal rights, much needs to be done to ensure its universal delivery. Action Aid sought to achieve that objective and to that end produced a Guide describing the relevant rights. Richard and Thea reviewed a range of international conventions and advised Action Aid about the existence of a right to education under a number of different legal systems. The ActionAid Guide to the Right to Education was published in 2007.