After decades of conflict, Afghanistan remains a country in crisis.  More than half of the population lives below the poverty line. Afghanistan faces major shortages of housing, clean water, electricity, access to medical care and food. Rape (both within and outside of marriage), forced marriage, prostitution, gender-based violence, and bonded labor are all common. Women and children with disabilities are often denied their most basic rights. 

This combination of realities has created an environment where the exploitation and trafficking of women and children is widespread.

Women and Children are often the most severely affected in conflict situations. Hagar's focus in Afghanistan is the protection and rehabilitation of abused and exploited women and children.

Hagar began working in Afghanistan in 2008.  Currently, Hagar runs a shelter in where it has started to walk the journey of recovery with women and children who have been victims of human rights abuse.  Hagar continues to look a ways of empowering women and children in this difficult environment as well as creative ways of reintegrating indivdiuals back into community.