Afghan women are historically under-represented in the criminal justice sector. According to the National Statistics and Information Authority, women accounted for only 10 percent of staff in the Attorney’s General Office in 2018.

Shahgul* was always interested in working in criminal justice; she believed that having more women in the security sector was important in solving criminal cases that involve women.

However, after graduating from university, she found it difficult to secure a job in the field, so she applied for and was enrolled in the USAID Women in Government internship program. Through the year-long internship, she learned key skills that prepared her for a job in government—including project management, professionalism in the workplace, and leadership.

After graduating from the internship program, she traveled to Kabul to discuss job possibilities with the office of the Attorney General. She applied for a position and was one of the highest scoring applicants on the entrance exam.

Shahgul was selected to serve as the Administrative Manager for the Military Sector in Ghor province, a high-ranking leadership position at grade 2 of the civil service. In that role, Shahgul oversees criminal cases.

“I feel so proud dealing with and solving criminal cases involving women, as women can openly discuss their concerns and cases with me,” she said.

Shahgul is part of a new generation of female civil servants. As of 2019, the number of women in the Office of the Attorney General had increased to nearly 20 percent.

By hiring qualified and trained women, Afghanistan will cultivate a civil service that is more responsive to the needs of its citizens. Thus far, the USAID Women in Government project has enrolled over 3,900 women in its internship program and helped 807 women secure employment.

*Name changed