Midwives-in-training live and study in a new dormitory in Herat. Many women come from rural areas and other western provinces. Zahara, left, looks forward to returning to her village where she will use her new skills to save lives. Maternal mortality rates in Afghanistan are among the highest in the world: 60 of every 1000 mothers dies

Prohibited and limited access to healthcare and education, violence and early marriage continue to be part of cultural and social reasons why the rights of women and girls are violated throughout this region. These intimate portraits reveal the daily reality of women and girls in Afghanistan. On November 25, International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women, remember the women and girls of Afghanistan. Photos and Text by Mary Kate MacIsaac.