In the decade since launching a radio station in northern Afghanistan, Sediqa Sherzai has braved mines and rocket attacks as the Taliban seeks to silence her.
Women have made huge strides in the conservative country since a ban during Taliban rule of 1996 to 2001 from school, work, politics and going outside without a male relative.
Nearly half of Afghan women would rather leave their war-torn country permanently if they could, citing poverty and limited opportunities, according to a Gallup poll in September.
On her radio broadcasts in Kunduz, Sherzai discusses issues from education to independence, domestic violence, inheritance rights and women's right to vote -- and stand for elections.
Most women are not aware of their rights, or are too scared to exercise them, said Sherzai, whose staff are mostly women.
While Afghan women lag on many measures, a quota that reserves 68 of 250 seats in the lower house of parliament gives them a higher representation than the global average of 24%.
An international aid effort that arrived with foreign forces in 2001 prioritised girls' education and women's empowerment.
Koofi recently set up a political party, Movement of Change for Afghanistan, becoming the first Afghan woman to do so.
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