As the security situation worsens in Afghanistan, precious gains made by women and girls over the past decade in claiming their rights and access to services such as health and education are in jeopardy. High levels of gender-based violence continue, including forced early marriage and domestic abuse, and almost complete impunity for crimes against women and girls. The withdrawal of international forces, handover of security responsibilities to Afghan forces, and manoeuvring of power-holders ahead of presidential elections in 2014 generate further uncertainty. Aid agency staff and the communities we work with fear that increasing and new forms of conflict and instability will emerge.