9 needed and will permanently change the status of the majority of women from an economically sterile and dormant force to an economically productive and dynamic force. Such initiatives will increase women’s self-confidence, improve their independence and will trigger broader socio-economic changes in the country. 14. The Afghan media, cultural centers and women’s human rights activists must initiate campaigns to counter certain injurious and disrespectful communicational terms and metaphors. Many Afghans feel uncomfortable addressing their wives and daughter by their name. This affects the personality of women as an independent agent of change. As such, it must be corrected through cultural reforms. 15. The government in accord with women’s rights activists must regulate marriage practices. Certain marriage practices in rural areas have earned an exclusive commercial character. Poor families engage in such practices as a means to alleviate their poverty and wealthy individuals and families abuse the desperation of the poor families. And; 16. The Afghan government must establish and enforce an effective, country-wide and compulsory civil identity registration program, which among others, should include birth, marriage, divorce, death etc certification. A proper civil identity registration program will help address many of the problems women face in civil disputes. The Family, Culture and Traditions 17. The criminalization of family violence must be prioritized. The writ of Afghan laws rarely extends to the realm of Afghan families where violence, mistreatment and discrimination against women are rampant. Women and girls constitute major victims of family violence and mistreatment. Family violence has yet to be criminalized in practice. Male members commit violence without fear of prosecution. This must change by extending the writ of the law into the family environment. The Elimination of Violence Against Women (EVAW) law is an important legislative development but it has yet to be effectively enforced in Afghanistan’s court system. 18. Women’s lack of economic productivity combined with chronic poverty in Afghan families have in most cases allowed women and girls to degenerate into secondgrade, tradable and exchangeable individuals. Even the informal sale of girls and other harmful forms of marriage such as child and forced marriage, which are being frequently blamed on wrong cultural practices and traditions, largely stem from the severe financial problems that families face. Families engage in such practices to alleviate their poverty. For women to overcome these problems, they must engage in economically productive activities primarily through women-only economic and business initiatives.