Islamic fanatics and their bad influence on family violence. Between 1994 and 1996 Herat became one the most important targets of Islamic fundamentalists and Taliban. The Taliban captured Herat city after Qhandahar. During the Taliban period, the people of Herat, above all women and children, badly suffered from a lack of fundamental freedoms. The role of women became a very passive one and man's domination in families reached a very high level. This unbalanced role of men and women turned into an important reason for family violence in Herat.

Bad and incorrect interpretation of Islamic values regarding the role of women. The fanatic Taliban and Mujahedin parties misinterpreted Islam for the sake of their strategy and ideology, particularly with regard to the role of women in society. They wanted to show that women were a passive part of the Herat society, destined to serve men.

“It is big shame to respect women!” This culture does not only predominate in Herat, but also in many other parts of the country. Beating, raping, inhuman behavior toward women and children in families are the result of this kind of bad tradition in Afghanistan.

Economic dependency of women from men. This is one of the important reasons for violence in Herat. Being dependent on men, women are hijacked by their partners and other male member of the families.

Lack of educational programs to reduce domestic violence by state institutions, specially by the ministry of women and education in Herat.

Possibly also because all these factors led to a high rate of suicide among women in Heart.

Herat is one of the most historical cities in Afghanistan. Herat has an important number of intellectuals who actively participate in the current changes in Afghanistan. Equally, the culture of Herat strongly influences other parts of the country, in particular the western parts of Afghanistan.

State infrastructure and institutions, such as the university, police, justice sector, municipality and primary schools function much better compared to other parts of the country. This provides an enabling environment to CSHRN to work on family violence.

Herat is relatively safe area. A higher level of security offers better opportunities to work on family violence. It becomes much easier to reach families and to work with them.

Herat has a comparatively well developed media sector. This will give CSHRN the possibility to organize debates and create discussions on domestic violence.

There is a huge support demonstrated by the civil society of Herat and the Afghanistan Independent Human Rights Commission in Herat towards CSHRN.

The police, the justice sector and other state institutions display a broad interesting in working together with CSHRN on decreasing family violence in Herat.

The high theoretical awareness of women in Herat about their rights ensures a good base for a campaign about family violence.