Unfortunately, women do not even have the power to advocate for change in their government. Karzai and his administration are doing their best to exclude women from politics. A new Afghan constitution was considered in the 2003 Loya Jirga, or peaceful gathering. Western countries pushed Karzai to include female delegates in the convention. Women from across Afghanistan campaigned to be elected to the committee to ensure that in peace talks with the Taliban, women's rights were not compromised in exchange for peace. The deceptive nature of this convention soon became clear when Malalai Joya, a women's representative, was expelled from the conference for denouncing the Taliban, many of whose members were present and who had been granted amnesty for their "war crimes" (Jalal et al. ., 2006). Another Loya Jirga was planned in 2009, to discuss the Taliban insurgency and try to reach a peaceful settlement. Although a few more women were present than in the past, the meeting was postponed due to Taliban attacks, demonstrating the true vulnerability of Afghan security and lives (“Peace Unveiled,” 2011). Furthermore, in the recent presidential elections in 2014, women were dissuaded from voting due to Taliban attacks. Furthermore, a significant number of women still vote based on what was “told to them” (Mahr, 2014, p. 29). Most polling stations, even under heavy surveillance, are targets of Taliban suicide bombings or attacks on police, resulting in many deaths (Mahr, 2014). Even through attempts to include women in the governmental and electoral process, women's rights continue to be stifled by the fear of the Taliban still rampant and silenced by the peace-seeking government. Opponents of Afghan women's rights argue that Westerners cannot assume the id. ..... middle of paper ......&context=bgljLevi, S. (2009, September). The long, long fight for women's rights in Afghanistan. Origins: Current Events in Historical Perspective, 2(12). Retrieved from http://origins.osu.edu/article/long-long-struggle-women-s-rights-afghanistan Mahr, K. (2014, April 14). Waiting for the Taliban. Time, 183(14), 24-38.McCurry, S. (1984, December). Afghan girl [Photograph]. National Geographic. Retrieved from http://photography.nationalgeographic.com/photography/ photographers/afghan-girl-cover.html Peace Unveiled [TV episode]. (2011, October 25). In P. Hogan, G. Reticker, AE Disney and C. Rizzi (producer), Women, war and peace. New York, NY: PBS.Women in Afghanistan: The Background. (2013, October 25). Retrieved April 6, 2014 from Amnesty International UK website: http://www.amnesty.org.uk/womens-rights-afghanistan-history#.U0If0FzxWP8