Defying the Taliban: Afghan women apply to join police force

Females in the security services are often treated more harshly by the Taliban which has consistently opposed women’s rights.

More cases of violence against women were reported in Afghanistan last year than ever before.

However, when new laws were introduced, they failed to include penalties for the crimes.

Critics say the problem lies in the difficulty of changing the conservative mindset in Afghanistan.

Al Jazeera’s Tony Birtley reports from Kabul.

By Tony Birtley