Although most women are no longer living under the iron fist of the Taliban, conditions for women and young girls in Afghanistan aren’t much better than they were before the American-led invasion.

"The government in Afghanistan is failing to adequately protect the rights of women in Afghanistan despite constitutional guarantees and its international obligations," the UN reports on human rights in Afghanistan. "While women have made important advances in the spheres of education, employment and political participation in the post-Taliban regime years, they continue to confront discriminatory laws, attitudes and practices."

Violence against women and children in the form of rape, honor killings, early and forced marriage and sexual abuse in detention persists, and much of the violence has been perpetuated by family members, the UN says. Not surprisingly, many rapes go unreported and, when they are, offenders unpunished. On a more positive note, women seem more willing to report the attacks these days, although they still have "limited access to justice and effective redress." The report goes on to say threats and intimidation against women in public life or working outside the home "have seen a dramatic increase."

UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Navi Pillay told The Human Rights Council Thursday that discrimination against women in many countries triggers violence which has "reached the proportions of a pandemic."

"Although at its most brutal in times of war, violence against women often stems from stereotypes, prejudices and the lack of equality that had condoned such violence all along," Pillay said. "Rendering justice to the victims is, therefore, not only a moral imperative, but also a legal obligation.” It is important to focus on the promotion of all women’s human rights."

Experts told CNN that poor security and escalating violence have forced some women’s groups to flee the country, leaving the remaining women with even fewer avenues of relief.