RAWA says it has around 2,000 members who work both outside and inside Afghanistan. They secretly educate young girls and raise funds to help women made destitute by the Taleban ban on them working. Their website is not for the squeamish. It contains many photographs of what RAWA says are atrocities committed against women, which have apparently been smuggled out of Afghanistan. Under the Taleban, women are banned from working outside their homes.
Health care is segregated and often it is difficult for a woman to see a male specialist.
Technical assistance and training for the website have been provided by men, but the site is maintained and developed only by women. The spokeswoman said RAWA had received threats via the internet, many of which had been vulgar and salacious. But, she added, their website needed visitors and publicity. The women say they are committed to non-violent change. But both inside Afghanistan and in Pakistan most of the group's work has to be carried out in secret and can be dangerous.