In October of 2009, the Gender Department of International Development Law Organization (IDLO) conducted a focus group of women victims of violence. The purpose of the focus group was to gather information about the issues affecting the investigation and prosecution of crimes against women from the victim-perspective.

This paper highlights the importance and effectiveness of utilizing the focus group method in order to bring the voice of women into the realm of institutional reform by presenting a focus group with women victims of violence in Afghanistan.