"Baad involves giving a young woman, often a child, into slavery and forced marriage."

"It is largely hidden because the girls are given to compensate for 'shameful' crimes like murder, adultery and elopement...."

The strength of the traditional justice system and the continuing use of baad is a sign both of Afghans’ lack of faith in the government’s justice system, which they say is corrupt, and their extreme sense of insecurity. Baad is most common in areas where it is dangerous for people to seek out government institutions. Instead of turning to the courts, they go to jirgas, assemblies of tribal elders, that use tribal law, which allows the exchange of women.