WUNRN
AFGHANISTAN - IMPORTANT ELECTION -
WOMEN WILL VOTE - POWER OF THE VOTE FOR EACH WOMEN
This article was first
written in Italian (now translated into English) by Fondazione Pangea
Onlus of Italy which has been in a strong partnership with Afghan women for
years, and has experienced their realities on site in Afghanistan, as well as
having been with them in Italy and at the UN. It is a tightly bonded, and
trusted relationship, across borders, traditions, religions, language,
customs; and an example of the possibilities of women bonding and building
together.
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The
Afghanistan presidential elections take place today, 5th of April
2014; and Pangea Foundation of Italy with the Afghan staff, in the
last two weeks interviewed 100 women in Kabul in order to understand how they
are viewing and experiencing this important political event, if they are going
to vote, and what expectations they have concerning their personal future, for
Afghan women, and for their country. All women respondents are taking part
in the microcredit project called " Jamila "
Pangea staff offers from this research, a lens that is limited but important,
insight into Afghan women's voices and feeling about the election, but neither
to be the mirror of what is happening in all the country.
Pangea, which is engaged since 2003 on multiple women's activities in
Afghanistan, in giving concrete help to women and to country
reconstruction, wanted to verify if the job on field and our women rights
awareness and female empowerment have contributed in some measure to increase
the willingness of Afghan women to participate and
including in the highly significant electoral process.
The survey is composed by 22 questions aimed at women from 18 years old to 50
years, all of them participated in our project since two or three years. 92 of
them are married, and all women live in Kabul.
We asked whether and how they came familiar with the presidential elections ,
if they know the candidate’s programs and how will express their preference; if
they will have the ability to express their vote freely. We asked them
regarding social and political priorities that should have to be faced and
implemented by new president, and, finally, we asked them an opinion
about the future of Afghanistan.
All the respondents (98) told us they were generally informed about the
elections, and with a strong awareness of the importance of going to vote
. 90% of them plan to vote, while only 2% are uncertain because
they are afraid to do it for personal safety.
72 of them are already in possession of the electoral card and showed us a
remarkable sensitivity about what are going to happen on the 5th of
April (Afghanistan Election Day), and they show a strong desire to
bring some relevant social change through the ballot box.
In this scenario, the mass media plays a crucial role: 83 of respondents have
been informed about presidential elections and candidates through television
and radio. This is another important sign of change in the Afghan
society, as it shows the desire to build a national dialogue and
with attention of the world.
This is somehow the antithesis of the Taliban period with its extreme
cultural isolation, with the prohibition for all Afghan population to keep
informed by media.
91 of interviewed Afghan women know who are the election candidates, and they
will not vote only on the basis of ethnicity . In fact, 75 of them
claim they will vote on the issues of candidate programs. The possibility
that family members, men in particular, might influence their vote does not
seem to concern most of the women interviewd. 73 respondents declare not to
undergo such pressure and that they are going to vote freely, independently of
influences of their husbands, fathers or brothers. A dozen of the women,
however, will follow family suggestion. This is an important and positive
signal for Pangea; the proof of the relevance of our work in transmitting
to women more self-confidence and awareness about their own rights.
In the end, the questions is: Is this election able to change anything?
According to 94 of the respondents, it WILL. They perceive lots of
confidence and optimism for the future of Afghanistan. It is evident that there
is a strong desire to change many things, perhaps due to the fact that now,
after years, the population itself, starting with the women, feel the necessity
to rewrite their own history in peace.
Regarding our last question: "What are the most urgent issues to be
addressed for the country by the future President of Afghanistan ? " 60
women said that unemployment is the most urgent thing to solve, 46 said
security, 15 the condition of women, 7 corruption, 7 food
security, 4 education and 1 woman the withdrawal of troops.
Everyone should draw their own conclusions based on the answers. Pangea with
the Jamila Project responds to the first priority, to solve the
unemployment thanks to microcredit. In fact, it creates joba for
women and their families, but fortunately Pangea will not participate as
voters in Afghanistan elections!
Written
by Simona Lanzoni, Vice President of Fondazione Pangea in collaboration
with Barbara Gallo activist and specialist on Afghanistan.