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https://www.cordaid.org/en/news/seven-ways-let-women-vote-safety/

Afghan Women’s Network Calls on All Relevant Stakeholders  for Women's Protection & Security during Election Day

Hasina Safi of the AWN

Photo: Abigail Disney

Women’s active participation in the 2014 Presidential and Provincial Council Election is vital. The Afghan Women's Network, one of Cordaid's partners in Afghanistan, sets out measures that need to be taken to ensure the safety of women who want to cast their vote on April 5.

Afghan Women's Network believes election is the key to democracy, which opens the way to development. Women’s equal and meaningful participation in the election is an indicator to an inclusive, fair and transparent practice of democracy.

Afghan Women’s Network as one of the influential women- led networks within civil society, expresses its gratitude to the Afghan government and its international allies for the efforts that has been put in place to ensure a fair and transparent election for all Afghans - including women.

The 2014 Presidential and Provincial Councils Election is a historic opportunity for peaceful transition of political power from one elected President to the other.

In this journey, Afghan women have come a long way. Today, 35 per cent of newly registered voters are women. This is an indication of the impact of awareness raising, advocacy, lobby and confidence building efforts that has been done both by the government as well as civil society and women’s groups.

However, Afghan women as voters have legitimate concerns for their security, misuse of their votes and unexpected violence emergence, which could lead to women avoiding to vote. 

As one of Afghan Women’s Network ‘s Strategic Priorities is promoting women political participation in the election process, AWN is contributing to efforts to increase necessary steps for the protection and security of women voters and
women candidates.

Afghan Women’s Network calls on all the relevant actors such as Afghan National (Police, Army and National Department of Security) for the following measures to be taken into consideration for women’s security and protection on Election Day:

1. Ensure that the polling stations for women are provided with security measures including female
searchers presences throughout the day.

2. Provide election environment according to the cultural sensitivity of the country.

3. Include women observers in the process (to observe and monitor the election)

4. Urgently address and respond to the Electoral Complaints of women candidates and voters

5. The vote count must be in the presence of the national and international observers.

6. The election process and the final results must be respected.

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