Skip to main content
Latest news
Thumbnail

Women’s Participation Vital For Credible Elections: Yamamoto

In a meeting on Monday with Afghan women from civil society organizations, academia and advocacy groups Tadamichi Yamamoto, the Secretary-General’s Special Representative for Afghanistan and head of UNAMA, said that the full participation of women in Afghanistan’s electoral process is vital to ensure that upcoming parliamentary elections are inclusive and credible.

“Elections are only truly representative and credible when women fully participate and are included in all parts of the electoral process,” said Yamamoto.

“I was inspired and encouraged from my meeting today with Afghan women, all of them strong leaders actively working toward women’s full participation in all areas of Afghanistan’s social, economic and political life, including in elections,” Yamamoto added. 

Meanwhile, IEC Chief Abdul Badi Sayad on Monday said at a press conference that elections is an Islamic principle and those who called the election process a western phenomenon are in fact unaware of Islam.

UNAMA said that 16 percent of candidates are women, a marginal increase on previous elections, and that women make up approximately 32 percent of total registered voters, according to current statistics from the Independent Election Commission (IEC). 

According to UNAMA’s statement, they welcomed the crucial role that civil society plays in ensuring women’s voices are heard during the election. “The mission is mindful of the great personal risk that numerous female candidates and women’s rights activists routinely face in promoting women’s full inclusion as candidates, voters, election staff and observers,” read the statement. 

Some commendable measures have been put in place to facilitate women’s participation, such as the presence of at least one dedicated female polling station per polling centre, female polling staff and female security personnel.

The mission emphasizes that women’s full participation – as candidates, electoral workers, observers and voters – is the civil and political right of all women. Enhancing women’s participation in all stages of the electoral process is vital for strengthening democracy in Afghanistan. Elections provide a key opportunity for ensuring women’s concerns are addressed and women’s meaningful participation in the political, economic and social future of the country is maximized.

The UN Mission also said that it is the responsibility of Afghan authorities, political parties, candidates and civil society organizations to take all necessary measures to improve and encourage the participation of women in the elections.

Afghans will go to the polls on Saturday in the long-awaited parliamentary elections. 

The IEC meanwhile appealed to religious scholars in Kabul on Monday to encourage people during Friday prayers to participate in Saturday’s elections. 

IEC chief Abdul Badi Sayyad said Ulema should tell the people not to sell their votes to candidates. 

Officials from the election commission also said election materials have arrived in 56 insecure and rural districts around the country. 

IEC has specified over 20,000 polling stations around the country for October 20 elections but at least 74 are located in insecure or rural districts. 

Sayad said that religious scholars must provide public awareness regarding elections to the people. 

“There is no alternative except holding elections to rescue Afghanistan from the crisis,” said Sayad.

Women’s Participation Vital For Credible Elections: Yamamoto

The mission emphasizes that women’s full participation – as candidates, electoral workers, observers and voters – is the civil and political right of all women.

Thumbnail

In a meeting on Monday with Afghan women from civil society organizations, academia and advocacy groups Tadamichi Yamamoto, the Secretary-General’s Special Representative for Afghanistan and head of UNAMA, said that the full participation of women in Afghanistan’s electoral process is vital to ensure that upcoming parliamentary elections are inclusive and credible.

“Elections are only truly representative and credible when women fully participate and are included in all parts of the electoral process,” said Yamamoto.

“I was inspired and encouraged from my meeting today with Afghan women, all of them strong leaders actively working toward women’s full participation in all areas of Afghanistan’s social, economic and political life, including in elections,” Yamamoto added. 

Meanwhile, IEC Chief Abdul Badi Sayad on Monday said at a press conference that elections is an Islamic principle and those who called the election process a western phenomenon are in fact unaware of Islam.

UNAMA said that 16 percent of candidates are women, a marginal increase on previous elections, and that women make up approximately 32 percent of total registered voters, according to current statistics from the Independent Election Commission (IEC). 

According to UNAMA’s statement, they welcomed the crucial role that civil society plays in ensuring women’s voices are heard during the election. “The mission is mindful of the great personal risk that numerous female candidates and women’s rights activists routinely face in promoting women’s full inclusion as candidates, voters, election staff and observers,” read the statement. 

Some commendable measures have been put in place to facilitate women’s participation, such as the presence of at least one dedicated female polling station per polling centre, female polling staff and female security personnel.

The mission emphasizes that women’s full participation – as candidates, electoral workers, observers and voters – is the civil and political right of all women. Enhancing women’s participation in all stages of the electoral process is vital for strengthening democracy in Afghanistan. Elections provide a key opportunity for ensuring women’s concerns are addressed and women’s meaningful participation in the political, economic and social future of the country is maximized.

The UN Mission also said that it is the responsibility of Afghan authorities, political parties, candidates and civil society organizations to take all necessary measures to improve and encourage the participation of women in the elections.

Afghans will go to the polls on Saturday in the long-awaited parliamentary elections. 

The IEC meanwhile appealed to religious scholars in Kabul on Monday to encourage people during Friday prayers to participate in Saturday’s elections. 

IEC chief Abdul Badi Sayyad said Ulema should tell the people not to sell their votes to candidates. 

Officials from the election commission also said election materials have arrived in 56 insecure and rural districts around the country. 

IEC has specified over 20,000 polling stations around the country for October 20 elections but at least 74 are located in insecure or rural districts. 

Sayad said that religious scholars must provide public awareness regarding elections to the people. 

“There is no alternative except holding elections to rescue Afghanistan from the crisis,” said Sayad.

Share this post