KABUL (PAN): As females running for political office face threats and intimidation in the build-up to the August 20 polls, US Senator Kirsten Gillibrand led a bi-partisan coalition of lawmakers urging the Afghan government to hold fair and safe elections for women candidates and voters. On Friday, the US Senate passed a resolution introduced by Senator Gillibrand, along with 10 members of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, which called on the Afghan government to work with women leaders and human rights organisations to ensure that women had a seat in formal committees charged with monitoring election security.
A press released mailed to Pajhwok Afghan News on Saturday said the resolution urged the Karzai administration to make sure women candidates had access to media outlets, and women voters had adequate security and staff at female polling stations on Election Day. Gillibrand said: "Afghan women who run for office literally put their lives on the line. These trailblazing candidates, along with women voters, deserve protection and safety as they exercise their right to vote and pave the path towards an accountable government and regional peace." As a member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, the lawmaker said: "I stand firmly in support of these brave women who wont back down from exercising their human rights. I urge the Afghan government to let womens voices be heard."
Senator Kerry said: "In a very short time, the women of Afghanistan have traveled a remarkable distance. Today, hundreds of Afghan women are standing for election in provincial councils. They are putting their lives and safety on the line to ensure that their voices are heard "As part of any democracy, women play a vital role in its success. We fully support and stand with the women of Afghanistan as they participate in the democratic process as voters and candidates. We hope that the winning candidate will embrace the rights of all the people of Afghanistan, and will have an inclusive government by including more women in roles of responsibility," remarked Senator Lugar.
Senator Collins said: "The protection of the rights of women in Afghanistan and their full participation in the electoral process is critical to the reconstruction of a democratic Afghanistan. I remain concerned that the equal treatment of women has not been fully established in Afghanistan. "Our resolution clearly states that the United States is committed to seeing the Afghan government allow and encourage the participation of women in elections, including as candidates.
It will be impossible for Afghanistan to move forward in growing its democracy and enhancing its human rights record until women are given an equal path to participation as candidates and voters. This path must be safe and free from violence or intimidation for all," said Senator Cardin. "The right for a woman to participate fully in government is an integral step towards a fair, free and successful democratic process, Senator Landrieu said. "Working with the women of Afghanistan to exercise their rights should be the cornerstone of our outreach to the country. I am moved by the risks these women are taking to let their voices be heard.
I implore the government of Afghanistan to do everything in its power to ensure that these brave women are given the opportunity to represent their people. Senator Lautenberg said: "Afghan women are still lacking many of the basic opportunities that we consider fundamental rights, from the ability to get an education to the ability to participate in their government. That inequity needs to change. There are courageous Afghan women who are standing up to ensure the next generation of women has a brighter future. This resolution shows the United States is clearly behind them." Senator Begich recalled: "When I was in Afghanistan this spring visiting our troops, I was pleased to witness slow but steady progress by Afghan women, including an innovation program in which many were becoming police officers.
I strongly support American efforts to encourage fair and safe elections in Afghanistan for female candidates and I commend Senator Gillibrand for her leadership on this issue." According to a recent report by the Afghanistan's Independent Human Rights Commission, there have been at least 15 complaints from female candidates about intimidation. The Ministry of Interior took steps to assign an officer to any female provincial candidate who requested one.
With only one female governor in Afghanistan, the statement said, Afghan women are overwhelmingly under-represented in the political sphere. Until more women serve in higher office, it added, Afghanistan will not begin to solve its illiteracy and under-age marriage problems. Currently, two women candidates are running for president while more than 330 are in race for provincial council seats. Of the 4.5 million new voters who have registered for the first time in this year's polls, approximately 38 percent are female.
