QALAT (PAN): Supported by Afghanistan's Independent Election Commission (IEC), a day-long seminar aimed at raising political awareness among women about the upcoming polls was held in southern Zabul province on Saturday. More than 250 women from Qalat, the provincial capital, and districts participated in the seminar held at the Women Affairs Department.
The event took place less than two weeks before the presidential and provincial council elections. Qudratullah Naqshbandi, IEC head for the province, told Pajhwok Afghan News the objective behind the seminar -- featuring participants from Qalat, Shahjoy and Shahr-i-Safa -- was to raise women's awareness about the elections. He explained that although mobile teams were already active to promote awareness in districts, the seminar was organised to ensure greater participation of women in the August 20 elections.
The seminar was extremely useful for females, said Zarmina, one of the attendees and a women's rights campaigner in Zabul. The participants were briefed on the date of polls, conditions for participation and ways of voting, she added.
