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The artwork displays ballot boxes and how to cast vote. The painting on a mud-wall also encourages families to engage and inform entire family members about election.

 

Ahmad Fareed, a resident of Balkh province, said they were satisfied with security in main cities but people living in remote areas were feeling greater sense of insecurity. He said security in remote areas was getting worst by each passing day because the government had weak writ in those remote localities. He criticised the Independent Election Complaint Commission (IECC) for failing to disqualify powerful warlords as provincial council candidates.

You need independent civil society activists leading the election awareness and education outreach effort, rather than the IEC. The people believe that there is still something wrong with the system and the IEC is part of the system. Civil society has more trust from the population than any bodies directly associated with the government and so should be at the forefront of all the outreach at the province and district and village level.

 

‌By Casey Garret Johnson and Reyhaneh Hussaini Two days after the start of the official campaign period, the United States Institute of Peace sponsored a conference that brought together over 220 women from all 34 of Afghanistan’s provinces to press presidential candidates (like front running contender, Ashraf Ghani Ahmadzai above) on their policies and positions; and to demand answers from electoral commissioners and security officials on protections for female voters when the nation goes to the polls on April 5th.

Gul Agha, a citizen of Mazar-i-Sharif, says he will participate in polls despite the fact that he is not satisfied with the security situation in the area. He demanded the government should bolster security so that people could cast their vote in a fear-free environment. “We’re worried about the presence of armed groups who are in control of several areas,” he remarked. He stated insecurity in far-flung localities was a matter of concern, saying that deteriorated in Baba area of Zari district was a serious issue where 500 families were living.

Afghans will play a highly significant role in electing the country's future leader, said Fatima Sultani, a resident of Mazar-i-Sharif city. She said women made 60 percent population of Afghanistan but they were not allowed to go to polling stations to cast their votes. Mostly, women in southern part of the country are facing multiple problems, she said, adding the unemployment graph was another matter of concern. Afghanistan enjoys greater support of the international community. We will not be able to achieve progress if we lose that support, she warned.

Published 9 months ago

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