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Women And Youth Political Rights Advoacy Groups Joint Task Force

Proposed Basic Principles for (Meaningful Participation) - Women

and Youth in the 2019 Presidential, Provincial Councils, and District

Councils of elections process.

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Acknowkedgement

The Free and Fair Election Forum of Afghanistan Organization (FEFAo), while appreciating the

continued efforts of women's and youth political rights advocacy groups for strengthening the

significant political participation of women and youth, is grearful from all members of these groups

who attended the constant meetings with full commitment and observance of the principle of

volunteering and participation for enrichment of this decaretion.

Of course, FEFAo has contributed to providing the groud for developing this program and the

technical consulttion of the groups. The preparation of these principles would not have been possible

without the honest and mutual cooperation of the FEFAO and the members of the groups. FEFAO

also appreciates the representatives of political parties, civil society organizations and all friends

who regularly participate in all stages, and with their advisory opinions, pave the way for the final

draft of these principles.

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First discourse:

Message from the Women's and Youth Political Rights Advocacy Group

The Women's and Youth Politial Rights Advocacy Group, with the assistance and cooperation of

the Free and Fair Election Forum of Afghanistan Organization (FEFAO) have conduted long and

comprehensive discussions on the problems and shortcomings Women and youth for purose of

drafting the basic principles of political participation of women and youth. These principles are the

product of the constant efforts of members of the Women's and Youth Political Rights Advocacy

Group, which has been developed in partnership with Fair Election Forum of Afghanistan

Organization (FEFAO) for meaningful participation of Women and Youth. Emphasizing that the

active participation of women and youth is a major requirement and a prerequisite for holding any

transparent election in the country, the members of the group believe that this historic opportunity

shall be used in the best possible way in the context of the political participation of women and

youth to lead to the effective participation of citizens in the democratic system and structures of the

country. We, the members of the group, are committed to protecting and preserving democracy and

elections in the country. transparent, fair and free from fraud and misconduct Election is the

guarantor of the country's social and political survival. However, the reaching to democracy and

elections will not be free of problems, but these difficulties should not stop our efforts to strengthen

democracy and the democratic system. People do not expect us to be silent in the current sensitive

situation. We consider efforts to improve and reform political processes, and especially elections,

as our national and citizenship duty.The realization of the democratic system in our dear homeland

is our long-standing wish. The inclusive endeavor and standing in a single queue to protect the

values of democracy in the country can create a new season and create a atmosphere of trust and

confidence. By providing these common principles, we articulate the fundamental demands of

women and youth on their meaningful participation in leading elections, and we present it to the

relevant authorities.

With respect

FEFA -Women's and Youth Political Rights Advocacy Joint Group

Feberuary 2019

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Foreword

The political and social presence and participation of women and youin the backward and

developing countries and their mobilization in the form of effective and organized participation in

the development process is of a special value. The review and evaluation of the enjoyment of

women and youth's political rights and their contribution to electoral and political seats is one of the

main programs in the matter of women's and youth political participation. The constitution of

Afghanistan, without gender segregation, defines men and women as equal citizens with equal right

and repsponsisblites. One of the major issues of political participation is the depended to what shows

the dynamism of societies and governments is the product of the activation of social gaps over time.

One of these social gaps is the gender gap.The gender gap as a structural gap is created due to

division of the population into two groups of men and women. The gap varies in different ways in

different societies (from traditional societies to transitional and modern societies).In this regard, it

seems that our society as a transitional society faces the status of gender inequality in political

participation. Women and youth have, as a major corpse of society, have done well in politics for

more than a decade.Their purposeful and meaningful presence in several rounds of elections,

especially in 2018 Wolesi Jirga elctions AH in the country, is indicator of this fact. Beyond the

right to vote, women and youth had more activities in the field of acquiring central and provincial

representation and management seats in local government offices in the provinces. Nevertheless,

the social differences and divisions resulting from the disproportionate cultural and traditional

relations have led to many challenges ahead the active and effective presence of women and youth

in political life.We belive that the provision of facilities and advocacy for legal protection of the

presence of women and youth in the political arena can play a greater role in the political arena, in

addition to being an useful incentive for women and youth can insure balance and equality in

political participation to some extent.

Mohammad Yousuf Rasheed

CEO- FEFAo

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Contents

Acknowkedgement ......................................................................................................................................... 2

First discourse: ................................................................................................................................................ 3

Message from the Women's and Youth Political Rights Advocacy Group ................................................ 3

Foreword ......................................................................................................................................................... 4

Preface ............................................................................................................................................................ 7

Methodology ................................................................................................................................................... 8

Part One: Women's Political Participation in Afghanistan .............................................................................. 8

Evaluation of Women’sParticicpation ...................................................................................................... 10

Factors Of Low Presence Of Women In The Political Arena .................................................................. 11

Challenges and problems of women in the2018 Wolesi Jirga elections ............................................... 11

The Challenges and Technical Problems of Women in 2018 Wolesi Jirga Election Process ............... 12

Basic principles for meaningful participation of women in elections ........................................................... 13

Principle one: Increase of the quta of women as decision-makers in governmental senior positions (

Managrial and exutuve post ) ................................................................................................................ 13

Principle Tow: Participation of women at the administrative and operational levels of the electoral

process. .................................................................................................................................................. 14

Principle three: Insure Women’s Meaningful Politial Participation in Election ................................... 14

Principle Four: Raise Women’s Awareness about electoral process. .................................................. 16

Principle five: Securing women in the electoral process ...................................................................... 18

Principle Six: Reducing women's economic problems and providing economic facilities for women 19

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Principle seven: Distribution of Tazkeras for women in Afghanistan's remote areas ........................... 20

"The Civil Population Registration Authority is obliged to distribute National Id cards to all citizens in

the country" ............................................................................................................................................... 20

Principle Eight: Preventing the recruitment of male employees at female polling stations .................. 20

Principle Nine: Establishing Polling centers in appropriate locations and in accordance with the

voters list . ............................................................................................................................................. 21

PrincipleTen: Increasing women's awareness of elections and women's political participation .......... 22

Principle 11: The Use of Technology in of Election ............................................................................ 23

Principle 12: Women's Participation in the matter of of District and Village Councils ....................... 23

Principle13: Changes in the organizational structure of the Independent Election Commission ......... 24

Part two:Political Participarion of Youth ....................................................................................................... 25

Reasons for low political participation of youth ....................................................................................... 25

Basic principle for meaningful participation of youth in the election .......................................................... 26

Principle 14: Creating the ground for higher education for youth ........................................................ 26

Principle 15: Combating the culture of elderly primacy and to the society believe in the abilities of

the youth ................................................................................................................................................ 27

Principle 16: Youth Access to Their Fundamental Rights .................................................................... 28

Principle 17: Provision of economic facilities for youth ....................................................................... 28

Principle 18: Ensuing the Security of Youth in the Election Process ................................................... 29

Principles19: Counter Norcotic drugs program by The Deputy Minister Office/Counter norcotics of

MOI. ...................................................................................................................................................... 30

Principle 20: Providing employment opertunites .................................................................................. 31

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Preface

Identifying the principles for any work is incombant prior to doing that. Common principles are in

fact a minimalist principle. In the sense that among the many principles ,a small number of them

may be considered as priorities. When collecting these principles, it is possible that the factors

involved in each subject,may discuss their principles and views, and then each of them is discussed

jointly. (FEFAO) has organized these principles after discussing and talking by women and youth

political rights advocacy groups. The women and youth political rights advocacy groups has been

working for a long time with technical assistance and facilities (FEFAO). By organizing regular

meetings, the group was trying to get and identify common principles, that just after two months

of coordination and work on drafts and proposals, achieved the desired result and the outcome is

these principles that are now available to you. Strengthening the meaningful contribution of women

and youth, which forms the pillars of the democratic system in the country, plays a fundamental

role in consolidating and sustaining democracy. (FEFAO), as a professional institution in the

monitoring of the electoral reform process, seeks to establish the basic principles compiling the

views and opinions of women's and youth rights activists and experts on the meaningful

participation of women and youth. Share them with the people, the National Assembly, the relevant

institutions in the field of elections and the government of Afghanistan.

The main goal of (FEFAO) of the program is to strengthen the political participation of women and

youth in the country's elections. Women and youth compete for power as other citizens, therefore

,in order to promote meaningful particicpation of women and youth, (FEFAO), have developed the

following proposed principles.

These principles include two subjects which has been identified by the representatives of the

National Assembly, political parties, civil society organizations and the mass media that are

functioning as part of women's and youth political rights advocacy groups as the basic principles

for meaningful participation of women and youth. In the first section, focusses on the basic

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principles for meaningful participation of women, and the second part refers to the meaningful

participation of youth.

Methodology

The proposed principles of the political participation of women and youth are the result of the

agreement reached by the women's and youth political rights advocacy groups representing political

parties, civil society organizations, independent commissions and media institutions. These

principles are general principles that have been arranged by (FEFAO) after conducting and

facilitating consultation meetings. have been arranged by the FEFA after organizing and facilitating

Focus Group meetings In drafting these principles, the election policy of the ministry of ministries,

FEFA's observation the findings of the in 2014 presidential and provincial council elections and the

2018 provincial councils election of and 2018 Wolesi Jirga , the consultation meetings reports and

group discussions of 2015, which were held in eight zones, women’s figure survey, reports and

surveys of the Asia Foundation for the Year 2015, the National Youth Strategy, the National Youth

Policy, the research of the Opportunities and Challenges before the Youth Executed by the

AfghanistanWomen Net work, as well as the reports of the findings of the national and international

organization has been used.

The technical team of (FEFAO) reviewed all the texts and discussed various issues for discussion

in the consultation meetings. The fundamental principles of meaningful participation of youth and

women were finalized during several work sessions. The principles of sharing after several

occasions are shared and discussed with members of the group for signature. Then these principles,

with the presence of diretors and the representatives of these institutions, have been officially

communicated to the people and relevant institutions during a one-day conference.

Part One: Women's Political Participation in Afghanistan

After 2002 Afghanistan has entered a new phase that rebuilt the pillers and foundations of the system

since the formation of the post-Taliban government and with the presence of the international

community in Afghanistan. A democracy based government, in which all people enjoy equal and

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the same rights, can meet the political and social needs of the people of Afghanistan. In the Bonn

Agreement, when it came to discussing the participation of women and the fair representation of all

ethnic and religious groups in the interim and Loya Jirga, it was a spark to crystallize the presence

and participation of women in political and democratic processes.In the modern era of democracy

in Afghanistan, women have been widely involved in the government since many decades. Women's

participation can not be summed up in the government cabinet; Afghan women today play many

roles in ministries, deputy minister roffices,commissions, departments, governers’ offices,

parliaments and schools and universities, dispite existence of many barriers and challenges. The

ministry was established under the Ministry of Women's Affairs under the Bonn Conference

Agreements in framework of the Afghan Interim Administration in 2002.

The Ministry of Women's Affairs, as a policy-maker in gender-related matters, is responsible for

the implementation of the political and social policy of the state to ensure the development of

women's citizenship rights in the country and respect for the rule of law in their lives in its scoop of

work. In addition to the Ministry of Women's Affairs, have established numerous institutions and

associations over the past 17 years to protect women's rights. For example, the Afghan Women's

Network has had more than 20 years of women's rights work, which began working in Afghanistan

since 2001. As well as other research institutions, they are active in the field of women's

rights.Meanwhile, (FEFAO) has also had widespread activities in the field of political rights and

women's participation in political processes during its activities. Significant achievements such

survey of the presence of women in leadership, the preparation of the list of 1,100 elite women from

all over Afghanistan, the increasing presence of women in leadership, the formulation of a proposal

for policies of the ministries involved, the bringing changes in legislations(laws), the increase and

encouragement of youth at decision-making levels and changes in youth policy and strategy can be

mentioned.Given the many challenges facing women's advancement in previous elections, in

particular the2018 Wolesi Jirga elections (FEFAO),formed the Women'sPolitial Rights Advocacy

Group, which consists of influential and elite women, to address women's basic problems. The

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women's political rights advocacy group consists of parliamentarians, the media, IEC, ECC and

civil society organizations.

Evaluation of Women’sParticicpation

FEFAO has discussed women's political participation after the presidential and provincial councils

in 2014 and 2018 Wolesi Jirga elections election by launching consultations and group discussions

with parties, civil society, media and Partliement members in eight provinces (Kabul, Kunduz,

Balkh, Herat, Bamyan, Nangarhar, Paktia and Kandahar) and. In these counseling sessions, the

status of women's participation in the provinces was examined and the main reasons that encourage

women's participation in the current situation were highlighted and evaluated. Also, FEFAO has

tried to identify the key factors that prevent women from taking part in the elections. (FEFAO),

with the help of the participants, reviewed the role of governmental and nongovernmental

organizations for paving the ways to promote women's participation. During these meetings in the

provinces, it was discussed about the opportunities available and how to use these opportunities to

increase women's political participation. Women's enjoyment of the right to freedom of expression,

forming association, the right to freedom of movement and peace ful gathering was one of the

other issues of these meetings. In the group discussions, the principle of fair representation of

women was discussed. In these meetings, the status of political participation was assessed and

feedback and opinions were colected on the challenges and opportunities available.Finding

women’s major challenges in the previous election was one of the main issues of this series of

meetings. Participants assessed the role of electoral commissions in the context of traditional /

cultural barriers, and provided concrete suggestions for these institutions. Also about the presence

of women in elected and appointed seats, qualitatively and quantitatively, and efforts have been

put to discuss women who are refelecting women's political rights and their successes and failures

have been discussed as well.The participants of the consultative meetings, presented similar results

to FEFAO ,by examining the status of women's participation in their provinces, which are noted as

follows:

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Factors Of Low Presence Of Women In The Political Arena

According to the final report of the 2014 elections by FEFAO, and the 2018 Wolesi Jirga elections

,women's participation, was 36 % in the 2014 elections it was about 29%. The report to show a drop

down in figure in caparison to previous years. Dispite , the problems laying ahead of women's

political participation in the election, and distrust bout the election, that all were concerned about

women not going to the ballot boxes for cust ing their vote, the 29 percent is a significant figure,

but due to the geographical dispersion ,this figure is not the same in all provinces. In insecure

districts, women's participation is often low and negligible. According to the 2014 report by

Afghanistan's Central Statistics Organization 48.8% of the Afghan population are women. In the

2015 election report of(FEFAO) also indicated that 11% of provincial council candidates and

16.21% in the 2018 Wolesi Jirga elections were women. FEFAO has tried to find out about the

presence of women in the political arena by setting up consultative meetings and group discussions.

"In Afghanistan's 2018 Wolesi Jirga elections, the problems that women faced include delay in

the opening of polling centers, voter list problems, the late delevery of sensitive materials to polling

centers and polling stations, poor biometric systems, lack of security, low level of women's

awareness about their citizenship rights, the remoteness of polling centers, the proxy voting of men

in stead of women ina lower percentage, , and the lack of separate centers for voting for women. "

The program participants recalled a number of factors that understated the presence of women. As

a whole, the underlying causes of women's low participation in the elections were as follows:

Challenges and problems of women in the2018 Wolesi Jirga elections

Rulling Traditions and and customes in the society (traditional view towards women),

especially the lack of national ID card that causes women to be deliberately deprived of

their rights;

Lack of awareness of the families about political processes, especially elections and the

existence of patriarchal culture;

Low level of women's literacy and underestimating women's abilities;

Economic dependance of women and lack of sufficient money for the candidacy;

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Security threats and the ruling situation in the country

The Challenges and Technical Problems of Women in 2018 Wolesi Jirga Election Process

Fraud, widespread corruption in electoral commissions and lack of political support for

women;

Lack of female police in securing elections;

No recruitment of female employees in women's polling stations;

Availability of candidates for district council candidates in the election law;

Lack of law, procedures, and ambiguity in the immitations of district councils;

Weakness in the management of electoral commissions at all stages of the process;

The problem of the list of voters and the lack of names of voters on election day in

polling centers;

The system is biometric and inefficient on election day;

illegitimate and unethical demands of female candidates during counting votes and

announcing the initial and final results ;

Participants also highlighted important points related to the election at the consultative meetings.

They considered several issues in the short and medium term as solutions. These cases stem from

internal factors and weaknesses at the leadership of electoral commissions. In the opinion of the

participants, the internal factors of the country, such as corruption and the ruling culture in the

community, can be solved in the medium and long term through the improvement of governance

and social consciousness.

Participants have considered the problems of managerial wakness of the election commissions and

other government institutions resoveble in the short term .The Proposed strategies to increase

women's participation have been linked to eliminating the underlying factors ahead of

theirpresence. These factors and suggestions are as follows.

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Basic principles for meaningful participation of women in elections

Role of the Goverement in increasing the womens’ participation

The Government of Afghanistan or the executive branch of government, in accordance with article

22 of the Constitution: (Every kind of discrimination and privilege is prohibited between the citizens

of Afghanistan. The citizens of Afghanistan, including men and women, are equal before the law

with equal rights and obligations). According to Annex 1, Principle 5 of the London Agreement on

Afghanistan, Gender Equality: By December 2010, the National Action Plan for Afghan Women

will be fully implemented.

In line with MDG goals of Afghanistan, the women's participation will increase in all government

departments, including elected and appointed agencies of the civil service sector. It is considered

obligatory to provide women with all levels of selction and appointment; unfortunately, the text of

the London agreement has expired since about 7 years, but no significant work has been done in

this regard. Therefore, the Afghan government is required to carry out the following for meaningful

women's participation:

Principle one: Increase of the quta of women as decision-makers in governmental senior

positions ( Managrial and exutuve post )

"The government should consider gender composition in all departments"

Inclusion of women as decision makers governmental in senior ( Managrial and exutuve post ) is

very small and their participation in political positions should be considered in proportion to their

populations by senior government officials. It is suggested that the leadership of the Afghan

government, when appointing people as government officials, considers the gender as a

fundamental issue, and, on the other hand, the MOWA as a Policy maker intity shall consider the

gender mainstreaming in its policies. So as to be effective in dismantling women’s depriviations

and reviving their political rights. The leaders of the government must fulfill their obligations in

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this regard, because the superficial and symbolic attention reduces the active role of wom in

defffiret areans in partcuar the political and electoral areas.

Principle Two: Participation of women at the administrative and operational levels of the

electoral process.

The Independent Election Commission (IEC), as a competenent intity in the electoral field, has to

play a role in increasing the participation of women in elections through the appointment of

women at the leadership and decision-making levels in provincial and district positions.

afterwords, according to past bitter experiences (previous elections), electoral commissions should

focus on strengthening the principles of impartiality and addressing gender based discrimiinations

against women as an effective commission and make accurate decisions and exercise their

responsibilities. It is strongly recommended that the IEC consider the following points in this regard.

- Non-baised behavior of IEC staff at decision-making and operational levels against

women

- Appointmet of women in the provincial election commissions at the decision-making

level to eliminate discriminatory practices against women

- The development of a mechanism to combat barriers that create gender discrimination

and tolerance towards women through holding consultative meetings among women at

the provincial level

Principle three: Insure Women’s Meaningful Politial Participation in Election

"The ministry of affairs should adopt programs that increase women's political

participation.”

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The Ministry of Women's Affairs is committed to developing effective and useful programs in

the area of development and provision of women's rights, especially in the context of their active

participation in politics, governance and participation in democratic processes. And In this regard

collaborate with, the civil society organization and other institutions working in this field ,with the

view of the effectiveness and transparency of the programs.

1. The Ministry of Women's Affairs, as the sole government body for women, is required, in

coordination with the Election Commission and other institutions that work for women's

political rights, to raise awareness of the meaningful participation of women in the electoral

process with regard to the identification of their contacts and their sequence with

Afghanistan's remote areas.

2. The Ministry of Women's Affairs shall for esablishing coordination among stakeholders

for wome shall hold a meeting at least once a month with the stakeholders ( Independent

Election Commission, the Eletions Complaints Commission , Afghnistan Independent

Human Rights Commission , the Ministry of the Interior, Ministery of the Hajj and the

Endowment, the Ministry of Women's Affairs, Ministery of Information and culture, civil

society representatives and political parties "during the election process at the capital and

provincial levels in order to address the challenges and problems of women as soon as

possible.

3. One of the problems that the female candidates are faced with in some provinces, has been

the biasness of the head of gender units of the departments of the Ministry of Women's

Affairs at the provincial level therefore it is suggested that the Ministry of Women's Affairs,

as a policy-making body, is required to formulate and implement an electoral policy that

ensures meaningful participation of women in the elections.

4. One of the main problems for women in 2018 Wolesi Jirga elections was the unlawful

immoral demands from women, which prevented them from participating actively in the

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elections, so considering the responsibility of the Ministry of Women's Affairs, it is

suggested that a joint committee between the Ministry of Women's Affairs, The Attorney-

General office of the country and the Human Rights Commission shall be formend to bring

the perpetrators of such case to judicial proceedings to the law enforcement agency.

Principle Four: Raise Women’s Awareness about electoral process.

"The government should raise awareness programs aimed at raising women's political

participation continuously and without interruption."

The Afghan government, must work through the ministries of education, higher education, Hajj

and religious affairs, ministries of women's affairs, information and culture, rural development, and

the council of scholars, condut regular awareness programs on women's political participation in

the elections in order to dismantal the Cultural barriers and negative attitudes toward women's

political participation, and so that women can widely use their political rights.

The issues that the Ministry of Education should consider;

- Inclussion of major issues such as the rights of women and youth in the elections in

educational curriculum and civic information education subject;

- Launching awareness programs on (secondary schools )because by making each

student aware, a family and eventualy the whole community will becom illuminated)

- The Independent Election Commission (IEC) is obliged, in accordance with paragraph

8 Article 19 of the Electoral Law, to organize a Civic Information and Public

Awareness Campaign throughout the country;

Therefore it is proposed that;

to conduct awareness program for women about the election and their role with regard

to the process in Afghanistan's remote areas by identifying effective methods proior to

elections.

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The Independent Election Commission (IEC) will hold awareness-raising programs in

the villiges and suburbs of Afghanistan in a single Electoral Guideline make it available

to the public.

The Independent Election Commission (IEC) shall adopt monitoring plan to evaluate

the effectiveness of the implementation of awareness-raising programs for women.

Points proposed for the Ministry of Hajj and Relagious Affairs.

The Ministry of of Hajj and Relagious Affairs should fufill its responsibility in regards

with illumination of public opeion through the Mullahs for public awareness on

women's rights.

Ministry of Hajj and Relagious Affairs will have to conduct awareness-raising

campaigns on the elections through the Molas of mosques teacher of schools.

Points suggested to the Ministry of Women’s Affairs

The ministry must adopt awareness-raising programs for women through Gender

Mainstreaming units throut the capital and provinces.

The ministry must put effforts to coordinate women's awareness-raising programs, as

well as to develop gender-sensitive policies for government agencies in the form of a

codified program / strategy, with a clear definition of duties and responsiblites of

institutions.

Points suggested for the Ministry of Information and Culture.

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The Ministry of Information and Culture should have awareness programs on the rights

of women in elections through the media, in particular, on government media at the

provincial level.

The Ministry of Information and Culture should work on developing a strategy that can

be effective in combating the cultural barriers laying before women's political

participation.

The Ministry of Culture Information shall work for encouraging women to vote in

elections via audio, visual and printing media.

Principle five: Securing women in the electoral process

"The Ministry of the Interior, as the highest authority, has the responsibility to protect the

citizens of the country, is responsible for ensuring women's security in the elections."

The Ministry of the Interior as the supreme authority for protecting people during the electoral

process ahall arrange and implements security plans for the protection of the lives of the candidate,

the voter, the staff member, and the parties involved in the electoral process, for more clarity, shall

Share it within a specific guideline with the parties concerned.

The MoI shall share the draft of security plan with the parties involved to reduce security

concerns.

The MoI shall ensure the implementation method of the security plan within a monitoring

guideline share its compliance with the parties involved in the process.

One of the main issues in the past election was the lack of female police in the polling

centers and polling stations, which led to the absence of women on election day. Therefore,

it is suggested that, in view of the current situation of the Ministry of the Interior, shall strive

in cooperation with women's organizations to prepare the list of women for body search on

the election day, try to put an end to this shortcoming.

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The past election experience indicates that government facilities were available to some

candidates and the behavior of some interior ministry staff was discriminatory with a number

of candidates. For example, the candidates who were the current representitves of the

Wolesi Jirga of Afghanistan used all government facilities and guards Therefore, it is

suggested that all candidates should be treated in the same way in accordance with the law

and equal facilities shall be made available to them.

To protect female candidates and resolve their security problems,in timely, it is suggested

that the MoI shall establish a 24-hour hotline comuniation between the security angencies

and female candidates, such as Police No. 119

The Ministry of the Interior can solve this issue by launching campaigns in all parts of the

country and encouraging women to join the police force. The interior ministry is responsible

for securing female candidates. Therefore, it is suggested that the Ministry of Interior shall

ensure fullsecurity of female candidates.

Principle Six: Reducing women's economic problems and providing economic facilities for

women

It is suggested to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to consider some economic incentives for

women."

Since one of the major problems for female candidates in the election is economic problems,

the meeting participants emphasized that women should be provided with incetives at the time

of the amendment of the election law by the relevant authorities. This problem has reduced the

interest of women to participate in elections. Therefore, for participation of women as

candidates, some mitigation in conditions of candidacy (guaranty money) shall be taken into

account, this incentives could encourage women’s participation as candidate , like women's

quota in parliament.

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- if this issue is not included in the process of amendment of the election laws, the Electoral

Commission, in coordination with other organizations, may take into account the implicit

implementation of the facilities at the disposal of the Commission in accordance with the

provisions include it within the Regulations.

Principle seven: Distribution of Tazkeras for women in Afghanistan's remote areas

"The Civil Population Registration Authority is obliged to distribute National Id cards to all

citizens in the country"

The electoral process, which is a national and important process, is the responsibility of the Local

Population Registration Office to coordinate local bodies to distribute citizenship IDs to women in

distant locations through mobile teams.

With the distribution of National ID cards, many female will own a Tazkera. This will increase the

presence of women in various national processes, especially in elections.

The Independent Election Commission (IEC), in coordination with the Provincial Registry Office,

shall deploy mobile teams so that beside obtaining the identity card women could easily participate

in voter registertion.

Principle Eight: Preventing the recruitment of male employees at female polling stations

"The Election Commission should develop a plan to increase the presence of female employees

in women's polling centers and stations, especially where there are cultural and security

restrictions for women."

Based on the experience gained from 2018 Wolesi Jirga elections , the lack of recruitment of female

employees in a number of women's polling stations is a serious problem. In some cases, the custom

and abusive practices prevent the presence of women in pooling centers that the employees are

male. Therefore, the Independent Election Commission should recruit and train female employees

at the appointed time for the upcoming (presidential, provincial councils and district councils)

elections to be appointed to polling stations.

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The Election Commission can employ female civil servants with cooperartion of women's rights

organizations, civil society organizations, the Ministry of Education, the Ministry of Women's

Affairs and local government officials.

One of the experiences of the 2018 Wolesi Jirga election was that a large number of school teachers

in various constitunencies, as government employees and government departments staff, in

accordance with paragraph 2 ofArticle 23, of temporary staffing in polling centers assingned from

amongst school teachers, Professors of higher education institutions and government employees

and the commission used this option before the election day and conducted educational programs

for these temparry staff but, unfortunately, they were not informed on the election day, and remaind

unaware of the process the it is suggested to Independent commission elections to comply with the

law while hiring female teachers in polling centers and polling stations, for not to suffering from a

shortage of female employees on election day.

Regarding the recruitment and selection of female employees in provincial structures, it is suggested

that the Independent Election Commission (IEC) pay close attention to women in their

organizational structure, at least in their provincial organizations, especially in the field of public

relations, to give female candidates the opportunity to communicate with them about the problems

and The IEC also add to the gender units of the Provincial Organization to address the serious

problems of women.

Principle Nine: Establishing Polling centers in appropriate locations and in accordance with

the voters list .

One of the main tasks of the IEC is to establish polling centers and polling stations accessible

to voters. Therefore, the commission is required to establish polling centers and polling

stations in appropriate places according to the voter list

As per the law, all citizens of Afghanistan have the right to access to the polling center and the

right to vote, the Electoral Commission should adopt measures that allow citizens to easily access

the polling stations. In the 2018 Wolesi Jirga elections, polling centers and polling stations were

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not set up in approperite places in line with the voters list, which was a general problem, and this

concern for women was more perceptible.

Therefore, the Independent Election Commission (IEC), with lessons learned from the 2018 Wolesi

Jirga the elections, in which list of voters in most polling centers and polling stations had tangible

problems, such as the " mis-spelling absence of voter's names in the voters list". the commission

is required by article of the Electoral Law Which states that "The Independent Election Commission

shall take action to enter the Voter List at the Commission's Database and in accordance with the

electoral calendar for public awareness and protest hung it on in the polling stations, to eliminate

the serious problems which will lead to vast participation of women as voters in Polling Stations,

the existence of the list of voters in polling stations and prevent voters from proxy voting.

PrincipleTen: Increasing women's awareness of elections and women's political

participation

The Independent Election Commission (IEC) is required by Article 19 paragraph (8) of the

Election Law to conduct public education and awareness programs at the nationwide.

therefore The Commission must adopt regular plans for women's political participation in

accordance with the time constraints.

The issue of awareness is one of the basic components for the full political participation of the

citizens of the country. This important principle was emphasized in most provinces during(FEFAO

Provincial Consultative Meetings and Group Discussions), therefore, it is suggested that extensivde

election awareness programs by the Electoral Commission, in partnership with the Ministry of

Women's Affairs, the Ministry of Hajj and Relagious Affairs, with the help of Mullahs Imams, of

mosques, Civil society organizations, newspapers, audio and visual media shall be conducted, so

that women who are sidelined and deprived of these programs shall be benefited

Therefore is suggested to;

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The Independent Election Commission (IEC) shall provide awareness-raising programs for

women around the election and their role in the process in Afghanistan by identifying

effective measures before the elections.

The Independent Election Commission (IEC) shall hold awareness-raising programs in the

villiges and suburbs of Afghanistan within a single Election Guideline make available to

the public.

The Independent Election Commission (IEC) shall adopt monitoring plan to evaluate the

effectiveness of the implementation of awareness-raising programs for women.

Principle 11: The Use of Technology in of Election

The Independent Election Commission (IEC) will incorporate regular approaches into its

procedures and national and regional pathologies for using technology.

Because the biometric system was used inappropriate timing, this led to not participation of the

majority of women, therefore if the IEC is to use biometric system, th e voter’s list must be

prepared using the biometric system.

Principle 12: Women's Participation in the matter of of District and Village Councils

"In order to raise the level of female candidates' participation in the election, there should

be facilities and flexiblitiy regarding the conditions of women's candidacy in the matter of

district councils"

Since in Article 83 of the Afghan Constitution ,about the participation of women in the election of

the National Council there is a positive Discrimination, therefore it was necessary to consider some

flexibility for women in the election law in regards with matter of the districts and the village

councils.

As the district councils and village councils are a new experience, the Ministry of Women's Affairs,

the Independent Election Commission, Idependent Dirtorate of Local Governance, and civil

society organizations put efforts in the field of awareness-raising, filling out 25% of the seats

allocated to women in district and village councils , clearification of the previliges and authorities.

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- The Ministry of Women's Affairs, shall organize moderated programs regarding the

districts and village councils to encourage women to these two selective positions.

- Departments of the Ministry of Women's Affairs shall consider programs that focus on

the benefits of district councils and village councils for women in districts and villages

in coordination with the Independent Election Commission and civil society

organization.

- The Independent Election Commission (IEC), in coordination with the Ministry of

Information and Culture, shall publishe and advertize short messages to inform

candidates about the amendments in the election law for women candidates via Printing,

vesual and audio media w.

- In regards with privileges, competencies and responsibilities of district councils, IDLG

shall endeavor to ensure that all competences, responsibilities and privileges of the

district councils and village councils are drafted in in a specified and comprehensible

law and is processed and approvedin accordance with the law.

Principle13: Changes in the organizational structure of the Independent Election Commission

"The government shall pay serious attention to the leadership of the Independent Election

Commission (IEC), individuals who have the ability, capacity and virtue to hold and manage

the elections, shall be appointed as commissioner."

experiences and lessons learned from Previous election,The weakness and inability of the

Independent Election Commission (IEC) and hasty decisions at each election stage caused the

majority of women to be deprived of their right to voting and candidacy, widespread fraud, violation

of electoral law and internal procedures of the IEC. Led to a negative impact on women, the

National Unity Government has been called on to recruit the profound changes in line with the

structure of the commission and to appoint effective people who have good experience of the

election in order to ensure that the elections are transparent and fair.

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Part two:Political Participarion of Youth

According to the National Youth Strategy of adopted in 2017, nearly 73 percent of Afghanistan's

population is made up of under age of 35. This makes Afghanistan one of the countries with the

world's highest number of youth, the youth of Afghanistan, after the emergence of New chapter in

2001, when Afghanistan entered the stage of government and nationhood, youth have undergone

major changes with the emergence of opportunities using modern knowledge and

technology.Today's youth are so different from yesterday's youth. Despite their many challenges,

youth have a good performance in the field of educational, administrative, political, civil, media

and press. Our youth are also brilliant in the Afghan parliament. Freedom of expression and

elections are fundamental elements of democracy. The passionate presence of youth in the past

election as a candidate, voter, and the press of the country, which is a fundamental means of

promoting freedom of expression, reflects the strong desire of youth to realize democracy and

human rights values. It should not be forgotten that youth did not take all these steps on smooth

roads, but they were struggling with the challenges and difficulties that we are afread ignoring them

will lead to retreat of youth .

Reasons for low political participation of youth

In addition, FEFA discussed youth political participation by launching group discussions and

discourses with youth and college students at universities, launching surveys to identify successful

young figure of the year. In these programs, the level of youth's participation in the election has

been examined and the main reasons that cause the participation and non-participation of youth in

the current situation are highlighted and evaluated. The (Asia Foundation) survey on the role of

youth and the challenges and problems of youth's participation, despite the fact that youth have

played a key role in the last election and entered the process with a new worldview and as a

candidate with higher standards they have entered the electoral campaign, but there are still many

problems with the political participation of youth that are outlined as below.

Culture of elderly primacy and society's indifference toward youth's abilities;

unemployment;

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The instrumental use of youth’s trust and energy and lack of trust among youth;

Failure to comply with the principle of impartiality from election commission staff,

which has created the atmosphere of youth’s distrust towards the election.

Illiteracy and lack of higher education;

Financial problems;

Insecurity;

lack of access of young people to their fundamental rights;

Drug addiction;

The lack of youth in government leadership

Widespread fraud in electoral processes by electoral structures;

Basic principle for meaningful participation of youth in the election

1- The role of government in increasing the participation of youth

The National Youth Policy, adopted on 25 August 2014, prompted the government to adhere to a

set of principles and values for the benefit of the youth. On the basis of value # 4 and #6 (4) - the

aquity of the rights of youth based on the article 22 of the constitution, (6) the active political,

economic and social participation of the youths) and in accordance with the second principle of the

policy (identification of the rights and responsibilities of youth in decisions that Affects their lives

in some way), the 2017 National Youth Strategy has also guaranteed the participation of youth in

civil and political rights. Youth are involved at all levels of decision-making, and the government

is obligated to protect heir rights.

Principle 14: Creating the ground for higher education for youth

"The government is required to pave the ground for youth’s higher education"

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- As we know that 73% of our society's population is established by the youth and is

considered to be effective in the development of the country, so the government and

especially the Ministry of Higher Education are required to provide inclusive education

in accordance with the needs of our society and our generation through state universities

And provide a balanced and balanced business in all parts of the country.

- The Ministry of Higher Education is required to work on on the quality of educational

materials and methods and develop and implement an accurate monitoring methodology

for all the state-owned and private universitie.

- he Ministry of Higher Education, in co-ordination with the heads of various faculties,

shall hold incentive programs for the participation of youth in the elections.

Principle 15: Combating the culture of elderly primacy and to the society believe in the

abilities of the youth

"The government and civil society organizations must take and implement plans in relation

to the role of youth in society and in gaining confidence of society in youth's abilities"

Based on- FEFAO- successful young figure of the year program -the majority of interviewees,

deemed this issue serious and viewed the culture of elderly primacy as a serious challenge.

Therefore, the Ministry of Hajj and Relagious Affairs, the Deputy Minister office for Youth Affairs,

civil society organizations shall collaborate develoming and in implementation of programs and to

combat this unpleasant culture.

- The Ministry of Hajj and Relagious affairs, should convinced the people by the preaching

and propagation of by Mullas through the cermons to have fate in the ability of the youth.

- The Deputy Minister office for Youth Affairs must incorporate specific plans and programs

to eliminate the culture elderly primacy and build the trust of society in youth 's abilities in

their policy and expand these programs through dialogue and debate through the media or

anyother means.

- Civil society organizations should pave the ground for growth of the youth by appointing

youth as decision-makers in organization.

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- The Deputy Minister office for Youth Affairs and the ministery of information and culture

shall draft and develop a specific and practical policy for the participation of youth in order

to clarify all aspects of the political participation of youth with their comparative

mechanism.

Principle 16: Youth Access to Their Fundamental Rights

"In accordance with Article 22 of the Constitution of the country, the government is required

to observe the equality of the rights of citizens. This issue is also highlighted in Values 4 in the

National Youth Policy.

The Fundamental rights of citizenship are, in fact, a set of rights that individuals have in their

citizenship status. In other words, they are referred to the set of citizenship privileges that on bases

of which people of a community live and consolidte the ground for civility in the society. The

term"Citizen" refers to all individuals who live in society enjoying equal rights. Freedom of

expression, election and being elected are among the fundamental rights of citizens. Therefore,

based on these definitions, youth are nationals of the country and should be aware of and enjoy

access to all their rights and privileges of citizenship. Therefore, The Deputy Minister office for

Youth Affairs of the ministery of information and culture, the Independent Election Commission

and the youth organizations should develop practical programs to provide basic youth rights and

make effective advocacy.

On the other hand, the government shall pay attention to the young forces at the levels of leadership

and decision making and recruite youth in key positions.

Principle 17: Provision of economic facilities for youth

" The Deputy Minister office for Youth Affairs of the ministery of information and culture

should consider a series of economic facilities and incentives for youth in coordination with

electoral commissions"

- As one of the major problems for young candidates in the electoral period is

economic problem, the participants of the SuccessfulYoung figure Survey

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highlighted that the major problem for young is an inadequate economic situation

and this has led weakening of youth's interest in the elections. And the youth escape

abroad in order to obtain economic gains. Therefore, The Deputy Minister office for

Youth Affairs shall work in coordination with the banks to provide youth with small

loans.

Principle 18: Ensuing the Security of Youth in the Election Process

"The Ministry of the Interior, as the highest authority, has the responsibility to protect the

citizens of the country, in cooperation with the NDS and the Ministry of Defense, are

responsible for securing the youth in the elections."

- Providing security during the election period, especially in polling centers and polling

stations, is the responsibility of the ANP, but as youth attend polling stations in the centers,

it is necessary for the Interior Ministry to take a serious action and increase the number of

police officers in the polling centers.

- The Ministry of the Interior, in cooperation with the National Directorate of Security and

the Ministry of National Defense, is required to provide security to unsafe places so that

youth in these areas can enter the electoral process as candidates

- The Interior Ministry should identify its weaknesses and security issues and take the right

decisions in this regard.

- The maintenance of the neutrality of the security officials during the process is one of the

fundamental values. With the experience of the 2018 Wolesi Jirga elections , severe concern

has been expressed about neutrality of security officials in vavor of particular candidates.

Thus, the Ministry of Interior Affairs shall pay serious attention to this matter, and deal with

the perpetrators in accordance with the prvissions of law.

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Principles19: Counter Norcotic drugs program by The Deputy Minister Office/Counter

norcotics of MOI.

" The Deputy Minister office for Youth Affairs ,Mnistry of Information andCuture , Deputy

Minister Office/Counter norcotics of MOI, Ministry of Agreculture, Ministry of Rural

Development and Ministry of Public Health, Ministry of Education and Higher Education,

Ministry of Labor and Social Affairs must adopt Plans for Eradication of the cultivation and

trafficking of drugs "

Poverty and economic problems have caused the youth to become addicted to drugs and emigrate

from the country. According to a survey conducted by the (Asia Foundation), 22 percent of youth

in Southwestern provinces drug addicts are drug addicts,which represents the largest percentage of

youth addiction in 34 provinces, and this is considered as one of the major challenges laying before

the youth's participation . Therefore, the government has to provide youth with an alternative

coltivation plan to prevent youth from becoming addicted.

- The Counter Narcotics Ministry has to introduce alternative cultivation to farmers,

and pave the grounds which will enable them to use it.

- The Deputy Minister office for combatting against drug trafficking should

bearrested those who smuggle narcotics bring them to justice.

- The Deputy Minister office for Youth Affairs should have awareness programs on

drug abuse in partnership with media outlets through the publication of short

messages for youth.

- The Ministry of Rural Development should, work through its popular council, for

public awareness raising about the harms of popy cultivation and drug trafficking.

- The Ministry of Agriculture needs to promote cultivation of saffron and encourage

the farmers to grow it.

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Principle 20: Providing employment opertunites

"The Ministry of Labor and Social Affairs, in cooperation with Deputy minister Office/ Youth

Affairs, is required to provide employment opertunites for the youth"

- One of the major problems for youth is the problem of unemployment. Unemployment leads to

the lack of youth participation in political programs and prevents them from reaching the level of

leadership. According to a survey conducted by the (Asia Foundation) across Afghanistan,

unemployment is one of the problems fall in top of the youth’s problems and represents a high

percentage. The western provinces make up the highest percentage of unemployed youth. The

unemployment rate in these provinces is 76%.

- The Ministry of Labor and Social Affairs has a duty to reform the recruitment system

and develop short-term and long-term plans for recruiting elite youth at provincial level.

- The government is required to provide internship programs for youth in collaboration

with internional organizations.

- The Deputy minister office/Youth Affairs shall identify the exact youth statistics

through the Online Database and in coordination with the Ministry of Labor and Social

Affairs

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