Image: Woman votes in Kabul, Afghanistan, April 2014 (UN Photo/Fardin Waezi)

Afghanistan
is waiting to hear the outcome of last month’s presidential election,
with an official audit of all votes underway to determine the winner.

For the first time in Afghanistan‘ s history, power
will be democratically transferred through elections. But how far
have Afghan women participated in the election, and to what extent
are they represented in politics and civil society generally? In
this blog, one of SI’s UN Representatives in Vienna, Dora Vrdlovec,
reports from “Perspectives
of Afghan Women: 2014 and beyond”,
a Colloquium organised by the Permanent Mission of Afghanistan in
Vienna, UNODC and ACUNS Vienna Liaison Office at the Vienna
International Centre on 10th July 2014.

Opening
the Colloquium, His Excellency Ambassador
Ayoob Erfani, Permanent Representative of Afghanistan to the United
Nations (Vienna),highlighted the
growing participation of women in all levels of government and civil
society. Ms Farkhunda
Zahara Naderi MP,
Member of Lower House of Afghanistan Parliament (born in 1981, Member of Commission on Women’s Affairs,
Human Right and Civil Society 2011-12) went on to highlight the progress
Afghanistan has made over the past 13 years but also the remaining
challenges for women in politics. So far, for example, no women are
in the Supreme Court, with nine members. She spoke very passionately
about the political, security and economic situation of her country
right after the election, stressing that this is a very delicate
moment
of transition.

Elections
– a significant milestone

The
word Ms Naderi used most was “democracy” , she
used this word as a young and precious wealth to be protected and
defended. Presidential Elections were held on 5 April 2014, with a
second round on 14 June. People, especially women in western province
voted in risky security conditions, but Ms Naderi described it as a
great school in democracy. The result of the second round election
will determine the new leader of Afghanistan. However, widespread
accusations of fraud are likely to delay this result.

For
the first time in Afghanistan‘ s history, power will be
democratically transferred through elections.The
number of voters announced was 8,109,403; at the second round 62.37
percent of voters were male and 37.63
percent were female.

With
great passion she spoke about the effort having been made by Afghan
women in this time of transition to become agents of peace, stability
and sustainable development.

A
Fragile situation

“The
situation is fragile”
was another sentence Ms Naderi repeated several times. Afghanistan,
Afghan women and the young generation need help, but only having in
mind the good
of the whole region.
Women’s rights should be considered throughout all the aspects of the
society, a gender perspective should be mainstreamed into all
policies for the advancement of women ensuring equal opportunities
across all area of public life and in the reconstruction process.

It
will be important to have a woman in the Supreme Court. Ms Naderi
also highlighted the significance of implementing the National Action
Plan for the Women of Afghanistan 2008-2018, and the right of
children in conflicts.

Promoting
women’s participation

The
situation for Afghan women has improved in the last decade,
particularly in the major urban areas; however those living in the
rural parts of the country still face many problems. Many people work from
home, for example as tailors; women can set up small businesses.  But Afghanistan has a
struggling economy, massive unemployment and poverty. Only in
agriculture do women play a significant role (30%)

More
women should take the way into politics and decision maker positions
to play a key and visible
role to ensure
that Afghan women’ voice will be heard, stressed Ms Naderi. The
Afghan national Police have a number female officers, and there is
one female pilot in the Air Force.

The
next speaker was Ms
Mahbouba Seraj ,Executive Board
Member and chair of the Afghan Women’s Network. Speaking about
women in politics, she explained that Afghanistan lost a 5% of
representation of women in the regional organisations but that the
20% who remained are however a huge force on provincial councils. She
stressed that having women in Parliament gives a psychological
security to all other women.

Ms
Seraj spoke
about the need for women’s inclusion in reconciliation and in peace
and security programs. It’s necessary to create a secure environment,
where women are enabled to live a life free from intimidation, fear
and violence.

She
has created a national radio
series on the lives
and challenges of Afghan women. She established Listening Circles so
that women in villages could hear and discuss her programs. Her most
recent work is a study on Girls
Participation in Higher Education in Afghanistan.
“Women should have a role in all relevant areas including HR,
education and health advancing the political and socio-economic
progress.”

Involving
young people – the nation’s future

Although
she is very proud that Afghanistan went through a poll, Ms Seraj
is concerned how the final result will affect the 68 percent of
population “who are the nation’s future:
the
country’s young people”.
This is an area also highlighted by Ms Naderi.

Education
in Afghanistan is still very low, especially for women . There are
around 8 million students, 37% of them are females. However, this is
compared to 2001, when there were only 1 million students and these
were only boys.

“Young
people are the very power in the country” said Ms Seraj, but the
government has not yet realized it “ They are the ones who
mastering the social media can bring the country forwards out of the
standstill. She
is very worried that these intelligent, bright, knowledgeable young
people will not come to the jobs they are prepared for .The country
need to have the universities involved in this process.

During
this delicate time of transition, Ms Seraj urged investment in
education, but also stressed the need for the international community
to ask Afghan people what they really need before helping.