Afghan Warrior

With less than three weeks to September's historic parliamentary election, despite security concerns, Afghan women have shown deep interest in participating in the parliamentary election. There had already been a marked increase in women's voter registrations, especialy in the troubled southern and southeastern provinces where only a few women had registered during the presidential election last year. It is very encouraging that after so many years without any elections in Afghanistan, greater women's participation is at a pretty high level. According to the JEMB joint electoral management body, of the over 12 million registered voters in Afghanistan today, more than 40 percent of the total were female. Registration of Afghan women increased by 35 percent in the troubled southern province of Uruzgan and 23 percent in Helmand province. The most interesting registration was in Ajristan district of Ghazni province where no women registered during last year's presidential election but this year 13,000 women registered. In the Desho district of Helmand province only one woman registered last year for the presidential election, but this year 1,361 women registered for the parliamentary election. In some other southern provinces like Khost and Paktia, greater numbers of women registered and dozens of women are standing as candidates themselves for the parliamentary election.

Out of 5,800 candidates to stand for the Wolsi Jerga {lower house of parliament} and provincial councils, 582 are women. Afghanistan is one of the 20 countries in the world which has verified 27 percent of women representation in the parliament. Security concerns kept away many women to start their campaign especially in the troubled provinces. In the capital Kabul, despite warnings from the enemies of freedom, dozens of women have started their campaign. Everywhere you go you see the posters of men and women candidates stuck on the buses, taxis, walls, and on the trees in some rural areas, particulary in the southern provinces. Women voters can not even attend public meetings. This forces female candidates to meet women inside their homes if they want to compaign and make speeches. While most candidates had vowed to run election despite the threats, in some troubled areas a number of candidates have indicated that they will not carry out any campaign activities due to security concerns and threats against their life and some of these candidates campaign inside the mosques and schools.

In some villages authorities have begun shows to teach ordinary people to encourage them to vote and to explain the process and also the importance of the election and it's benefits. There are theaters on radio and television for people and these theaters play a key role to reach out to the ordinary people. These shows are very useful, especially for ordinary people, because it tells them what the election means and also provides good entertainment and fun for the these people.

People of Afghanistan show a great interest to participate and vote for the upcoming parliamentary election. They know it is a great step towards democracy after almost three decades of war in the country.