A meeting on Thursday brought Afghan election officials, civil society groups and women's right activists together to discuss election security, voter awareness and election transparency.
The Canadian Ambassador to Afghanistan, Deborah Lyons, was also in attendance. She said she appreciated the efforts made by civil society groups in coordination with the government to enhance public awareness about the elections.
"My embassy and the government of Canada will work with afghan organizations, with the Afghan government, and of course, with religious leaders most importantly to help empower all citizens, yes, of course women, but also all citizens to encourage them to get out and vote on April 5th."
The participants on Thursday said the larger participation in the elections is the more credibly the result can be.
"There should a commitment that the next government will represent the whole people of Afghanistan, this is how we can decrease the apprehensions of people and the public misconceptions about a possible crisis that could emerged in the country after the elections," Chairman of Afghanistan Democracy Watch Zekirya Barakzai said.
Representatives of the Independent Election Commission (IEC) were also at the meeting. They encouraged continued cooperation and coordination between election officials and civil society groups.
"We hope that civil society institutions will not forget us in the election process and contribute to the transparency of the elections," IEC Commissioner Laila Ehrari said.
Participants called on the Afghan National Security Forces (ANSF) to work on securing polling booths and candidates, but also to strive to bolster public confidence in election security.
The meeting focused some on women's role in the elections, and how resources can be better used to get more women out to the polls in April.
"When there is no mental peace for families, how can we expect it in society?" one activist named Manizha asked.
Young civil society members highlighted the elections' importance to Afghan youth.
"The election is the only option for the Afghan youth," one participant named Ehsanullah said.
As Afghanistan heads closer to April 5, civil society groups are looking to build awareness of the elections and persuade the rest of their countrymen to see the elections as the critical opportunity the see it as.
Source/Fuente: http://www.tolonews.com/en/afghanistan/14102-transparent-election-guaran...
