The Ministry of Women's Affairs (MoWA) on Thursday asked for wide participation of women on the June 14 runoff.
The Minister of Women's Affairs Husn Banu Ghazanfar stated that the 36 percent turnout of women from the first round should increase to 50 percent in the runoff, emphasizing that women should mark their future with their own hands.
“We want a 50 percent turnout of women in the runoff elections,” Husn Bano Ghazanfar said. "For this purpose, we have launched campaigns and asked the district chiefs and governors of 34 provinces to persuade women to vote."
The Afghan Women Network (AWN) too has launched a mass campaign to motivate women nationwide to largely vote in the elections. Moreover, AWN has demanded that runoff candidates ensure equal rights of women in the political sphere and implement the Violence Against Women Law after winning the elections.
“Our demands include the designation of women to key posts in legal and judicial organs, The 25 percent share for women must be considered in all organs,” AWN Member Mari Ekrami said. "In addition, we ask for the election of at least one female judge in the supreme court, support of women's safe houses, and legal protection and assistance to women who have suffered from domestic violence."
Meanwhile, the Afghanistan Independent Human Rights Commission (AIHRC) has also emphasized on the significance of women's votes.
“As women and active citizens, they have responsibility to vote in the elections,” AIHRC Commissioner Suraya Subh Rang said. "You should vote for someone who respects your rights and supports you."
Source/Fuente: http://www.tolonews.com/elections2014/mowa-asks-womens-participation-runoff
