SHIFTING LINES OF DEMOCRACY
"My husband is a taxi driver. I am here today to vote for my favorite candidate"When asked who she will vote for she smiles and says a "female candidate but I won't tell you who".There are many female candidates standing for a seat in the Wolesi Jirg",said Zargona,a mother of two.Its not the story of only Zargona but of thousands of Afghan women who want change in the system of democracy in Afghanistan. Many women were deprived of voting during last election due to paucity of women workers for elections.There are 386 women who are competing for 68 seats this year.The election took place last saturday and the mood was immense and critical as there was heap of clashes and voilence on the voting day.But many women came out and voted for their candidate.They have hope in their eyes.One of the prominent female politician is Shukria Barakzai who is also a journalist and entrepreneur and a prominent Muslim feminist.She believes in the slogan of commitment and is not confined only to the parliament election.She wants to take women ahead in every sphere of life in the country.
Shukria Barakzai
Women don't get adequate facilities in Afghanistan.They are deprived of proper education.This is one the most serious problem in the country.Most of the men in rural areas don't allow their women to vote.These women are staying in the fear and distress.Women's rights in many areas are negligible and the women who are standing in the elections are over shadowed by the corruption and men's muscle in the political fence.
I really think women should be given an opportunity in the political arena especially in a country like Afghanistan.Even if they don't form the part of the government ,at least their voice can be heard and their concerns can be addressed.In one of the reports I saw,there was a sole women who came to vote in her village.I believe if women are staying in such a plight,this can dilute the genesis of equality and above all of democracy.There is always enthusiasm among women during election as the atmosphere of hope is created and that shows that Afghanistan is also ready for a change- a change to bring smiles on girl's and women's faces whose smiles are still hiding in their veils.Whoever wins in mid October the government should work towards the betterment of women and improve their condition.I would be really happy to see women candidates winning for their respective seats and even I am tied with them through hope.
women needs change a change to begin new life.Its time afghanistan should go ahead towards d stream of equality and raise the bar of the democracy
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hey sonam I hope it happens soon, thanks for sharing your views.
ReplyDeleteIt is high time women get equal rights as their male counterparts. They have better manegerial skills so I believe they would do a much better job of running the country which is now in a pathetic condition.
ReplyDeleteNice article, brings out an important change (attitude shift) in Afghani society whr women as lawmakers are finally making their place and presence felt....can d total number of women contesting d elections b known coz when d results wud b out it'll make an interesting comparison and also an indicator of d success of democracy in Afghanistan
ReplyDeleteThanks Rohit and Saurabh for sharing your reviews well saurabh there are 68 seats and 386 women are contesting.Results are expected by mid october then we can see the change in the course of the polity and rohit lets hope for the best.
ReplyDeleteI hope the women candidates win at least some seats...and that dy shld be in some kind of majority or they will not be guiven their due wait even wen the govt is formed...the society their is very male dominant and it aill take time and effort for the women's say to have any power....
ReplyDeleteI am extremely happy to see the local women take action, taking things in their hands...trying to change the situation, taking responsibility. That is Afghanistan, a country much more conservative than India. Cut to India - the government has been trying to pass the 33% reservation bill for women in legislatures. The bill hasn't been passed. We need to learn from the Afghanistan example. There needs to be pressure from the women of the country to push it further, if they want equal representation for women in the politics.
ReplyDeleteit seems to me strange in some areas, where one or two people or none went for voting. specially in southern areas, all the election is based on money. the election office sales the vote on candidates, the one with power and money will win, even if no one vote for. i met with more then hundred of my friend which none of them vote. the result of election is declared even before election. it is just waste of money and time. and show to the world the true picture of democracy, i am not sure about what you mentioned in shifting line of democracy. it is good on paper. but in practice it is just not applicable. a society full of corruption. where all the warlords are running the government. do you believe if you can hope for a brighter future? apart from that, you will witness killing of innocent citizen by international forces and local insurgents. no body knows where he will be caught in cross firing. or a damn victim of suicides.
ReplyDeletethere are lots of problem what i pointed is just a friction. this war is not for peace. but instead this war is to do business for fighting against peace. i have a lot to say but ........?
hey Rushda and ira thanks for sharing your views,we should really hope the equality of the section of the society take place in action
ReplyDeleteMulhtar agreed with and i am glad that you are giving a complete sight of ground realities of afghanistan as you are staying there.Shifting lines of democracy refers to the voting pattern in afghanistan,the participation of women in election.
ReplyDeleteStrong post, Nikhil. The paucity of female poll workers continued in this election too, unfortunately. Tom Ruttig, a former diplomat turned analyst, told me that he saw a polling center where no women were voting because there were no female poll workers. He mentioned this in a blog he posted soon afterward. That said, women's participation in voting and campaigning -- even if only in parts of the country -- is one of the true bright spots of the Karzai era.
ReplyDeleteThanks Ben.The election is clouded with heavy corruption charges as you have put it in Karzai era .Women should be given a chance and people out there should understand its significance.Anyways thanks for the link you have sent for the blog by Tom Rutting.I really appreciate it.
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