As the Parliamentary elections, slated for September 18, draw ever nearer, various interest groups are voicing their concerns and asking that candidates earn their votes by promising to address their demands.
Afghanistan’s women, who have made great strides over the past eight years, are joining together o make their voices heard. A group of women activists from Herat has drafted their own platform, which they are sending to the candidates from their area:
In the Name of Allah Almighty, the Compassionate and the most Merciful
Date: July 23, 2010
According to Article 81 of the Constitution of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan, Parliament is the only legislative body which represents all people of the country. All Members of Parliament are obliged to consider the will of the people and the public interest while making decisions about the country.
According to Article 90 of the Constitution, the Parliament has the following powers:
• Ratification, modification, or abrogation of laws and or legislative decrees.
• Approval of plans for economic, social, cultural, and technological development.
• Approval of state budget, permission for obtaining, and granting loans.
• Creation, modification of administrative units.
• Ratification of international treaties and agreements, or abrogation of the membership of Afghanistan to them.
• Other authorities specified in this Constitution.
Article 91 of the Constitution explains that the parliament can:
• Summon high ranking officials of the government;
• Review government’s development programs and governmental budget and;
• Based on the constitution, confirm or reject appointments of high ranking officials of the government 
Considering the abovementioned rights given to the Parliament, we, the women of Herat province, ask our candidates to pay strict attention to our demands and proposals and to promise to fulfill our demands if they become Members of Parliament.
It should be noted that we have made these demands after consultation with a very large number of women from different areas of the province to solicit their opinions on how to improve women’s living conditions in the country; as a result, we have agreed on the following:
1. To establish and approve laws on the rights of women, particularly to ban violence against women, to prohibit forced and underage marriages, as well as to prohibit unacceptable cultural and traditional practices such as Walwar (bride price) and Bad Dadan (the practice of giving girls as a means to settle disputes). We demand that harsh punishments be meted out to perpetrators.
2. To monitor closely the implementation of laws in general and of those laws concerning women in particular;
3. To tackle corruption seriously, particularly corruption within the judicial system to avoid violating rights of the poor;
4. To force the relevant government bodies to establish training centers for women at the municipal and district levels. These centers should provide professional and vocational training for women; these centers can enable women to learn to read and write as well as to help support their families. Women and children who are begging on the streets should be brought to such centers.
4. The number of women drug addicts has been rising by the day, especially in Ghoryan and Shindand districts. Mothers and children are suffering from this phenomenon. We want to ask the candidates to force the government, particularly the Ministry of Public Health, to plan a comprehensive program to overcome such problems. The Ministry of Public Health should establish centers at the provincial level to treat addicts and provide training for them, as well as to give consultation to women addicts.
Finally, we ask you (the candidates) to be fully committed to fulfilling our demands. We ask that you try to plan and implement broader programs for improving women’s lives. If you do, you will you will win the strong support of Herat women.
