Afghanistan Independent Human Rights Commission (AIHRC) and United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA) have released a report about political rights in the upcoming Presidential and Provincial Council Elections.

The report is the result of the joint cooperation between AIHRC and UNAMNA and was released at a press conference on August 10 in Kabul.

The main findings of the report are as follows:

• Despite increasing insecurity, Afghans have demonstrated a high level of interest and enthusiasm to participate, and to exercise their political rights in the upcoming Presidential and Provincial Council Elections.

• Monitoring shows that the campaigns of the 3,195 Provincial Council candidates and 40 Presidential candidates by and large have been conducted in a dignified and engaged manner that has stimulated vibrant political debates.

 • Though insecurity has posed a significant obstacle to the exercise of political rights during the Campaign period, political rights of the candidates and their supporters have generally been respected despite isolated instances of documented violations. Such instances include four alleged election-related killings: the 6th July killing of the head of Chimtal District (Kunduz); the 15th July killing of the Nijrab Disrict (Kapisa) campaign manager of Dr. Abdullah Abdullah; the 30th July remote controlled Improvised Explosive Devise (IED) attack on a vehicle of President Karzai’s campaign that killed four (including Karzai’s district campaign manager) in Aqcha district (Jawzjan).

• There are various concerns about the status of women’s political rights. Women remain disadvantaged in the context of campaigning (their right to stand for office), accessing voter registration, and seeking remedies for violations of the electoral laws and regulations.

• An upward trend in breaches of the principle of non-intimidation by anti-government elements (AGEs), as well as rival candidates and their supporters, is also of concern. AGEs tend to be responsible for the majority of breaches of the principles of non-intimidation. Breaches of the principle of impartiality, in particular the misuse of State resources and of official positions, have continued sporadically since the Nomination period.

• Insecurity has severely limited freedom of movement and constrained freedom of expression for candidates and supporters, hampering their ability to campaign openly through public gatherings of door-to-door visits throughout their constituencies. These restrictions have, in turn, created significant limitations on freedom of association and peaceful assembly, and amplified women’s difficulties in participating in the electoral process. The same limitations have posed challenges to the complaints process and preparations for Polling and Counting, including voter and civic education. At the same time, the Independent Electoral Commission (IEC), in close coordination with the Afghan National Security Forces and the International Military Forces, are working to secure access to Polling locations for voters, IEC staff, and observers and agents of candidates.