Serial Number: 116

Date: April 15, 2020

The Afghan people saw a 31 percent share of women in the 2009 presidential election, Women took part in the presidential election by accepting serious security threats and problems and by casting their vote in the vote box, they supported the Republican system and contributed to the institutionalization of democracy.

Also, women in different periods, especially during the national unity government, with their active participation in leadership and decision-making levels, as well as their active political, social and economic role, proved that women today with their high professional capacities can actively participate in governance and decision-making levels and play a significant role.

We now have countless professional, knowledgeable, and professional women across Afghanistan which is based on the principles of meritocracy, giving work to the worthy class, and ensuring the government's commitment to political and leadership participation of women's must be achieved at the leadership level.

We are currently in the midst of severe health threats caused by the outbreak of the Corona Global Threat (Covid-19), on the other hand, the government is busy forming the cabinet and appointing ministers, deputy governors, ambassadors and independent departments. Unfortunately, there is still no news on appointing of women in the new positions while considering the population and the role of women, one of the vice presidents should have been a woman, which unfortunately was not the case in the government-building party.

The women's vote in the presidential election was crucial in determining the outcome of the election, and we call on the President of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan, Mohammad Ashraf Ghani, to take the following serious steps:

• In accordance with the Constitution of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan and the president’s commitments to political participation and women's leadership, President must prioritize and guarantee the promotion of women based on the principle of meritocracy and the transfer of work to the worthy class.
• In appointing of women and other individuals at decision-making levels, highly avoid the political, partisan and group pressures.
• Women's contribution based on respect to 31% of women's participation in elections and by evaluating the constructive and active role of women during the national unity government.
• Considering the equal right of women to women's political, economic and social participation in accordance with the Constitution and other national and international documents on the appointment of women as cabinet ministers and deputy ministers, ambassadors, governors and deputy governors, heads of provinces and their deputies, and Key judicial posts.
• Consultation with women's organizations to introduce qualified women in decision-making and key positions.
• Keeping professional and committed women at decision-making levels.
• Prevent double standards in the appointing of men and women in key positions
• At least one of the deputy ministers, governors and heads of provinces must be women.
• 50% participation of women in cabinet membership must be guaranteed, if a woman does not get vote from the National Assembly, another women must be re-elected.
• We want to introduce one of the prominent women of the judiciary as a member of the Supreme Council of the Supreme Court.
• The president is asked by the number of female members of the Senate who are not present for their duties due to problems and reasons, so that he should appoint only other women in these seats instead.
• Serious attention should be paid to strengthening and creating third units of the Ministry of Women's Affairs.

Our request to the Afghan parliament:

Women nominated in the cabinet of the Government will play an important role in bringing meritocracy, transparency and leadership. By casting an honest vote and without discrimination against women who are candidates for minister, you have an important responsibility to ensure the political participation of the half-population of Afghanistan.

The people's demand from you is to support the candidate for women ministers who are eligible under the Afghan constitution by a vote of confidence, and to ensure the active presence of women in society.

The Afghan Women's Network, as the largest umbrella for women's coordination and advocacy in Afghanistan with more than 25 years of honest and impartial activity, is committed to arranging and making available the lists of specialized and committed women from the center and provinces and collaborate in introducing worthy and specialized women.