Women political right advocacy group developing a work plan

Women’s Political Rights Advocacy Group convened a successful meeting on April 14, 2013, to discuss their 3 months’ work plan drafted by FEFA and insert appropriate changes where needed. The group also briefly reviewed the recommendations on the draft electoral law and expressed their thoughts on the advocacy methods for the recommendations inside and outside the Parliament. One of the group members suggested comparing the recommendations with the articles of the draft electoral law, identifying the most controversial ones and seeking out the best proper advocacy methods for each. The group decided to dedicate its next two sessions to discussing advocacy techniques for the recommendations as well as advocating for securing at least one seat for women as the IEC commissioner. WPRAG also agreed on setting meetings with the appointing committee’s members in order to inform them of the group’s activities and achievements while emphasizing to avoid the politicization of the group by certain political groups/individuals. At the end of the session, the group decided to call upon political parties and civil society organizations to attend the plenary session of Wolesi Jirga where electoral law draft will be taken under debate. Their presence in the hall might create a sense of accountability among the MPs who are about to ratify the electoral law.