Afghanistan's Elections Postponed Because of Security Concerns

The first post-Taliban elections in Afghanistan, which were scheduled to take place in June, have been postponed until September. According to BBC News, poor security has delayed voter registration, resulting in only 1.5 million of an estimated 10.5 million people being registered.

According to the New York Times, more than 200 people have been killed this year including aid workers and government employees. In addition, new violence has erupted in Afghanistan after President Karzai announced the postponement of the elections as a gunmen killed two soldiers and a suicide bomber wounded six people in a southeastern town.

Despite the dire security situation in Afghanistan, peacekeeping forces in Afghanistan remain a small contingent of some 5,500 soldiers. Without security, women in Afghanistan will never be able to obtain their rights and the country will never have sustained peace and democracy.

The Feminist Majority is leading the call for international peacekeeping force (ISAF) expansion, increased reconstruction funding, and more resources to support the work of the Ministry of Women's Affairs and the Afghan Independent Human Rights Commission.

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Media Resources: Feminist Daily News 2/27/04; BBC News 3/28/04; The New York Times 3/29/04, 3/28/04

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