Bamdad | Full Text

Afghanistan’s Political Parties Need Sustainable Revenue, New Ideas

Interview by Jamal Temori — Wed, 05 Jun 2013 05:59:02 +0000

In an interview with www.bamdad.af, Kawa Aahangar, civil society activist and election researcher, asserted that the international community’s assistance to Afghanistan’s political parties over the past eleven years – under the umbrella of democracy assistance – has been worthwhile, but looking forward better political party finance regulation is needed to create more transparent and accountable parties.

Why Many of Afghanistan’s University Graduates Are Unemployed?

By Hamiduallah Habibi — Tue, 04 Jun 2013 07:47:54 +0000

According to the Ministry of Labor, Social Affairs, Martyrs and Disabled (MolSMD), there are about 9,000,000 people able to work in Afghanistan, from which 800,000 people are completely unemployed. Also, of this 9 million, 4 million have part-time jobs. In other words, 4 million Afghans only work between 5 and 35 hours in a week.

Does releasing Taliban prisoners help the Afghan peace process?

bamdad.af — Tue, 04 Jun 2013 07:14:28 +0000

Does releasing Taliban prisoners help the Afghan peace process?

Digitizing Public Administration Systems Will Decrease Corruption

By Elyass Abdali — Mon, 03 Jun 2013 08:53:03 +0000

A number of Afghan government officials argue that the traditional public administration system in Afghanistan has paved the way for corruption at governmental organizations. They call on authorities to take measures to simplify the government’s administrative procedures and limit opportunities for corruption.

Free and Fair Elections Require Impartial Election Commission

By Asar Hakimi — Thu, 16 May 2013 04:45:23 +0000

The Cooperation Council of Political Parties and Coalitions of Afghanistan (CCPPCA) believes that free and fair elections are impossible if we do not have a totally impartial election commission. The Council asserts that the Independent Election Commission’s (IEC) chairperson and commissioners must be appointed based on the IEC’s Structure, Duties and Responsibilities Law.

Afghanistan Pen Association Marks 10 Years of Achievement

By Asar Hakimi — Sun, 12 May 2013 08:20:46 +0000

Afghanistan Pen Association (APA) has published more than 120 books in various languages, namely Persian (Dari), Pashto, Uzbek, Turkmen, Balochi, and Noristani over the past 10 years. APA also has played a significant role in enriching Afghanistan’s culture and literature by organizing hundreds of cultural and literary programs throughout the country.

Nai Grants Awards to Top Afghan Journalists

By Asar Hakimi — Mon, 06 May 2013 07:23:21 +0000

Nai- Supporting Open Media in Afghanistan recognized the achievements of a number of top Afghan journalists in honor of World Press Freedom Day at an awards event in Kabul on May 5, 2013. The top journalists were awarded in several journalistic areas, namely moderating, news presenting, reporting, blogging, film, and photography. According to Nai, the awardees were selected through open competition.

Message to Afghan Women: Men’s Voice Needed in Fight for Women’s Rights

By Jamal Temori — Mon, 06 May 2013 06:43:34 +0000

A number of leading women from Afghanistan’s political sector assert that Afghan women should engage in activities that have been traditionally “male-dominated,” to reduce gender inequality and women’s rights violations. Women activists should motivate other women to improve their self-confidence and be involved in all facets of society.

Afghan Women Journalists Establish Support Committee

By Samana Hossaini — Sat, 04 May 2013 12:08:16 +0000

More than twenty young Afghan women who have received journalism training in a year-long program organized by Equality Social and Cultural Organization (ESCO) in 2012/2013, established a “women journalists committee” on May 1, 2013 in Kabul.

Past Decade: New Era of Hope for Afghanistan’s Civil Society

By Zia Danish — Tue, 30 Apr 2013 05:55:18 +0000

Civil society is a relatively new concept in Afghanistan. It has only recently received attention over the past eleven years as civil society principles were highlighted in Afghanistan’s Constitution established in 2003.

Jawadi to Afghan National Assembly: Less Political Wrangling, More Action

Interview by Jamal Temori — Tue, 30 Apr 2013 05:11:04 +0000

In an interview with www.bamadad.af, Sarwar Jawadi, legal expert and former member of the Afghan National Assembly (NA) asserted that the NA does not concentrate on the country’s most fundamental and pressing issues.

Eleven Years after Fall of the Taliban: Violence Is Still Widespread Against Afghan Women

Tue, 30 Apr 2013 04:00:42 +0000

More than eleven years after the fall of the Taliban and presence of the international community in Afghanistan, violence against Afghan women is still widespread throughout the country.

Afghan Female Lawyers: Providing Hope for Female Detainees

Interview by Asar Hakimi — Sun, 21 Apr 2013 06:11:01 +0000

In an interview with www.bamdad.af, Najla Rahib, a member of Afghanistan Lawyers Association (ALA), says that Afghan lawyers are striving to provide Afghan women with the best possible defense despite the multitude of challenges facing women in the legal system. According to Ms. Rahib, approximately 70 percent of Afghan detainees are deprived of their rightful legal representation.

Why Does Gender Inequality Persist in Afghanistan?

By Omidullah Khawary* — Tue, 09 Apr 2013 11:36:12 +0000

One of the major factors contributing to overt gender inequality in Afghanistan is the mentality of Afghan women themselves. The reality persists that a significant number of Afghan women accept inequality and the dominance of men over women.

IEC: 2014 Elections Will Be Transparent and Universal if Security Is Ensured

Interview by Hamidullah Habibi — Sun, 07 Apr 2013 04:06:23 +0000

Zaiulhaq Amarkhil, Chief Electoral Officer at Afghanistan’s Independent Election Commission (IEC) Secretariat, says that insecurity is the biggest challenge facing the 2014 presidential and provincial council elections. According to Amarkhil, IEC is making every effort to hold the upcoming election in accordance with the election timeline. In an interview with Bamdad, he asserted that the IEC, without the support of other government organizations, will not be able to conduct transparent elections.

Scandalous tales, France in 2013

By Dr. Magnus Ohman* — Thu, 04 Apr 2013 07:11:37 +0000

In a series of articles I have been discussing scandals that have erupted connecting money and politics in the US, Brazil and Italy. This time I want to bring to your attention two French cases that both saw significant developments in March 2013. Please note that these are ongoing cases and we do not yet know what the outcome will be, or if those involved will be convicted of any wrongdoings. In true French style, both cases have ties to celebrities, glamour (and in one case cosmetics).

Full Gender Equality in World Politics May Need Nearly 4 Decades

By Dr. Magnus Ohman* — Thu, 04 Apr 2013 05:01:29 +0000

About a year ago I wrote an article about how political finance regulations are used around the world to encourage political parties to nominate women in elections. (1) When I wrote this article, the average share of women in national parliaments was 19.6%. Today it is 20.4%. Admittedly that is an increase, but by this rate there will not be full gender equality for another 37 years, in 2050! Even more worrying, some regions, such as Asia, have actually gone backwards during the last year. Undoubtedly, much remains to be done.

Herat’s Silk Industry Needs Urgent Support

By Mahmood Eztarabi — Thu, 28 Mar 2013 15:19:42 +0000

An ancient market located in the southwest of Herat city where merchants used to trade traditional silk crafts was once the most crowded market in Herat. Silk products such as carpets and scarves were traded here for centuries.

The State Has Deprived Afghan Citizens of Access to Information

Fatana Bayaat — Sat, 23 Mar 2013 16:04:23 +0000

Though Article 50 of the Constitution gives Afghan citizens the right of access to information, reporters complain that governmental offices often refuse to provide them with necessary information. They claim that these offices do not cooperate and they treat reporters disrespectfully.

Political Parties and Civil Society: State Not Committed to Transparent Elections

By Asar Hakimi — Sat, 23 Mar 2013 13:14:27 +0000

The Coordination Council of Political Parties and Coalitions of Afghanistan (CCPPCA) is concerned about the transparency of Afghanistan’s upcoming presidential elections scheduled for April 2014.

Private Institutes of Higher Education in Afghanistan Should Improve Performance

Interview by Hamidullah Habibi — Fri, 22 Mar 2013 04:27:29 +0000

Masoud Treshtwal, head of the Department of Private Institutes of Higher Education at the Afghan Ministry of Higher Education (MoHE), recently spoke with www.bamdad.af about the private institutes of higher education (PIHE) in the country. In an interview with www.bamdad.af he said that MoHE assessed the performance of 65 PIHEs, and suspended activity of two due to substandard quality. A number of PIHEs also received warnings related to quality standards.

Insecurity Is the Biggest Challenge for Afghanistan’s Upcoming Election

By Asar Hakimi — Tue, 12 Mar 2013 05:38:20 +0000

Analysts describe Afghanistan’s upcoming 2014 presidential and provincial council elections as more important than any other election which has taken place in the country before it. The simultaneous drawdown of foreign combat troops – who provided a great deal of assistance to Afghan security forces during previous elections – is one of the most significant factors making the upcoming election more challenging and more important than previous elections.

In Afghanistan, Women Can’t Count on Their Inheritance

By Zahir Eztarabi — Tue, 05 Mar 2013 06:30:21 +0000

Both Afghan and Sharia (Islamic) laws recognize women’s inheritance rights. Nevertheless, huge numbers of Afghan women are deprived of their inheritance rights because of inaccurate, prevailing tribal traditions which say men own it all.

How much do Members of Parliament earn?

By Magnus Ohman — Mon, 04 Mar 2013 05:01:11 +0000

The rules for how any country should be governed is set through laws, and those responsible for passing legislation are the members of Parliament (MPs). These women and men should represent the people and serve their interests.

An anatomy of vote buying

By Magnus Ohman — Sun, 03 Mar 2013 10:03:30 +0000

In discussions about electoral fraud and the misuse of money in the democratic process, vote buying is one of the most common themes. It seems that vote buying is a problem that it is very difficult to get rid of; indeed it was common in ancient Rome (then known as “ambitus”), and it is still prevalent today.

The Theoretical Principles for National Unity in the Afghan Constitution

By Zia Danish — Tue, 26 Feb 2013 06:46:32 +0000

The Constitution of Afghanistan sets forth several provisions to promote national unity among Afghanistan’s various ethnic, religious and linguistic groups. They are highlighted as follows:

The Outlook for Afghan Civil Society

By Zia Danish — Mon, 18 Feb 2013 05:43:49 +0000

What will the outlook and future be for civil society in Afghanistan? Will it expand and improve? Or given the unstable and fragile political situation of the country, will it collapse? Despite the fact that Afghan civil society may encounter some challenges, the outlook is promising, mainly due to the following reasons:

Our Lives and Property Will Be in Danger if We Return Home

By Zahir Eztarabi — Mon, 18 Feb 2013 05:19:40 +0000

A number of displaced families from Helmand Province settled in a refugee camp in Kabul say they will not be able to protect their lives and property if they return home.

Afghan Journalists’ Code of Practice Improves Journalistic Activities

By Zahir Eztarabi — Sun, 10 Feb 2013 05:58:51 +0000

A ‘Compilation Committee’, supported by Nai Supporting Open Media Organization has recently drafted a code of practice for Afghan journalists. According to Nai Officials, 34 media organizations and six media associations have worked together to draft this code of practice.

Despite Disabilities, Ambitious Anwar Continues Work

By Zahir Eztarabi — Wed, 06 Feb 2013 04:10:01 +0000

Afghanistan is one of the countries with the largest number of disabled people in the world. Hundreds of thousands of Afghans have been disabled mainly as a result of three decades of war in Afghanistan. According to sociologists, many disabled Afghans think they are a burden to society and such a feeling persuades them to beg. However, a disabled young man named Anwar –who sells phone recharge cards in a wheelchair on the streets of Kabul – is an exception.