http://www.bamdad.af/ en Copyright 2013 news Bamdad News - Afghanistan http://www.bamdad.af/english/story/2294 http://www.bamdad.af/english/story/2294#When:07:23:21Z Mon, 06 May 2013 07:23:21 +0000 Politics, By Asar Hakimi
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. ]]> http://www.bamdad.af/english/story/2285 http://www.bamdad.af/english/story/2285#When:06:43:34Z Mon, 06 May 2013 06:43:34 +0000 Politics, By Jamal Temori
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. ]]> http://www.bamdad.af/english/story/2305 http://www.bamdad.af/english/story/2305#When:12:08:16Z Sat, 04 May 2013 12:08:16 +0000 Politics, By Samana Hossaini
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. ]]> http://www.bamdad.af/english/story/2256 http://www.bamdad.af/english/story/2256#When:06:11:01Z Sun, 21 Apr 2013 06:11:01 +0000 Weekly Dialogue, Interview by Asar Hakimi
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. ]]> http://www.bamdad.af/english/story/2213 http://www.bamdad.af/english/story/2213#When:16:04:23Z Sat, 23 Mar 2013 16:04:23 +0000 Politics, Fatana Bayaat
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. ]]> http://www.bamdad.af/english/story/2189 http://www.bamdad.af/english/story/2189#When:05:38:20Z Tue, 12 Mar 2013 05:38:20 +0000 Politics, By Asar Hakimi
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. ]]> http://www.bamdad.af/english/story/2146 http://www.bamdad.af/english/story/2146#When:05:58:51Z Sun, 10 Feb 2013 05:58:51 +0000 Politics, By Zahir Eztarabi
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. ]]> http://www.bamdad.af/english/story/2110 http://www.bamdad.af/english/story/2110#When:03:47:45Z Tue, 22 Jan 2013 03:47:45 +0000 Weekly Dialogue, Interview by: Asar Hakimi
In an interview with www.bamdad.af, Shahrzad Akbar, the leader of Afghanistan 1400 – a newly established movement of Afghan youth – explains the goals and platform of the 1400 movement. According to Akbar, their movement was founded to mobilize Afghanistan’s new generation to influence the country’s political decision making processes. ]]> http://www.bamdad.af/english/story/2105 http://www.bamdad.af/english/story/2105#When:11:06:37Z Thu, 17 Jan 2013 11:06:37 +0000 Politics, By Hamidullah Habibi
Transitional Justice Coordination Group (TJCG), a group composed of 27 local and international institutions criticizes the Afghan Peace Talks with the Taliban. ]]> http://www.bamdad.af/english/story/2092 http://www.bamdad.af/english/story/2092#When:10:05:35Z Mon, 31 Dec 2012 10:05:35 +0000 Politics, By Asar Hakimi
More than 30 Civil Society Organizations (CSOs) presented their recommendations on the draft Election Law at a press conference on Wednesday, December 26  in Kabul.  ]]> http://www.bamdad.af/english/story/2084 http://www.bamdad.af/english/story/2084#When:04:07:00Z Wed, 26 Dec 2012 04:07:00 +0000 Weekly Dialogue, By Zahir Eztarabi
In an interview with Bamdad, Qazi Ghulam Nabi Hakak, a legal consultant with the Afghanistan Independent Human Rights Commission (AIHRC) believes that Afghanistan’s presidential election in 2014 and the continuation of international assistance are the two major factors which will determine the state of human rights in Afghanistan post-2014. According to him, a free and fair election and continuation of the international community’s assistance to Afghanistan will improve the country’s human rights situation. ]]> http://www.bamdad.af/english/story/2069 http://www.bamdad.af/english/story/2069#When:08:39:00Z Mon, 24 Dec 2012 08:39:00 +0000 Politics, By Asar Hakimi
Election stakeholders and a number of lawmakers argue that changes made by the Council of Ministers (CoM) to the draft Election Law are in conflict with the Constitution and will contradict the Duties and Structure Law (DSL) of the Independent Election Commission (IEC), if it passes. ]]> http://www.bamdad.af/english/story/2024 http://www.bamdad.af/english/story/2024#When:06:10:33Z Tue, 04 Dec 2012 06:10:33 +0000 Politics, By Zahir Eztarabi
President Hamid Karzai appointed Ziaulhaq Amarkhil as the new Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) to the Independent Election Commission Secretariat (IECS). He was officially introduced on Monday, December 3, 2012. Amarkhil worked previously as Director of the Field Operations Department at the Independent Election Commission (IEC). ]]> http://www.bamdad.af/english/story/2040 http://www.bamdad.af/english/story/2040#When:03:45:15Z Thu, 29 Nov 2012 03:45:15 +0000 Politics, By Asar Hakimi
Afghans encounter many challenges in their everyday lives as a result of mounting corruption in the Afghan government. Bureaucracy on the one side, bribery on the other, have slowed down work in governmental departments.  Many point out that something that should be done within a short period of time takes several days or sometimes even several months. Or, that you need to pay a bribe or have a connection with a government employee to get anything done in governmental departments. ]]> http://www.bamdad.af/english/story/2061 http://www.bamdad.af/english/story/2061#When:03:38:06Z Thu, 29 Nov 2012 03:38:06 +0000 Politics, By Hamidullah Habibi
A number of Afghan civil society and women’s rights activists are voicing their concerns over the recent release of nine Taliban detainees who were freed from Pakistani prisons at the request of the Afghan High Peace Council (HPC). ]]> http://www.bamdad.af/english/story/2002 http://www.bamdad.af/english/story/2002#When:09:08:05Z Thu, 01 Nov 2012 09:08:05 +0000 Politics, By Asar Hakimi
On October 31st, Afghanistan’s Independent Election Commission (IEC) announced the timeline for the 2014 presidential and provincial council elections. Based on the IEC’s election timeline, April 5, 2014 is scheduled as the country’s next Election Day. ]]> http://www.bamdad.af/english/story/1982 http://www.bamdad.af/english/story/1982#When:10:23:48Z Tue, 30 Oct 2012 10:23:48 +0000 Politics, By Zahir Ezsterabi
A number of political party (PP) leaders and Civil Society representatives argue that issuing computerized identity (ID) cards is one of the solutions to prevent fraud and electoral abuse in the 2014 presidential election in Afghanistan. ]]> http://www.bamdad.af/english/story/1997 http://www.bamdad.af/english/story/1997#When:11:01:24Z Mon, 29 Oct 2012 11:01:24 +0000 Weekly Dialogue, By Zahir Ezterabi
In June, Afghanistan’s Independent Election Commission (IEC) sent its draft Election Law to the Ministry of Justice (MoJ) for review. The IEC introduced a number of changes to the law, including modifications to the National Assembly (NA) elections which would allocate one-third of the legislature’s seats to political parties on the basis of proportional representation (while the rest would remain independent candidates), and clarifying eligibility criteria for candidates. But, the MoJ recently released its version of the draft law which removed seat allocations for political parties in the NA as well as some other changes to the law. Political parties and civil society activists are now voicing their disapproval of the MoJ’s changes.   In an interview with www.bamdad.af, Jandad Spinghar, Executive Director at the Free and Fair Election Foundation of Afghanistan (FEFA), warns that ignoring political party representation in the electoral process will hinder democratic development. “Allocation of a number of seats to political parties in the NA is a positive change made by the IEC,” he said. ]]> http://www.bamdad.af/english/story/1944 http://www.bamdad.af/english/story/1944#When:05:54:39Z Sat, 29 Sep 2012 05:54:39 +0000 Politics, By Asar Hakimi
Analysts argue that the Duties and Structure Law (DSL) appropriately expands the Independent Election Commission’s (IEC) mandate for conducting transparent elections. They believe that the DSL’s provisions to choose the IEC commissioners and establish a permanent Election Complaints Commission (ECC) are steps forward to limit government intervention in electoral affairs. ]]> http://www.bamdad.af/english/story/1964 http://www.bamdad.af/english/story/1964#When:10:11:56Z Thu, 27 Sep 2012 10:11:56 +0000 Politics, By Rohullah Rahimi
Balkh – Women’s rights activists, members of civil society organizations, and female provincial council members of nine northern and north-eastern provinces who attended a conference on “Role of Women in the Peace Process” called for enhancement of women’s role in the Afghan High Peace Council (HPC). ]]> http://www.bamdad.af/english/story/1895 http://www.bamdad.af/english/story/1895#When:09:11:10Z Sun, 05 Aug 2012 09:11:10 +0000 Politics, By Asar Hakimi
Many assume that insecurity and poverty are the biggest problems facing Afghanistan, but corruption is creeping to the forefront and causing more than its fair share of problems.  A study released in 2010 by the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) demonstrates that Afghans themselves see corruption as the biggest concern.  In the UNODC report, 59% of Afghans say that public dishonesty is a bigger concern than security (54%) and unemployment (52%).  Similarly, in a separate report by Transparency International in 2011, Afghanistan ranked 180 out of 182 countries on the world corruption rating – only North Korea and Somalia have lower ratings. ]]> http://www.bamdad.af/english/story/1889 http://www.bamdad.af/english/story/1889#When:05:13:57Z Sun, 05 Aug 2012 05:13:57 +0000 Politics, By Qayoom Suroush
A number of political party representatives warn that the Independent Election Commission’s (IEC) current management structure cannot guarantee its independence or ensure transparency in the electoral process. They also want to see major changes to the Election Law, which would introduce political party participation in elections. While the IEC recently held a daylong consultation with political party representatives, this, they argue, is only symbolic and more proactive measures are needed to bring political party recommendations to the new draft Election Law. ]]> http://www.bamdad.af/english/story/1884 http://www.bamdad.af/english/story/1884#When:09:54:05Z Tue, 31 Jul 2012 09:54:05 +0000 Politics, By Zahir Eztarabi
The Women and Children Legal Research Foundation (WCLRF), with funding from the Open Society Foundation of Afghanistan (OSF), released a report entitled Women’s Political Engagement in Afghanistan and Access to Voting Rights. The report provides an analysis of women’s engagement in the country’s political processes, how women perceive their political rights, and the need for greater education on these issues. ]]> http://www.bamdad.af/english/story/1873 http://www.bamdad.af/english/story/1873#When:09:49:42Z Mon, 23 Jul 2012 09:49:42 +0000 Politics, By Qayoom Suroush
Political analysts are hopeful that the Tokyo Mutual Accountability Framework, or Tokyo Framework (TF), established between the Afghan government and the international community will set a new standard for aid accountability in Afghanistan. The great achievement of the Conference, they say, was the commitments made by both sides [the Afghan government and the international community] to achieve the TF’s objectives towards tackling corruption. Based on the TF, the international community will suspend aid if the Afghan government fails to address the objectives. But ultimately, it is the Afghan people, civil society, and lawmakers who must force the government to fulfill the TF’s objectives to end corruption, say analysts. ]]> http://www.bamdad.af/english/story/1865 http://www.bamdad.af/english/story/1865#When:09:10:45Z Tue, 17 Jul 2012 09:10:45 +0000 Politics, By: Asar Hakimi
Following a barrage of criticism against the new draft Mass Media Law (MML) introduced by the Ministry of Information and Culture (MoIC), Nai Supporting Open Media Organization suggested all Afghan journalists and freedom of speech advocates come together and introduce new amendments to the existing MML. Journalists argue the draft MML is designed to constrict media freedom, not improve media development. ]]> http://www.bamdad.af/english/story/1861 http://www.bamdad.af/english/story/1861#When:06:10:43Z Mon, 16 Jul 2012 06:10:43 +0000 Politics, By Qayoom Suroush
Many youth organizations claim the Afghan government has not developed any strategies to ensure youth engagement in the country’s decision-making process. They say that government offices are full of older bureaucrats who lack enthusiasm, energy, and vision, and are not familiar with modern technologies. This inattention to youth, they argue, is a serious challenge to the country’s development. ]]> http://www.bamdad.af/english/story/1852 http://www.bamdad.af/english/story/1852#When:05:24:04Z Wed, 04 Jul 2012 05:24:04 +0000 Politics, By Dr Magnus Ohman
It is hardly a secret that money plays a role in Afghan electoral politics. Previous elections have showed large amounts of spending of money from unknown sources, and the “charity” of candidates has often degenerated into outright vote buying. In addition, when the Free and Fair Election Foundation of Afghanistan (FEFA) monitored campaign finance during  the 2010 elections, “...field monitors reported a series of instances of abuse, including illegal use of government facilities, preferential coverage of some candidates on state operated television, and state employee involvement with campaigns while on duty.” ]]> http://www.bamdad.af/english/story/1835 http://www.bamdad.af/english/story/1835#When:05:35:07Z Mon, 25 Jun 2012 05:35:07 +0000 Politics, By Zahir Eztarabi
According to officials with Afghanistan’s Independent Election Commission (IEC), the newly drafted Election Law improves the Commission’s technical and operational procedures to enhance future elections, ensures political party participation in elections, and establishes sound legal mechanisms to adjudicate electoral complaints. Some political party members praise the IEC’s first steps toward better elections.  Others say it is not enough. ]]> http://www.bamdad.af/english/story/1820 http://www.bamdad.af/english/story/1820#When:07:27:40Z Wed, 13 Jun 2012 07:27:40 +0000 Politics, By Asar Hakimi
Afghan journalists and freedom of speech advocates warn that the new draft Mass Media Law (MML) introduced by the Ministry of Information and Culture (MoIC) is a step to curb freedom of expression in Afghanistan. They claim that new amendments to the MML unnecessarily burden the media monitoring process with extra controls, which will stifle media as an agent of free speech and information. The MoIC denies such allegations saying that positive amendments to the MML ensure better development of media outlets’ activities. ]]> http://www.bamdad.af/english/story/1787 http://www.bamdad.af/english/story/1787#When:06:40:37Z Wed, 30 May 2012 06:40:37 +0000 Politics, By Qayoom Suroush
Civil society organizations and legal institutions argue that amendments to the Election Law are an important first step, but not enough. They insist that the new draft law still contains gaps which must be addressed to truly ensure transparency in Afghanistan’s elections. ]]>