WUNRN

http://www.wunrn.com

AFGHANISTAN - CHALLENGES OF ELECTION SECURITY

FOR WOMEN CANDIDATES & WOMEN VOTERS

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http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/09/18/AR2010091803813.html

AFGHANISTAN - PARLIAMENTARY ELECTION

VOTE HAD LOW TURNOUT & MAJOR VIOLENCE

Women vote in Afghanistan, where 2,500 people ran for 249 seats in parliament. The Taliban

warned voters to avoid the polls. (Majid Saeedi)

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http://www.amnesty.org/en/news-and-updates/afghan-election-candidates-fear-attacks-2010-09-16

AFGHANISTAN - ELECTION CANDIDATES, ESPECIALLY WOMEN, FEAR ATTACKS

16 September 2010

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http://www.rferl.org/content/Afghan_Women_Police_To_Provide_Security_For_Elections/2160742.html

AFGHAN WOMEN POLICE FOR ELECTIONS ADDED FEMALE SECURITY

An Afghan policewoman searches a burqa-clad woman entering a polling station in Herat in August 2009 voting.

September 17, 2010

KABUL -- Afghanistan's security forces were bolstered by thousands of women officers as they went on high alert ahead of nationwide parliamentary elections on September 18, RFE/RL's Radio Free Afghanistan reports.

Zamari Bashari, a spokesman for the Afghan Interior Ministry, told RFE/RL that at least 5,000 female police officers will help provide security at polling stations that are designated only for women voters in various parts of the country.

The Afghan government reportedly has a total of some 200,000 national police (ANP).

Afghanistan has in recent years accelerated efforts to establish a female police force to reduce the overwhelming disparity in the numbers of male and female officers.

Policewomen serve a number of important functions to enforce laws in Afghanistan's religiously conservative society, including dealing with female criminals and frisking women suspects.
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