Written question asked by Lord Chidgey (Liberal Democrat) on Wednesday, 17 March 2004, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Thursday, 25 March 2004. It was answered by Mike O'Brien (Labour) on Thursday, 25 March 2004 on behalf of the Foreign and Commonwealth Office.

Foreign and Commonwealth Office

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, how the Interim Election Commission, the Joint Electoral Coordination Office and the Coalition intend to address the effects of (a) cultural barriers to female participation, (b) low literacy rates and (c) the current number of electoral registration offices outside Kabul in ensuring full voter registration and participation in Afghanistan. - Inc figures.

Answer: Mr. Chidgey: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how the Interim Election Commission, the Joint Electoral Coordination Office and the Coalition intend to address the effects of (a) cultural barriers to female participation, (b) low literacy rates and (c) the current number of electoral registration offices outside Kabul in ensuring full voter registration and participation in Afghanistan. [162928] Mr. Mike O'Brien: Women are being encouraged to participate in the electoral process through specially targeted civic education programmes and the use of all- women voter registration teams to register women. In order to overcome the low literacy rates in Afghanistan, voter education programmes are using a wide range of media to provide information on the electoral process including television, radio, public meetings and graphic posters. A number of regional voter registration centres have now closed having completed the process in the larger population centres. As of 22 March 2004, 60 centres were in operation outside Kabul. This will increase to a total of 4,200 centres when the accelerated registration begins in May.

Secondary information