§ Dr. TongeTo ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations he has made to the Afghan Government on stopping violence against women registering to vote in their country's elections; and what military assistance the UK is providing to help prevent violence. [184053]
§ Mr. Mike O'BrienIt is important to the UK and the rest of the international community to support the Afghan Government's efforts to provide security so both men and women can freely exercise their vote. To date over six million people have registered to vote, out of some nine million who are eligible. Around 38 per cent. of those registered are women. The provision of adequate security to enable women to exercise their political, social and economic rights is an important component of the FCO-DFID Gender Strategy for Afghanistan, a copy of which has been placed in the Library of the House.
The International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) is assisting the voter registration process and will provide enhanced support to the Afghan authorities in providing security during the election period. The UK provides around 320 personnel to ISAF in Kabul. The two UK-led Provincial Reconstruction Teams and associated Forward Support Base in northern Afghanistan transferred to ISAF authority on 1 July 2004. This will bring a further 260 UK troops into ISAF. UK troops serving with ISAF are also involved in training the new Afghan National Army, units of which will be used to provide election security.