§ Joan RuddockTo ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what special provision has been made by(a) the United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan and (b) the Afghan Transitional Authority to register women voters. [122213]
§ Mr. Mike O'BrienThe United Nations Assistance Mission to Afghanistan (UNAMA) has been working closely with the Transitional Administration to develop a comprehensive programme of voter registration, on a country-wide and on a non-partisan basis, in anticipation of elections in 2004. UNAMA hopes to begin registration in August 2003, with a particular focus initially on rural areas where winter access would be more difficult. UNAMA is sensitive to the particular needs of women, and will ensure that registration takes place in private single sex facilities, with women registrars employed to ensure that as many women as possible are registered to vote.
An important precursor to registration is the civic education process now being undertaken. One of the main objectives of this will be to educate heads of households and community leaders on the importance of females registering and voting, as well as reminding women themselves of their rights to vote.
§ Joan RuddockTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence what the gender breakdown of(a) civilian and (b) military staff is in the UK-led provincial reconstruction team in Mazar-e-Sharif. [122212]
§ Mr. IngramThe percentages of women and men for the personnel allocated to posts against the current planned establishment for the UK-led Provincial Reconstruction Team (PRT) due to deploy to Mazar-eSharif is as follows:
Gender breakdown of the UK-led PRT Percentage Civilians Military Women 50 9 Men 50 91