III 

111TH CONGRESS 

1ST SESSION S. RES. 251 

Expressing the sense of the Senate that the Government of Afghanistan, 

with the support of the international community, should fulfill its obligations to ensure that women fully participate as candidates and voters 

in the August 20, 2009, presidential and provincial council elections 

in Afghanistan. 

IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES 

AUGUST 7, 2009 

Mrs. GILLIBRAND (for herself, Mr. CARDIN, Ms. COLLINS, Mr. KERRY, Mrs. 

BOXER, Mrs. FEINSTEIN, Mrs. SHAHEEN, Mr. LUGAR, Ms. LANDRIEU, 

Mr. LAUTENBERG, and Mr. BEGICH) submitted the following resolution; 

which was considered and agreed to 

RESOLUTION 

Expressing the sense of the Senate that the Government 

of Afghanistan, with the support of the international 

community, should fulfill its obligations to ensure that 

women fully participate as candidates and voters in the 

August 20, 2009, presidential and provincial council elections in Afghanistan. 

Whereas women in Afghanistan play a critical role in establishing accountable governance, fostering economic development, and securing peace in Afghanistan; 

Whereas many women in Afghanistan face rising insecurity 

and consequent physical and verbal violence in seeking 


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•SRES 251 ATS 

political office and exercising their constitutional right to 

vote; 

Whereas the Afghan Independent Electoral Commission has 

made efforts to consult with domestic and international 

organizations advocating for full inclusion of all people in 

Afghanistan in the elections, and has called on the donor 

community to assist its efforts to open and staff all appropriate polling places throughout Afghanistan; and 

Whereas women’s rights activists and civil society representatives from throughout Afghanistan gathered on June 25, 

2009, and decided to launch the Five Million Afghan 

Women Campaign, a campaign of 5,000,000 women of 

Afghanistan to support eligible women’s political participation in order to ensure the rule of law and gender 

equality: Now, therefore, be it 

1 Resolved, That the Senate— 

2 (1) congratulates the brave women and women3 led organizations of Afghanistan on the launch of 

4 the Five Million Afghan Women Campaign; 

5 (2) urges the Government of Afghanistan to en6 sure that sufficient staffing is in place in women’s 

7 polling stations, including security staff and equip8 ment and appropriate polling place personnel; 

9 (3) urges the Government of Afghanistan and 

10 the religious, community, and cultural leaders of Af11 ghanistan to make every effort to encourage eligible 

12 women to participate in the August 20, 2009, elec13 tions; 


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•SRES 251 ATS 

1 (4) urges the Government of Afghanistan to 

2 fully include women in formal committees and bodies 

3 charged with election security and related processes; 

4 (5) urges the Government of Afghanistan and 

5 the Independent Electoral Commission to continue 

6 to consult with the Afghan Ministry of Women’s Af7 fairs, the Afghan Independent Human Rights Com8 mission, and women-led nongovernmental organiza9 tions regarding women’s participation in the elec10 tions, in order to guarantee a free and fair election 

11 process, including providing equal access for women 

12 candidates to media outlets as well as ensuring ade13 quate security and transportation for women voters 

14 on election day; 

15 (6) encourages the Secretary of State, including 

16 through the United States Agency for International 

17 Development, to continue to mobilize funding and 

18 resources of the United States for programs 

19 throughout Afghanistan to raise the awareness of 

20 women in Afghanistan regarding governance, in21 crease women’s political participation in the August 

22 20, 2009, and future elections, and support such 

23 women’s ability to exercise their rights as citizens; 

24 and 


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•SRES 251 ATS 

1 (7) urges the new Government of Afghanistan 

2 elected on August 20, 2009, to employ and engage 

3 women in meaningful roles and positions in such 

4 new government. 

Æ 


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