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<p>Women’s participation in democracy and civil society is a top human rights priority
for both the UK and the Government of Afghanistan. We contributed £20 million over
the 2014/2015 election cycle. Our election support provided assistance to the Independent
Election Commission’s (IEC’s) Gender Unit to improve voter education amongst women
and the development of early warning systems at voting centres to reduce the barriers
for women voters. In addition, funding was provided to the Asia Foundation, who oversaw
training for 300 female provincial council candidates and public outreach work to
help broaden support for women’s political participation. I also met with women human
rights defenders during my visit to Afghanistan on 10 December.</p><p>We are also
supporting women in civil society through programming on education, women’s economic
empowerment, and women’s political participation as well as access to justice and
tackling gender-based violence.</p>
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