03 December 2003

Kabul: Despite the precarious security situation, for the first time in over 30 years the process of registering eligible voters has started in Afghanistan. Kevin Gilroy, chief of special operations at the UN Volunteers programme headquarters in Bonn, Germany said "it’s quite a milestone in this very difficult and sensitive exercise, not to mention the extremely precarious safety environment our UN Volunteers and others are working within to see this important work of the UN through".

UNV Programme Manager in Afghanistan, Lars Narfeldt confirmed over 2,400 people were registered on the first day at locations across Afghanistan. "The feedback was overwhelmingly in favour of the process, however, as expected a low number of women registered" he said.

The process involves some 115 UN Volunteers who have been mobilized throughout Afghanistan as Provincial Field Coordinators and International Registration Supervisors (IRS). An additional team of 20 UNVs offer logistical support. The database will be updated by National volunteers working around the clock.

"There are many cultural, tribal and ethnic barriers, such as language and religious sensitivities that we must respect. But we are confident that we will indeed meet our goal of registering 10 million Afghan voters by May 2004," he said. Information about the process has been distributed throughout the country by the local Shura (village council), town meetings and by flyers and posters.