Though marred by incidents of terror and violence, millions of Afghans risked their lives to vote in the Afghan Parliamentary Elections of October 2018. Among them were three million women in the province of Jowzjan, where they recorded the highest rate of women’s participation in the election at 53%. “Women in Jowzjan were very interested to vote. Many even stayed late into the evening at the polling sites to do this. We are proud that so many women voted and also stood for Parliament from this province because this is important and we have been encouraging them to do this on many radio programs,” said Farida Rahim Azizi, from Radio Sarayish. Radio Sarayish is one of four women-managed radio stations of the Salam Watandar Network in Jowjan providing a platform for the discussion of women’s rights in the province.

With the assistance of the USAID-funded Rasana project, and implemented by Internews, 17 stations of the Salam Watandar Network are amplifying women’s voices on the radio. In the days leading up to election day, female reporters in local radio stations across the country broadcast 24 reports that raised awareness and encouraged women’s participation in the elections. Their efforts contributed towards greater community acceptance of women’s participation in the public sphere.

In Jowzjan, female reporters broadcast a number of radio programs that looked at women standing for election, as well as women’s participation as voters. According to Alina Rasa of Ghazal Radio & TV, “media played a very important role in increasing awareness regarding elections. Our programs got good responses and we could see how women’s interest in participating in the election increased”.

As radio continues to serve as an essential source of information to communities in the provinces, women-led radio stations play a critical role in promoting the advancement of women in Afghan society.