KABUL  - Afghan civil society organizations have started preparations to develop strong messages through an inclusive and participatory mechanism for the International Conference on Afghanistan to be held in Tokyo on 8 July 2012.

A meeting of the civil society organizations in Kabul organized yesterday under the auspices of the Afghan Civil Society Forum (ACSF) discussed the criteria for selection of representatives to represent them in Tokyo and the agenda items of a national conference of Afghan civil society organizations to be held in Kabul next week on 29 May.

“The Japanese Government has invited 30 representatives from the Afghan civil society to attend a parallel conference in Tokyo one day ahead of the International Conference on Afghanistan in Tokyo,” said Sameera Hamidi, Director of Afghan Women Network (AWN). “Two of these representatives will then represent the Afghan civil society in the main international conference.”

The participants of yesterday’s meeting decided to bring three representatives, at least one woman, from each province of Afghanistan in Kabul on 29 May for the national conference, wherein 30 representatives for civil society conference in Tokyo and two representatives for the main Tokyo conference will be selected. Fifty percent of the representatives will be women.

“The national conference of civil society is a top priority since it will be the last opportunity for international advocacy for Afghan civil society during the next 10 years,” said Aziz Raifee, Director ACSF.

At the national conference, a draft joint statement will be developed that will encompass Afghan society’s position on agenda items of International Conference in Tokyo i.e. accountability of the Afghan Government and the International community, commitments of the international community post-2014, mechanism of cooperation to and funding of National Priority Programmes of the Government, achievements of NATO Summit in Chicago and issues related to the peace process, human rights and rule of law, according to organizers.