KUNDUZ - Promoting good governance was the focus of the first of a series of north-eastern provincial meetings designed to enhance the ability of civil society organizations to form more productive links with local government.

More than 40 people participated in the Kunduz meeting, which was supported by the Kunduz Civil Society Network and UNAMA. Other meetings are planned for Takhar, Baghlan and Badakhshan provinces.

Abdul Salam Makhdoom, of the Kunduz Governor’s Office, stressed that more effective coordination between civil society, the provincial council and media outlets to promote effective and accountable government will bring hope for the future.

Zargul Aleemi, the Secretary of Kunduz Provincial Council, echoed these sentiments at the meeting, and said that advocacy is a key responsibility of public representatives.

“Advocacy is an effective way to solve people’s problems, and will be more effective when there is good coordination among provincial councils and civil society organizations,” she said.

Mohammad Sabir Yusufi, a civil society activist, emphasized pluralism as a key characteristic of democratic systems. Mr. Yusufi said that civil society and the private sector play vital roles in the participation of citizens in decision-making and political processes.

During the meeting, participants agreed to set up a committee to regulate and strengthen further cooperation between civil society and provincial councils.

The Kunduz event was covered by local media, with television and radio broadcasts reaching an estimated audience of 300,000 people in Kunduz, Baghlan and Takhar provinces.

UNAMA is mandated to support the Afghan Government and relevant international and local non-governmental organizations to assist in the full implementation of the fundamental freedoms and human rights provisions of the Afghan Constitution and international treaties to which Afghanistan is a State party.