UNAMA welcomes progress on key election law, calls for rapid endorsement

14 Jul 2013

UNAMA welcomes progress on key election law, calls for rapid endorsement

KABUL - The United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA) reiterates its strong support for holding the Presidential and Provincial Council elections on time, on 5 April 2014, and in accordance with the Afghan Constitution.

In this regard, UNAMA welcomes the National Assembly's approval of the law regulating the structure and responsibilities of Afghanistan's electoral management bodies. This is a key step toward establishing a robust electoral architecture for the 2014 polls, as committed to by the Afghan Government in the Tokyo Mutual Accountability Framework.

UNAMA urges the rapid presidential endorsement and enactment of the law, and, just as importantly, the speedy implementation of the law, specifically the appointment of the Independent Election Commission's (IEC) senior officials. The establishment of the electoral dispute resolution mechanism is also crucial for ensuring transparent, credible and inclusive elections.

UNAMA further looks forward to the National Assembly continuing its efforts to finalize the Electoral Law, which defines the legal framework of Afghanistan's electoral processes and ensures the full legal participation of all Afghans. UNAMA strongly urges that this is done before the legislature takes its recess.

UNAMA reiterates that Afghan-led and Afghan-managed 2014 Presidential and Provincial Council elections are central to Afghanistan's stable and sustainable political transition, and calls for all stakeholders to constructively engage in efforts to ensure the elections are held according to the Afghan Constitution and the IEC’s timeline. Meeting the timelines is not only possible, but essential.

UNAMA reaffirms its commitment to support the elections at the request of the Afghan authorities and institutions as mandated by the UN Security Council.