Though overshadowed by the presidential election results, the August 20 provincial council elections brought success for the Movement of Afghan Sisters (MAS), an independent women’s organization dedicated to building a national social movement that emphasizes the equality of citizenship, full participation of independent women as candidates and voters, and advocacy of women’s issues in the national arena. The IRI-supported partner was formed in September 2008 from a cross section of non-political party or faction-affiliated women from parliament, the business community and civil society.

The August elections were a notable success for MAS. The only national organization to field female provincial council candidates, 27 of the 46 MAS candidates were elected to provincial council seats. Successfully elected MAS provincial councilors received 67,000 votes and currently hold about 23 percent of the 117 female quota seats allocated nationwide. In Badghis Province MAS members hold all three female quota seats. MAS members now sit on councils in almost every province in Afghanistan. Before the elections, IRI trained all MAS provincial council candidates through the IRI Campaign Academy.

On November 11-12, MAS held a ground-breaking event recognizing and building the capacity of the 27 members who were recently elected to the provincial councils. MAS board members and members of parliament, Ms. Azita Rafat and Sahera Sharif, trained participants on the roles and responsibilities of elected officials and the procedures for making laws. IRI staff presented the topics “collective action for political success” and “how to legislate effectively.” Ms. Humaira Haqmal, MAS chairwomen, presented on “effective public diplomacy.” The event was attended by a number of local media outlets including RTA television, Azadi Radio, Tamadun Television, Wakht News Agency, and Afghanistan Times, among others.

In March 2009, the International Republican Institute’s (IRI) Women’s Democracy Network (WDN) awarded MAS the prestigious Jeane J. Kirkpatrick Award, an award that honors those who have made outstanding contributions to the advancement of women in politics and civil society.