The deadline for submitting nomination papers for 2014 presidential and provincial councils’ election formally ended last week. However, it seems as though women’s participation in the spring polls will be insignificant. Only one woman has registered with Independent Election Commission (IEC) to run as presidential candidate. On contrast, there are 26 male candidates, although women form up to 50% of the Afghan population.

Will a woman rule Afghanistan as its president one day? It will not be possible at least by the means of next year’s election. Hope fades away when it is clear that only one woman will be contesting more than two dozen men.

Since the fall of Taliban regime in 2001 that ruled Afghanistan for six years and practiced every kind of violence against women, the condition for women has improved. This improvement, however, does not mean that women do not face Taliban-like rules, gender discrimination, various kinds of deprivation and physical and psychological violence. This also does not mean that they can now freely and actively take part in democratic process such as election. Despite efforts by the international community to alter the condition for Afghan women, they have still a long way to go.

Elections can find its full meaning only if all the citizens of a country actively participate in it as candidates and as voters. Afghan women who form a huge portion of this country’s population still face numerous constraints: a man-dominated society, traditional practices and the worst forms of violence. With such a condition still prevailing, how can one expect full participation of women in the elections? There has been failure in countering the problems facing the women of Afghanistan, although handsome of amounts of foreign financial aids have been received for supporting them.

Although there are millions of women who are eligible voters, an insignificant number of them have obtained voter registrations cards. In major cities of Afghanistan and some peaceful districts, women will come out to vote their desired presidential and provincial council candidates. But in most part of Afghanistan where the security condition is no good and traditional barriers exist even it would be difficult for men to vote, let alone the women.

For a better future of Afghanistan, work must be done to allow women enjoy their full rights in all fields of life including elections. Without them, no process will be a complete process.