Free Watch Afghanistan Organization (FWAO) is a non-governmental, independent, non-profit civil society organization, established in 2015 to work for women right and empowerment, youth mobilization and capacity development, fight against corruption and promote values of integrity, peace and reconciliation, elections, social volunteerism and community engagement. FWA, in the form of the CECG, leads
and coordinates seventeen civil society organizations across the country. The Civil Society Election Coordination Group (CECG) is envisioned as a basic platform for the Afghan civil society, government-affiliated electoral management bodies, and donor countries to exchange views on the latest electoral developments, identify problems, and provide solutions to support the government in holding credible elections. FWA have built and maintained a close relationship with the High Peace Council since 2017 and subsequently with the High Council for National Reconciliation. The relations have been based on the need to pay attention to the field of peace and measures required to preserve the Women & Youth rights in the entra-Afghan negotiations. During 2018 and 2019, FWA held opinion poll sessions with civil society organizations, women, youth, influential figures, journalists, and minorities on their concerns and thoughts about peace in Balkh, Herat, Nangarhar, Kabul, Bamyan and Kandahar provinces. The sum of these activities provided a good report on the inclusion of the views and concerns of different segments of the people in the peace process. This report was made in partnership with the negotiating team and the High Council for National Reconciliation. Especially the coordination of these two sections with scholars and clerics who play a major and key role in shaping and mobilization of social mentalities. Therefore, FWA plans to work in the future, more focused on Women and Youth Rights, in cooperation with religious scholars in the provinces of the country in connection with peace. Protection and preservation of women's rights during the talks, and to push it be considered in the talks, has a direct and tremendous impact on the stability and continuity of peace, and obtaining public support for the peace process. The main objective of FWA is to work for equal rights, provide volunteer and humanitarian services, particularly for minority groups of the society, without any political, tribal, racial, and language discriminations. For instanse, a successful internship program aiming to provide practical basis for the students of the third and fourth years of universities in six provinces, to engage youth with social and political affairs, through part-time work with provincial councils offices, being delievered, as result of which over a handred and fivty young gilrs and boys graduated through and referenced to relevant governmental bodies and NGOs for permenant employment. FWA has relentlessly worked for electoral reforms and effectively implemented electoral awareness programs to public and stakeholders. FWA directly monitors the election process and is capable to provide technical and informational assistance to EMBs and shares its observational findings of electoral commissions and provincial offices with public along with recommendations and proposals to further strengthen their capacities and to enhance their management abilities. FWA has also actively initiated advocacy programs for peace and echoing of minority groups voices for peace process including women, youth, victims of war. FWA, with strong believe in transparency and commitment to the fundamental principles of the organization, will advance its programs on peace and reconciliation campaigns, promotion of women and youth right, and ensuring transparency in national processes. FWA has qualified and committed staff, twenty-two in Kabul and about sixty-eight male and female volunteers in 34 provinces of the country in addition to over seventeen CSO partners across the country.
