The Human Rights House Foundation visited Afghanistan in March 2007 in order to share the concept of a human rights house with local human rights defenders and their organisations. It became clear that the most vulnerable group was female human rights defenders working to improve women´s position in the Afghan society. In cooperation with the Norwegian Afghanistan Committe and FOKUS we have invited four of them to Norway. (07-NOV-07)
By HRH F/ Nina Luhr
We have invited four Afghani women, with high positions in society and strong social commitments, to present their work, and exchange views on themes such as:
How do Afghan women organize in order to fight for common interests?
· What is the situation on the ground today and what are the most burning issues?
· How is and should the fight for women’s rights (be) carried out in Afghanistan?
· How can local ownership to women’s struggle for participation be strengthened,
especially in rural areas?
· How can foreigners contribute in a positive and sensitive way?
Our goal is to give the Norwegian public a chance to meet strong Afghan women, to break down prejudices, and present a more complex picture of Afghan womens rights and opportunities. We hope to influence and mobilize Norwegian authorities, Members of Parliament and organizations/donors who are involved with Afghanistan, and encorurage to dialogue. Most importantly we will facilitate establishment of longterm networks between Afghan and Norwegian women organizations.
PROGRAM:
Thursday 15th of November at Parkteatret 19-21
Films: Enemies of Happiness and
Losing Hope – Women in Afghanistan
Commented by member of Afghan Parliament Shukria Barakzai
and researcher Deniz Kandiyoti (London School of Oriental African Studies)
Friday 16th of November at the Human Rights House in Oslo
9-1215 Open seminar and 13-16 Workshops
See: Overall plan of events and sign up at: gj@fokuskvinner.no
Background
After 22 years of war, the last six under Taliban rule, events in 2001 created hope for a safer and better future for Afghan women, with more freedom. What is the situation six years later?
During the last years in Afghanistan the formal rights of women have been secured through ratified international charters, through new Afghan laws, securing 27% of women’s seats in Parliament at the last election, and various female voices have brought forward new ideas and strategies to improve opportunities for women to participate in society. Liberation of women has become an important issue within the government, parliament and various other groups in the reconstruction of the country. However, women’s rights is a difficult theme to handle in a country where the position of women has been a field of struggle for various changing regimes and groups for at least a century.
About main guests :
Shukria Barakzai – One of only four members of Parliament to vote against amnesty for warlords suspected of war crimes before 2002. Barakzai will talk about the situation and influence for women as political participants.
Noor Marjan – Program Advisor, Afghan Women Skills Development Centre. Noor Marjan will present some of the possibilities and constraints for women to participate in society and work life without their families’ guardianship
Dr. Saeeda Saeedee – Medical doctor in Herat, Afghanistan. She is invited to present the situation for women in the country-side and the medical field as an arena for women’s integration in professional sector
Deniz Kandiyoti – researcher, School of Oriental African Studies (SOAS), London. Kandiyoti is the author of articles “Old Dilemmas or New Challenges? The Politics of Gender and Reconstruction in Afghanistan” (2007) and “The Politics of gender and reconstruction in Afghanistan” (2005). For more info
About moderator:
Elisabeth Eide – journalist, professor at the Journalism college of Oslo, writer, Afghanistan expert, one of the founders of the Norwegian Afghanistan Committee and currently board member of the Human Rights House Foundation.
