My Rights, Our Rights, Others’ Rights in the Light of Islam, a radio drama series written by an Afghan team for Afghan audiences, incorporates human rights-related themes into each episode. Each is based on the Universal Islamic Declaration of Human Rights, allowing the characters to explore the issues within the context of their faith. Issues such as forced marriage, violence against women, and access to education, employment and health care are broached in a sensitive way, often using humor – an effective tool to encourage audiences. These issues often concern women, but no only --- and so the drama aims to educate the entire family by looking at the role of all family members in protecting the rights of one another.

Our Beloved Afghanistan is a radio series of inspirational stories based on the lives, challenges and real stories of Afghan men and women. The stories provide models of positive change for Afghans, specifically women. They have included women patients at the Herat Burns Hospital who set themselves on fire to end their suffering; profiles on women in business; and women coping with the Afghan tradition of forcing widows to marry their relatives-in-law.

The human rights leadership training component reached over 5,000 rural women, Islamic leaders, teachers and community health workers. Since at least 70 per cent of Afghanistan’s population can neither read nor write, the curriculum was expanded to include additional training with illiterate participants. Trained facilitators led local listening discussions for women in their homes, allowing a safe and constructive environment to discuss Islamic rights in their community.

The project was conducted in collaboration with the Afghan Ministry of Women’s Affairs, the Afghanistan Independent Human Rights Commission and other local NGOs.

To watch the Equal Access video clip click here.

 

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