Afghan Women: A History of Struggle

Film Screening and Panel Discussion at the Asia Society
New York City, June 6, 2007

Moderator:
Rina Amiri, Senior Regional Advisor, Open Society Institute

Panelists:
Fawzia Afzal Khan, Professor, Montclair University
Kathleen Foster, Director
Susannah Sirkin, Deputy Director, Physicians for Human Rights
Fahima Vorgetts, Director, Afghan Women's Fund

Executive Summary

The film Afghan Women: A History of Struggle is a documentary that serves to highlight the struggle and obstacles that women from Afghanistan have faced and continue to face as part of their ongoing quest for rights in their country. The panel discussion following the film featured Fawzia Afzal-Khan, a Professor at Montclair State University; Susannah Sirkin, the Deputy Director of Physicians for Human Rights;(http://www.phrusa.org) Fahima Vorgetts, the Director of the Afghan Women's Fund (http://www.womenforafghanwomen.org/Welcome.html); Kathleen Foster, the Director of the film (http://www.kathleenfoster.com/); and Rina Amiri, the Senior Regional Advisor to the Open Society Institute (http://www.soros.org/initiatives), who moderated the discussion. The panelists each brought a unique background and different experiences to the discussion and shared their thoughts on what they believed was necessary for Afghan women to be successful in gaining their rights.

Education was a recurring theme in the discussion—all of the panelists felt it absolutely necessary to ensure education for women in order for them to succeed. It is the key for self-sufficiency and empowerment, and it is with the education of men, women, and children that the movement for women's rights will be successful. The speakers made it clear that as they receive this education, it is the people of Afghanistan who are the ones that need to start the movement, that the movement toward equal rights for women can not be started from the outside. It was also noted, however, that the people of the world, not political leaders, who are the most important in supporting these women in their struggle, and that no political administration can do anything until movement is started and supported by the people. This is a global issue, not just a problem that belongs to the women of Afghanistan, and their success or failure will affect women's rights movements worldwide.