From Afghanistan: Radio Campaign Fights Trafficking Crisis
Wednesday, June 17th, 2009By Mumtaza Abdurazzakova and Kate Francis
Mumtaza Abdurazzakova is The Asia Foundation’s Director for the Ministry of Women’s Affairs Initiatives to Strengthen Policy and Advocacy (MISPA)project in Afghanistan. Kate Francis is the Foundation’s Deputy Director of the Women’s Empowerment Program based in Washington, D.C. They can be reached at mabdurazzakova@asiafound.org and kfrancis@asiafound-dc.org, respectively. All names below have been changed.
Ara called in to Radio Zorha in Kunduz Province, imploring her fellow Afghans to be aware of the dangers of being tricked by promises of a better life through employment opportunities in foreign countries. Upon hearing radio messages about human trafficking, she wanted others to hear the story of her 16-year-old son who had left with a group of friends to find work in Iran, and hasn’t been heard from since. Had Ara heard about human trafficking earlier, she would have counseled her son to make different decisions.
Sadly, Ara is not alone as she awaits news of her son. The outpouring of personal stories and cautionary tales from radio listeners across Afghanistan who have heard the Ministry of Women’s Affairs’ radio campaign on human trafficking is an indication that the problem is as vast as it is complicated. Many listeners have called in to express concern about issues ranging from the kidnapping of women and children for the purpose of sexual exploitation, to drug cartels deceiving illegal immigrants into unknowingly smuggling drugs to Iran.
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Rabia-e Balkhi Girl’s High School was established in Kabul, Afghanistan, over 40 years ago. Before Afghanistan’s civil war, many of its graduates were accepted into prestigious university faculties to study medicine and law. During the civil war, however, nearly 90 percent of the school’s facilities were destroyed. In late 2001, after the Taliban fell and girls were allowed to return to school, Rabia-e Balkhi suddenly had to accommodate more than 2,000 new students in make-shift tents or jerry-rigged spaces amongst the rubble of the original school grounds. These “classrooms” lacked windows, doors, chalkboards, or furniture - making school an uncomfortable environment for learning, to say the least.
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