Women’s Radio – Afghanistan

In the majority of Afghanistan, women have re-attained their freedoms. Many women now can live, work, get an education and vote. With the increase in rights and security, the response has been an outcropping of women in the legislature, education, culture and enterprise. Through all ventures, Afghan women are becoming well known for their ability to manage technical details. It makes sense.

For generations, Afghan women have led the nation’s textile industry. Matter of fact, the next time you get an Afghan rug or shall, it was probably woven by an Afghan woman who is working in an Afghan woman’s owned business. It seems that all those generations of skill and knowledge are paying off as women use their discipline in spin-off (pun intended) into new enterprises and other technical trades.

Afghan Fabrics and textiles from women’s owned businesses.

For instance, I recently spoke to a small television and film production studio in Kabul who wants to start internships with the Kabul University and in collaboration with broadcasters in the region to train women in the technical trades (editing, sound, lights, camera work, etc.) because they better manage work that has technical skills.

There are pockets, though, in the South and East, that remains staunchly conservative. Even with military enforcement and money for education and outreach, the culture remains stringent against women and their rights.

Today, being Easter and the closing day of Women’s History Month, I want to highlight two women in that region of Afghanistan who are making difference.

In the Kandahar / Spin Boldak region two women (names not given to protect their identity) have launched and are running women’s radio broadcast called “Da Kor Rana,” or “The Light of the House”. The two women DJ the program and discuss women’s issues to a local audience. The show has gained popularity with men and women in the region because of the broadcaster’s ability to balance the conservative environment while addressing popular and current lifestyle issues.

The struggle, though, is not with the local or regional conservative cultural and religious leaders. The challenge is that the US military, which runs the station, is planning to shut the station down and box up the equipment as they prepare to withdraw from Afghanistan. The treaty agreement between the US and Afghanistan states that all military owned radio and television station equipment is to be turned over to the Afghan Army.

Two women pioneer radio broadcasting.

Two women radio broadcasters run a show in Afghanistan’s most cnservative region

Unfortunately, there are no Afghan military units in the area, so the equipment will be boxed up and shipped to another region. This, of course, would end the two women’s ability to broadcast. The local governor has pleaded to the local US military and State Department officials in the region to find a way to leave the equipment, but so far, there has only received sympathy, and no solution.
Last night is when I found out about the issue. I received an email and call from the Spin Boldak PRT trying to figure out an alternative. This is a balance between policy and diplomacy. Hopefully, as a team we can find a way to preserve those women’s voices in the Southern Kandahar region. As their name says, they truly are a point of light for all women in the region to there to find their way to greater freedom and justice.

-Jack

P.S. After writing the blog, the Spin Boldak State Department representative forwarded me this news article on the issue: http://www.stripes.com/news/female-host-deals-with-family-issues-on-radio-show-in-afghanistan-1.214378