The fight for Afghan women’s rights

Nouria Salehi OAM Address – Afghan Women’s Rights

Amnesty International World Refugee Week Event

Eminent Afghan-Australian leader, Nouria Salehi OAM, will join Amnesty International, The Phoenix Centre and Migrant Resource Centre to support Afghan women’s rights, giving Hobart’s Keynote Refugee Week Address on Friday 21 June at Friends’ Farrall Centre.

Nouria is the founder & Executive Director of Afghan Australian Development Organisation (AADO), which runs reconstruction and sustainable development projects in Afghanistan. Nouria has spent her life working on Afghan, refugee and human rights issues, and last year was an Australia Day Ambassador and finalist in the Australian of the Year awards.

In her keynote address, Nouria will tell the stories of Afghan women’s lives, outline the increasing threat to women’s rights in Afghanistan, and explain why Australia needs to support the courageous and inspiring work of brave women’s rights advocates in Afghanistan.

Also speaking will be:

* Dr. Gillian Long from Phoenix Centre, who as part of the Migrant Resource Centre overseas provided services to survivors of torture and trauma in Tasmania,

* Former refugee from Afghanistan, interpreter and medical scientist, Mary Payenda,

* Amnesty International Community Organiser for Tasmania, Kirsty Madden.

Tasmania’s Hazara community will give a musical performance and display, with Halal refreshments prepared by Afghani women.

Over the past four months 57,000 Australians have signed Amnesty’s petition supporting the improvement of women’s rights in Afghanistan.

Since the fall of the Taliban in 2001 there has been significant progress for women’s rights in Afghanistan. However, these hard-won rights are being threatened by the current peace and reconciliation talks between the Taliban, Afghan and US governments.

Amnesty International is campaigning both in Australia and globally to ensure women and girls in Afghanistan are protected, their human rights are strengthened, and they are supported in leading changes affecting their lives.

Amnesty International is calling on the Australian Government and key political parties to strengthen their commitments to improving the status of women and girls in Afghanistan.

To find out more about Amnesty’s Afghan Women’s Rights campaign, visit http://www.amnesty.org.au/afghanwomen/ or the event http://www.amnesty.org.au/tas/event/31491/.

EVENT DETAILS:

What: Nouria Salehi OAM Address, Amnesty International Keynote World Refugee Week event
When: Friday 21 June 2013, 5:30PM- 7:40 PM
Where: Farrall Centre, Friends’ School Campus, 395 Argyle St, North Hobart, TAS
To RSVP: rloring@mrchobart.org.au

Download Nouria CV:
Nourias_social_CV_(1).doc