Institut Français d’Afghanistan and Armanshahr/OPEN ASIA*
Kabul, Afghanistan 
Public round tables with experts and cultural programs
Open to a wide audience in order to sensitize the general public to the issue of Human Rights protection in the peculiar Afghan context. A daily thematic round table of prestigious governmental, civil society and international experts is followed by a thematic cultural and artistic activity.
Saturday December 7th
14:00 – 16:00 Freedom of Speech and the influence of social e-networks.
Panel: Sanjar Sohail (Licence holder of 8 Sobh newspaper), Ms. Humira Sagheb (Editor in chief of Negah-Zan -Women’s vision – and founder of the first Women’s News Agency), Sami Mehdi (Winner of brave journalist 2012 Knight International Journalism Prize, director and editor in chief of Khorshed TV), Lotfullah Najafizada (Tolonews’ director of information), Aimal Sanjida (National TV News Director), Head of session: Sediqullah Tawhidi (President of Nai- Supporting Open Media in Afghanistan)
17:30 – 18:30 Cultural event
– Opening of the art exhibit “Unsaid” – collective work of 3 Afghan women on the theme of Human rights and musical acting performance – managed by the Afghan Artist Mr Kabir Mokamel.
– Inauguration of “Armanshahr house” – The IFA Video Box will be dedicated to Armanshahr/OPEN ASIA for a whole week inaugurating the Campaign “Unveiling Afghanistan” including an exhibition of twenty Portraits and texts of prominent Afghans on human rights (in Dari and English) as part of a 100-day Human Rights Campaign leading to the 2014 Afghanistan Presidential election, launched by Armanshahr/OPEN ASIA and supported by FIDH, non-stop screening of several documentary films and presentation and free distribution of 5000 copies of pertinent Human rights books by Armanshahr Publishing (see list below)
Sunday December 8th On the Occasion of 16-day Campaign against Violence Against Women
14:00 – 16:00 Women’s political participation and safeguarding achievements.
Panel: Fawzia Koofi (Parliamentarian Head of committee of Women, Civil society and human rights), Sima Samar (Head of AIHRC), Dr. Alema (Founder of Women’s Political Participation Committee), Roya Sadat (Co-founder of the 1st International Women’s Film Festival-Herat), Heather Barr (Human Rights Watch Afghanistan researcher), Head of session: Zia Moballegh (Specialist in Human rights and Islamic studies)
16:30 – 18:00 Cultural event
– Screening of the movie: “Rafea: Solar Mama” (by Jehane Noujaim, Mona Eldaief)
– Presentation of two-volumes of Armanshahr research book: “Family and position of women according to Sharia and law and custom” and “Family and law: prospects of reform” in the presence of Author Zia Moballegh.
Monday December 9th On the occasion of International Anti-Corruption Day
14:00 – 16:00 The fight against corruption and its impact on the respect for Human rights
Panel: Azizullah Ludin (Head of the High Office of Oversight and Anti-corruption), Parliamentarian Jafar Mahdavi (Member of Parliamentary Committee on International Relations), Khan Zaman Amarkhil (Deputy Director of Afghan Anti-Corruption Network, Head of session: Hamid Razzagh/Armanshahr (researcher specialised in corruption)
16:30 – 18:00 Cultural event
– Concert of two Afghan Rap groups FM Band Farhad & Matin and 143 Band
Tuesday December 10th On the occasion of International Human Rights Day and Afghanistan’s Victims Day
14:00 – 16:00 Custody policies and the respect for human rights: How to put an end to impunity. Challenges in implementing Transitional Justice.
Panel: Nader Nadery (Transitional Justice specialist and Founder and chairman of Foundation for Free and Fair Elections FEFA), Khodadad Bisharat (Head of Afghanistan Human Rights and Democracy Organisation”, initiator of “Memory boxes”), Jawad Darwaziyan (Human rights specialist /Armanshahr), Head of session: Matin Azariyoun (Head of Focus on Human rights and Transitional justice expert)
16:30 – 18:00 Cultural event
– Armanshahr presentation of 4 Human Rights and TJ books by Armanshahr Publishing by Rooholamin Amini (Deputy Director of Armanshahr)
– Screening of Documentary film “Hotel Rwanda” (in Dari); a 2004 American drama film directed by Terry George, based on real life events in Rwanda during the spring of 1994.
Wednesday December 11th
14:00 – 16:00 The challenges linked to access to justice for Afghan citizens under 18.
Panel: Maria Bashir (the first woman Prosecutor general), Parliamentarians Haji Mohammad Abdoh (member of Parliament Committee on Justice and Judiciary) and Ostad Gholam Sarwar Fayez (member of Parliament Committee on Women, Civil society & HR), Abdolwahed Jian (Criminal lawyer specialised on youth and children), Head of Session: Hengama Anwari (Founder of Women and Children’s Legal Research Foundation).
16:30 – 18:00 Cultural event:
– Cassical music concert by The First Afghan Youth Orchestra (AYO)
Armanshahr Publishing will make available for free distribution more than 5000 copies of books during the week:
Human rights and Transitional Justice: The A-Z Hand Book to Transitional Justice (bilingual English , Dari), The EU Guidelines on Human Rights and International Law – Politis Asia (Dari), Universal Jurisdiction – Politis Asia (in Dari), Prison, Prisoners and Human rights (in English and Dari), War and City – Politis Asia (in Dari). Women’s issues: Family and position of women according to Sharia and law and custom, Family and law: prospects of reform of family Law, Discrimination and Political Participation of Women: Role of Education – Politis Asia (in Dari), A room of my own, Virginia Wolf (in Dari). Youth: Universal Declaration of Human Rights for Children and Adolescents (illustrated in Dari)
Morning Workshops (closed sessions)
An expert-orientated training composed of five thematic courses, held Dec. 7-11 2013 is dedicated to professionals operating in the field of Human Rights protection. Workshops are led by professors Sebastien Botreau-Bonneterre and Mr Ionnis Panouss from the French International Institute of human Rights and Peace. (Courses will be given in English and translated into Dari).
Saturday December 7th: Overview of the General Framework of the International Protection of Human Rights (first part): History and Principle: Texts and Mechanisms.
Sunday December 8th On the Occasion of 16-day Campaign against Violence Against Women: Overview of the General Framework of the International Protection of Human Rights (second part): workshop on Freedom of speech, workshop on gender equality.
Monday December 9th on the occasion of International Anti-Corruption Day: Human Rights, Fight against Terrorism and Armed Conflicts (First part): introduction to Law of Armed Conflict, Applicability of Human Rights in Time of Armed Conflict. Derogations from Human Rights in the Struggle against Terrorism.
Tuesday December 10th On the occasion of International Human Rights Day and Afghanistan’s Victims Day: International Criminal Justice: History and Main issues. Special focus on International Criminal Court.
Wednesday December 11th : Human Rights, Fight against Terrorism and Armed Conflicts (Second part): Right to life in armed conflicts and struggle against terrorism. Prohibition of Ill Treatment. Right to liberty and security.
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* With the support of
The French Institute of Afghanistan, the French Embassy, the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation, the Delegation of the European Union, the Embassy of Canada, the Embassy of the Netherlands and the Embassy of Germany and the Heinrich Böll Foundation, and the collaboration of Cooperation Center Afghanistan, Transitional Justice Coordination Group, Simorgh Peace Prize, Afghanistan Human Rights and Democracy Organisation, First International Women’s Film Festival-Herat, Gharjestan University, Gowhar Shad University, Afghanistan Youth Free Congress, Afghan Anti-Corruption Network, Focus on Human Rights, Human Rights & Eradication of Violence Organisation, Feminine Solidarity For Justice Organization, Forensic Science Organisation, Ertebat, Cooperation for Peace and Development and media-related groups: Afghanistan National Journalists Union, Nai- Supporting Open Media in Afghanistan, 8 Sobh national daily, Khorshed TV, Negah Zan network, Mitra TV.
