|
“It is important for people to know their rights so that if they are challenged, people will have the capacity to defend those rights.” |
Anisa, a 22 year old first grade teacher, explains that it is important for people to know their rights so that if they are challenged, people will have the capacity to defend those rights. Indeed, although Bamiyan is now considered one of the most secure provinces in Afghanistan, it was not spared from violence during the Talibanís rule. People here remember those hard times when many citizens were denied access to basic social services such as education and health care. These young people believe that knowing their rights will help protect them from any future violations of those rights. Another participant, Mussah, says that he wants to complete high school and then go on to be a lawyer. When someone remarks that law is an attractive profession for earning an income, he responds that he wants to study law so that he can ìstand behind the rights of those who do not know them. He says that this training has been very helpful for him, particularly in helping him understand the rights of citizens to live in freedom, and the rights of women and children, which are protected under both the Afghan constitution and Islamic law. By educating these young people, Equal Access is also reaching out into the broader community. Two female participants say that they will take this information back to their families, who are eager to hear what they have learned. By volunteering for this training, they say that they are learning not only about their rights as individuals, but ìthe rights of everyone — the rights of humanity as a whole. |
