I have a right to | 成人快手 World Service

Daryoush Karimi - Persian

Reporter's Story

Now, it is more apparent to me that poverty is behind most cases of human rights abuses. Despite this, making the programmes made me feel more hopeful. Afghans are very active; they are so alive, you see that despite the problems they find their own reasons to enjoy life as much as it is possible for them.

I wanted to produce four features on Afghanistan, four features on Iran and two on Tajikistan. In Afghanistan, I found so many stories that my priorities changed. Kabul is very dynamic. The people are so politically alert.

Article 26: Everyone has the right to education. Education shall be free, at least in the elementary and fundamental stages. Elementary education shall be compulsory... Parents have a prior right to choose the kind of education that shall be given to their children.

A Family of Teachers

In Afghanistan, in the midst of human rights abuses and violations, there are people who are really making a difference.

Someone in Kabul said you should meet the daughters of Ismail Akbar. They are 11, 13 and 15. They teach English, elementary up to advanced, and computers too. Windows and MS Dos. The 15-year-old daughter learned English in refugee camps.

The classes take place in a room in their home.

Their father is a respected intellectual in Afghanistan and a teacher. But for him, teaching is a means of subsistence. Their mother also teaches. Her salary is about $50 per month... The family pay more than a $100 per month to rent their flat.

I decided to make a radio programme on the Akbar family. The day I went to meet this family at their home, some people had ordered them to stop giving classes.

The Akbar family thought it was intimidation by either the police or security officials, who are in charge of intelligence in the Kabul area.

They believe the police interfere in everything. They say every aspect of the lives of people in Kabul is under police surveillance.

I went to the police station in the area as well as the Security Office, but I wasn't able to find out who had asked them to stop teaching.

A Child's View of Human Rights

Afterwards, I asked the Akbar family about human rights and why they thought their rights were being violated. They said, "First of all, we think we should have the choice to teach. And if somebody asks us to stop teaching, we should know why."

I asked the youngest daughter, 11, "What is human rights?" She answered, "Human rights is when they allow us to do whatever we want."

"Whatever you want?" I asked. She said, "No, whatever the law accepts and approves."

I said, "But if the existing law violates human rights and doesn't allow you to teach?" She replied, "In that case we should change the law."

"How?" "By lawful means," she said.

Her understanding of human rights is exceptional.

Article 4: No one shall be held in slavery or servitude; slavery and the slave trade shall be prohibited in all their forms.

Tajikistan: Human Trafficking

When you go to Tajikistan after being in Afghanistan, you find it to be a very quiet country. Even so, there are severe cases of human rights abuses. One of my stories is about human trafficking. The number of Tajik girls who go abroad for prostitution is on the rise. They are taken to Gulf countries or Russia, with or without their own consent.

I talked to several human rights activists in Tajikistan to see if I could meet some of the women who have been trafficked.

At the International Organisation for Migration in Tajikistan (IOM), I talked to Igor Beskov. The IOM provides assistance and information to women who have been trafficked.

I also spoke to Golchereh Mirzayevo, a human rights activist who works for an NGO called MOTHER, which helps women who have been trafficked find jobs.

They told me to go to a women's jail in the city of Khojand. Once there, I was only able to speak to the head of the jail, Mr Yoldashov. I was not able to obtain authorisation to talk to women who have been allegedly involved in trafficking others.

The human rights campaigners gave me the name of somebody who had been trafficking Tajik girls to other countries. She had been in jail for less than a year; she had been released easily. I had her name but I could not find her.

The story is about not being able to meet those people, the victims and the perpetrators. They are faceless but they exist.

Making a Difference

Until recently, the government of Tajikistan would not acknowledge that the trafficking of people exists. Things have changed now.

I spoke to Jamshid Ghodosov, an official at Mehnat, the Ministry of Employment. He said that in 2002, the ministry will be setting up a committee to research the numbers of people who have been trafficked and where they are trafficked too.

The aim is to look at the root of the problem.

	Other Producers: Bengali Burmese French for Africa Indonesian Pashto Persian Portuguese for Africa Sinhala Somali Uzbek 成人快手 Sites:		Daryoush Karimi - Persian Reporter's Story Now, it is more apparent to me that poverty is behind most cases of human rights abuses. Despite this, making the programmes made me feel more hopeful. Afghans are very active; they are so alive, you see that despite the problems they find their own reasons to enjoy life as much as it is possible for them. I wanted to produce four features on Afghanistan, four features on Iran and two on Tajikistan. In Afghanistan, I found so many stories that my priorities changed. Kabul is very dynamic. The people are so politically alert. Article 26: Everyone has the right to education. Education shall be free, at least in the elementary and fundamental stages. Elementary education shall be compulsory... Parents have a prior right to choose the kind of education that shall be given to their children. A Family of Teachers In Afghanistan, in the midst of human rights abuses and violations, there are people who are really making a difference. Someone in Kabul said you should meet the daughters of Ismail Akbar. They are 11, 13 and 15. They teach English, elementary up to advanced, and computers too. Windows and MS Dos. The 15-year-old daughter learned English in refugee camps. The classes take place in a room in their home. Their father is a respected intellectual in Afghanistan and a teacher. But for him, teaching is a means of subsistence. Their mother also teaches. Her salary is about $50 per month... The family pay more than a $100 per month to rent their flat. I decided to make a radio programme on the Akbar family. The day I went to meet this family at their home, some people had ordered them to stop giving classes. The Akbar family thought it was intimidation by either the police or security officials, who are in charge of intelligence in the Kabul area. They believe the police interfere in everything. They say every aspect of the lives of people in Kabul is under police surveillance. I went to the police station in the area as well as the Security Office, but I wasn't able to find out who had asked them to stop teaching. A Child's View of Human Rights Afterwards, I asked the Akbar family about human rights and why they thought their rights were being violated. They said, "First of all, we think we should have the choice to teach. And if somebody asks us to stop teaching, we should know why." I asked the youngest daughter, 11, "What is human rights?" She answered, "Human rights is when they allow us to do whatever we want." "Whatever you want?" I asked. She said, "No, whatever the law accepts and approves." I said, "But if the existing law violates human rights and doesn't allow you to teach?" She replied, "In that case we should change the law." "How?" "By lawful means," she said. Her understanding of human rights is exceptional. Article 4: No one shall be held in slavery or servitude; slavery and the slave trade shall be prohibited in all their forms. Tajikistan: Human Trafficking When you go to Tajikistan after being in Afghanistan, you find it to be a very quiet country. Even so, there are severe cases of human rights abuses. One of my stories is about human trafficking. The number of Tajik girls who go abroad for prostitution is on the rise. They are taken to Gulf countries or Russia, with or without their own consent. I talked to several human rights activists in Tajikistan to see if I could meet some of the women who have been trafficked. At the International Organisation for Migration in Tajikistan (IOM), I talked to Igor Beskov. The IOM provides assistance and information to women who have been trafficked. I also spoke to Golchereh Mirzayevo, a human rights activist who works for an NGO called MOTHER, which helps women who have been trafficked find jobs. They told me to go to a women's jail in the city of Khojand. Once there, I was only able to speak to the head of the jail, Mr Yoldashov. I was not able to obtain authorisation to talk to women who have been allegedly involved in trafficking others. The human rights campaigners gave me the name of somebody who had been trafficking Tajik girls to other countries. She had been in jail for less than a year; she had been released easily. I had her name but I could not find her. The story is about not being able to meet those people, the victims and the perpetrators. They are faceless but they exist. Making a Difference Until recently, the government of Tajikistan would not acknowledge that the trafficking of people exists. Things have changed now. I spoke to Jamshid Ghodosov, an official at Mehnat, the Ministry of Employment. He said that in 2002, the ministry will be setting up a committee to research the numbers of people who have been trafficked and where they are trafficked too. The aim is to look at the root of the problem.