BAMYAN - Members of the civil society of Dai Kundi and Bamyan provinces engaged in a lively radio round-table discussion recently on the salient points of the law on the Elimination of Violence Against Women (EVAW), plus the youth’s role in maintaining peace.

Facilitated by UNAMA Human Rights Unit (HRU) in the Central Highlands Region (CHR), the discussion was aired by Radio Naseem, Nili’s newest radio station, with around 40 participants including youth activists, university students, elders, women, Government officials, and journalists from the two central highland provinces.

Considered the first of its kind in Dai Kundi, the radio round-table held in mid-September introduced the people especially the youth to a different method of engaging peacefully in the socio-political arena by analyzing and critiquing different perspectives of pertinent issues.

The initial topics ranged from human rights to governance, and raised the people’s awareness of violence against women (VAW) and the campaign to eliminate it via the EVAW law. President Hamid Karzai recently issued a decree mandating a three-month-long campaign to eliminate violence against women throughout Afghanistan.

The participants praised the issuance of the decree, and suggested that for it to succeed, the EVAW campaign should be supported by parallel nationwide campaigns to combat prevalent corruption and the weak rule of law.

The second part of the round-table focused on the youth’s role towards attaining peace in Afghanistan. The discussants highlighted the importance of peace in development and in ensuring respect for the basic social, political and cultural rights of citizens.

The youth shared their experiences on how peace has been playing a vital role towards the enjoyment of the right to education for both male and female community members. The round-table participants also highlighted the important role that the youth can play in maintaining peace after security transition in 2014.

The participants noted keen public participation during the live programme that was recorded and is now being replayed over the air waves for wider dissemination. UNAMA is considering organizing a similar radio round-table in Bamyan.

By UNAMA Bamyan