About RAWAAbout RAWA……

Revolutionary Association of the Women of Revolutionary Association of the Women of Afghanistan (RAWA) is the oldest political/social Afghanistan (RAWA) is the oldest political/social

organization of Afghan women struggling for organization of Afghan women struggling for peace, freedom, democracy and women's rights peace, freedom, democracy and women's rights in fundamentalismin fundamentalism--blighted Afghanistan. It was blighted Afghanistan. It was

established in 1977 in Kabul by Meena who was established in 1977 in Kabul by Meena who was later assassinated in Pakistan on Feb.4, 1987.later assassinated in Pakistan on Feb.4, 1987.

Meena, founder of RAWAMeena, founder of RAWA

MEENA (1956-1987) was born on February 27, 1956 in Kabul. In pursuit of her cause for gaining the right of freedom of expression and conducting political activities, Meena laid the foundation of RAWA in 1977. Her active social work and effective advocacy against the views of the fundamentalists and the puppet regime provoked the wrath of the Russians and the fundamentalist forces alike and she was assassinated by agents of KHAD (Afghanistan branch of KGB) and their fundamentalist accomplices in Quetta, Pakistan, on February 4,1987.

Beside social and political activities one of Beside social and political activities one of RAWARAWA’’s projects inside Afghanistan is to s projects inside Afghanistan is to document the gross violations of human document the gross violations of human

rights by the Taliban and Northern Alliance rights by the Taliban and Northern Alliance fundamentalists. Accepting enormous risk, fundamentalists. Accepting enormous risk,

our member have succeeded in our member have succeeded in documenting many such violations in documenting many such violations in

video, photographs and reports which have video, photographs and reports which have been used by the international human been used by the international human

rights organizations and media.rights organizations and media.

A Taliban fighter parades the amputated limbs of Taliban victimsA Taliban fighter parades the amputated limbs of Taliban victimsthrough the streets of Kabul through the streets of Kabul -- Aug.14, 1998Aug.14, 1998

Public execution of Public execution of ZarmeenaZarmeena by Taliban in Kabul sports stadium by Taliban in Kabul sports stadium November 16, 1999November 16, 1999

Two Taliban beat a woman in public for removing her Two Taliban beat a woman in public for removing her BurqaBurqa. . August 26, 2001August 26, 2001

In January 2000, around 300 civilians from In January 2000, around 300 civilians from HazaraHazara minority were massacred by minority were massacred by Taliban in Taliban in YakawlangYakawlang in central Afghanistan. They have been buried in mass in central Afghanistan. They have been buried in mass

graves.graves.

A house burnt to ashes during infighting of fundamentalist forceA house burnt to ashes during infighting of fundamentalist forces.s.Kabul, 1993.Kabul, 1993.

Public hanging under US supported government in “liberated” Afghanistan. Jan.2004

Public hanging under Taliban regime. May 1999

Criminal armed forces of Ahmad Shah Criminal armed forces of Ahmad Shah MassoudMassoud in action in one of Kabul in action in one of Kabul streets. 1994.streets. 1994.

Over 50,000 civilians were killed during their rule from 1992Over 50,000 civilians were killed during their rule from 1992--9696.

A typical symbol of Afghanistan after over 2 decades of A typical symbol of Afghanistan after over 2 decades of war and destruction.war and destruction.

Kabul, 1993: Gunmen of Kabul, 1993: Gunmen of ShuraShura--ee--NezarNezar, led by Ahmad Shah , led by Ahmad Shah MasoudMasoudpiled books before setting them ablaze in Kabul University. Hundpiled books before setting them ablaze in Kabul University. Hundreds reds of thousands of books from Kabul University and other libraries of thousands of books from Kabul University and other libraries were were

burned by burned by jehadisjehadis..

Since the US war in Afghanistan, our country is unfortunately onSince the US war in Afghanistan, our country is unfortunately once again ce again worldworld’’s largest opium producer. Karzai administration is unable to cons largest opium producer. Karzai administration is unable to control it trol it because powerful warlords are engaged in the dirty business and because powerful warlords are engaged in the dirty business and they have they have

high positions in the government.high positions in the government.

Kabul under the US Kabul under the US bombing strikesbombing strikes-- Oct.18, Oct.18,

20012001

NiazNiaz Mohammad from Mohammad from AgamAgam district of district of JalalabadJalalabad with his nieces and with his nieces and nephews who lost parents in the US bombing. Dec.3, 2001nephews who lost parents in the US bombing. Dec.3, 2001

Sole survivors of a family killed by the US bombing, Sole survivors of a family killed by the US bombing, JalalabadJalalabad. . Oct. 11, 2001 Oct. 11, 2001

Bomb Blast in Bomb Blast in JalalabadJalalabad -- April 8, 2002. Innocent civilians fall victims of April 8, 2002. Innocent civilians fall victims of the fundamentalists infighting.the fundamentalists infighting.

For over a decade, many For over a decade, many have called Kabul the city of have called Kabul the city of beggars. War and destitution beggars. War and destitution have pushed many, have pushed many, particularly Afghan widows particularly Afghan widows and orphans to the streets and orphans to the streets for beggary. for beggary.

They were once prosperous livestock owners. The drought has takeThey were once prosperous livestock owners. The drought has taken n everything away everything away -- October 2000 October 2000

Northern Alliance Northern Alliance fundamentalists fundamentalists

destroyed 80% of Kabul destroyed 80% of Kabul during their bloody rule during their bloody rule from 1992from 1992--96. But now 96. But now they are again in power they are again in power

and supported by the US and supported by the US government. government.

Like many other historical riches of Afghanistan, Like many other historical riches of Afghanistan, DarDar--ulul--AmanAman palace in Kabul was also completely destroyed palace in Kabul was also completely destroyed

during fundamentalists' infighting from 1992during fundamentalists' infighting from 1992--9696

Police violently evict Police violently evict Kabul residents Kabul residents from from ShirpurShirpur and and destroyed their destroyed their homes.homes.

June 4, 2004: The demolition of poor June 4, 2004: The demolition of poor people houses in people houses in SherpurSherpur by ministers by ministers and warlords had large coverage in the and warlords had large coverage in the world media after Mr. world media after Mr. MiloonMiloon Kothari Kothari reported it to the UN. Karzai government reported it to the UN. Karzai government came under constant criticism in national came under constant criticism in national and international level. But it continues and international level. But it continues and no action has been taken against and no action has been taken against those involved in the crime. And now those involved in the crime. And now luxury houses are being built on the luxury houses are being built on the ruins of poor people houses.ruins of poor people houses.

GulbarGulbar was admitted to a local hospital in was admitted to a local hospital in BadghisBadghis province in Northern province in Northern Afghanistan in November 2005. She has been burnt by her husband.Afghanistan in November 2005. She has been burnt by her husband.

““A Herat regional hospital last year recorded 160 cases of attempA Herat regional hospital last year recorded 160 cases of attempted suicide ted suicide among girls and women between the ages of 12 and 50.among girls and women between the ages of 12 and 50.””

(Radio Liberty, March 1, 2004)(Radio Liberty, March 1, 2004)

On October 9th, 2004 (the day of the Presidential election in AfOn October 9th, 2004 (the day of the Presidential election in Afghanistan), ghanistan), MuskaMuska, a female election worker traveling with her team to different , a female election worker traveling with her team to different villages villages registering voters, was assigned to a polling station was raped registering voters, was assigned to a polling station was raped by a former by a former

JehadiJehadi combatant. combatant. MuskaMuska -- who was deeply disturbed by the incident who was deeply disturbed by the incident -- covered covered herself in gasoline, and then lit her body on fire.herself in gasoline, and then lit her body on fire.

7 year old 7 year old SamiaSamia has a shocking has a shocking story. She has fall victim of family story. She has fall victim of family violence in fundamentalistsviolence in fundamentalists--dominated society.dominated society.

Full story at Full story at www.rawa.org/samia.htmwww.rawa.org/samia.htm

On November 23, 2004, On November 23, 2004, SaleemSaleem son of Mohammad son of Mohammad ZaharZahar from from WardakWardak OmerzaiOmerzai village of village of LaghmanLaghman province was abducted by province was abducted by

gunmen of Islamic Party of gunmen of Islamic Party of GulbuddinGulbuddin HekmatyarHekmatyar and after 2 days his and after 2 days his dead body was found in dead body was found in KatalKatal village that has been inhumanly tortured village that has been inhumanly tortured

and killed by knife.and killed by knife.

In Afghanistan hardly In Afghanistan hardly ten percent of women ten percent of women can read and write. can read and write. RAWA strongly RAWA strongly believes that it is only believes that it is only with the weapon of with the weapon of education that the education that the women of Afghanistan women of Afghanistan can be empowered and can be empowered and triumph in their triumph in their struggle against struggle against fundamentalists and fundamentalists and their ilk.their ilk.

One of the most important One of the most important achievements of RAWA in the achievements of RAWA in the field of education has been the field of education has been the establishment of primary and establishment of primary and secondary schools through secondary schools through

which thousands of students, which thousands of students, especially girls have benefited. especially girls have benefited.

NasimaNasima ShaheedShaheed High School is High School is sponsored by:sponsored by:

““NaseemaNaseema ShahidShahid High High SchoolSchool”” run by RAWA in a run by RAWA in a refugee camp in Pakistan. refugee camp in Pakistan. Over 350 girls are being Over 350 girls are being taught in this school from taught in this school from class 1 to 12. The school is class 1 to 12. The school is being funded by RAWA being funded by RAWA supporters in Australia.supporters in Australia.

One of the main victims of more than two decades of war are the One of the main victims of more than two decades of war are the children. children. According to Prof. According to Prof. Jennifer A. HartleyJennifer A. Hartley:: "An extraordinarily special aspect of "An extraordinarily special aspect of RAWA's orphanages is that they provide the children with much moRAWA's orphanages is that they provide the children with much more than re than

love, food, shelter, and education."love, food, shelter, and education."

RAWA provides RAWA provides opportunities to a large opportunities to a large number of widows, number of widows, disabled women and needy disabled women and needy families to help them stand families to help them stand on their own two feet on their own two feet economically and rebuild economically and rebuild their lives. their lives.

Press Conference in Peshawar, April 27, 2001 A delegation of members of the Italian Parliament and RAWA supporters holding a press conference in solidarity with RAWA, Islamabad-March 11, 2002

RAWA’s anti-war demonstration in front of the UN main office in Islamabad to oppose military action against Iraq - Feb.24, 2003

RAWA every year stages a RAWA every year stages a protest rally to denounce it protest rally to denounce it as a gloomy day. On April as a gloomy day. On April

28, 2005, RAWA organized 28, 2005, RAWA organized a demonstration in front of a demonstration in front of

the UN headquarter in the UN headquarter in Islamabad which was Islamabad which was

attended by hundreds of attended by hundreds of women, girls and boys.women, girls and boys.

March 8, 2006:Over 1,500 women and men participated in an event organized by RAWA in Kabul to celebrate the International Women’s Day.

The participants included a 12-member

delegation of RAWA Italian supporters and

a large number of journalists and guests.

In addition to In addition to PayamPayam--ee--ZanZan (Women(Women’’s Message), s Message), our oldest publication, our oldest publication, which was first produced which was first produced in Persian and in Persian and PushtoPushto in in 1981, RAWA has 1981, RAWA has published numerous published numerous booklets, brochures, booklets, brochures, posters, and stickers in posters, and stickers in English, as well as audio English, as well as audio cassettes and a CD of cassettes and a CD of Freedom songs.Freedom songs.

Despite facing a siegeDespite facing a siege--like atmosphere for most of our 26 years, RAWA has like atmosphere for most of our 26 years, RAWA has been nominated for and received numerous awards from freedombeen nominated for and received numerous awards from freedom--loving loving

organizations and institutions throughout the world.organizations and institutions throughout the world.

Revolutionary Association of the Revolutionary Association of the Women of AfghanistanWomen of Afghanistan

RAWARAWAwww.rawa.orgwww.rawa.orgrawa@rawa.orgrawa@rawa.org

RAWA, RAWA, P.O.BoxP.O.Box 374, Quetta, Pakistan374, Quetta, Pakistan

If you are freedomIf you are freedom--loving, antiloving, anti--fundamentalist, fundamentalist, you are with RAWA. Support and help usyou are with RAWA. Support and help us

RAWA is proud to rely on its supporters RAWA is proud to rely on its supporters help and support around the world. Your help and support around the world. Your donations will make a difference to donations will make a difference to change the lives of your suffering Afghan change the lives of your suffering Afghan sisters.sisters.

To find out how to send donations please To find out how to send donations please visit visit www.rawa.org/donation.htmwww.rawa.org/donation.htm..

All photos in this slide show are All photos in this slide show are taken by RAWA members.taken by RAWA members.

The background song is by students The background song is by students of RAWA schools, released by of RAWA schools, released by

RAWA in an audio CD of patriotic RAWA in an audio CD of patriotic songs called songs called ““FreedomFreedom””..