Women for Afghanistan Fundraiser

Brunswick St Gallery is holding a photographic auction to raise funds for the Women of Afghanistan. Please come along and support this worthy cause and enjoy a fun night of music and food from 6pm at the Brunswick St Gallery, 332 Brunswick St, Fitzroy.

The Revolutionary Association of the Women of Afghanistan (RAWA):

RAWA, the Revolutionary Association of the Women of Afghanistan, was established in Kabul, Afghanistan, in 1977 as an independent political/social organization of Afghan women fighting for human rights and for social justice in Afghanistan. The founders were a number of Afghan woman intellectuals under the sagacious leadership of Meena who in 1987 was assassinated in Quetta, Pakistan.

RAWA's objective was to involve an increasing number of Afghan women in social and political activities aimed at acquiring women's human rights and contributing to the struggle for the establishment of a government based on democratic and secular values in Afghanistan. Despite the suffocating political atmosphere, RAWA very soon became involved in widespread activities in different socio-political arenas including education, health and income generation as well as political agitation.
RAWA believes that freedom and democracy can't be donated; it is the duty of the people of a country to fight and achieve these values. Under the US-supported government, the sworn enemies of human rights, democracy and secularism have gripped their claws over our country and attempt to restore their religious fascism on our people. Whenever fundamentalists exist as a military and political force in our injured land, the problem of Afghanistan will not be solved.
Today RAWA's mission for women's rights is far from over and we have to work hard for establishment of an independent, free, democratic and secular Afghanistan. We need the solidarity and support of all people around the world.

Contact the Australian RAWA.

Afghan photographs by Azlan Petra

The photographs depict a humanitarian's view of the social conditions of Afghan people taken soon after the most recent War in Afghanistan began. All the photographs on display are of Afghan people and places and were taken by Azlan Petra, whilst he was a humanitarian worker in Afghanistan during 2002.

The photographs provide a window into a variety of Afghan social settings and social relations, from education environments to kinship bonds. Shown are Afghan people from the village Pirzai in the Maarof District and the villages Kalgai, Shah Baba and Rabat in the Spin Boldak District of Kandahar Province, one of the largest Afghan provinces and a south central area of Afghanistan bordering Pakistan.

When Azlan was an undergraduate student he took leave from study for the purposes of undertaking humanitarian work in Afghanistan. He worked as a Relief officer and Research officer for the Malaysian Medical Relief Society (MERCY), a non-profit organization focusing on providing medical relief and sustainable health related development for vulnerable communities.

'When MERCY Malaysia first entered Afghanistan in 2001, the country was in the throes of a war that forced thousands of Afghan civilians to abandon their homes and seek shelter in relief camps. MERCY Malaysia initially delivered emergency healthcare to the Afghan population.'

Azlan spent almost a full year in Afghanistan, returning to Australia to resume his studies. He is currently undertaking Post-Graduate level Development Studies at Melbourne University. Retaining a strong interest in Humanitarian work Azlan is currently involved in a community support group for the shelter of women and children who have been infected with or whose lives are affected by HIV/AIDS in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.