HRAP at CSW63

Friday, March 22, 2019

*Photo Caption: Human Rights Advocates Program (HRAP) alumnae  Elina Horo  of India (2015 HRAP),  Marayah Fyneah  of Liberia (2012 HRAP), Sandra Creamer of Australia (2015 HRAP), and Mary Akrami of Afghanistan (2009 HRAP) participated in the 63rd session of the Commission on the Status of Women.  Akrami participated in a side event organized by the Irish Mission to the UN and Peace is Loud during which the film Women, Peace and Power was shown for the first time. It follows the stories of women activists, politicians, and citizens in Northern Ireland, Afghanistan and Liberia. Akrami is the Executive Director of the Afghan Women SkillsDevelopment Center (AWSDC), which focuses on the needs of Afghan women, including widows and the disabled or chronically ill, and orphan children. In 2003, AWSDC established the first known shelter for women at risk in Afghanistan.

 

During CSW63, HRAP, The Prospect Hill Foundation, and The Sperry Fund organized a capacity building workshop on Empowering Women and Girls through Advocacy. Speakers from WITNESS, StoryCorps, and Breaking Ground covered topics including data-based advocacy, video advocacy and storytelling. The 21 attendees came from countries including Burkina Faso, Indonesia, Nigeria, and South Korea. Siti Syahwali of Indonesia wrote, “Very impressive topics and speakers—I have definitely learned a lot and hope to share with colleagues back home.”