Celebrating the Spirit of Afghan Women and Girls
Vital Voices
02/12/2004
Vital Voices Honorary Co-Chairs, Senator Hillary
Rodham Clinton (D-NY) and Senator Kay Bailey Hutchison (R-TX),
joined forces with United Artists and the Motion Picture Association
of America to host a special screening of the award-winning
film, "Osama." The evening also served as the official
launch of the Afghan and Iraqi Women's Leadership Fund at the
Vital Voices Global Leadership Institute.
Osama" tells the tale of a young Afghan girl
who is disguised as a boy in order to provide physical security
for her widowed mother and grandmother (who are forbidden to
leave home unaccompanied by a male relative) as her mother attempts
to support the family. The film takes place during the Taliban
regime, when Afghan women and girls were denied access to the
most basic of rights and freedoms, including education and security.
At a reception prior to the screening, special
guests U.S. Secretary of Labor, Elaine L. Chao, Undersecretary
of State for Global Affairs, Paula J. Dobriansky and Afghan
Ambassador to the United States, Said Tayeb Jawad joined in
a celebration of the spirit and achievements of Afghan women.
They also spoke about the importance of remaining vigilant in
protecting the rights of Afghan women and girls.
Senator Clinton noted that "not unlike South
Africa, Afghanistan and particularly Afghani women are following
a very different trail now - that of forgiveness and reconciliation.
It is important that we are here tonight to honor their experiences
and never forget humiliations they experienced before their
new Afghanistan was born."
MGM Vice Chairman and COO, Chris McGurk, announced
a gift from United Artists (an MGM company) of $10,000 to the
Afghan and Iraqi Women's Leadership Fund, which will provide
important training for women in Afghanistan, Iraq and throughout
the region to become full participants in the economic, social
and democratic progress of their countries.
Farida Azizi, Vital Voices Senior Advisor for
Afghanistan and the Middle East, reminded the evening's nearly
100 guests that although there has been progress in Afghanistan,
there remains a long way to go in the reconstruction process.
"My wish for Afghanistan is that children grow up with
hope and girls are proud to be female… educating
and training the next generation is the most important work
to be done."
