Afghan Woman's Hour was launched to empower Afghan women. It encourages them to know their rights and participate in civil society.
Start: January 2005
Finish: Ongoing
Media types: Radio
Issue: Human rights and governance
Country: Afghanistan
Since I am illiterate and can't read books to get information, listening to these subjects on the radio is very important for me.
Mamlakat, 39, illiterate housewife, rural Mazar
Afghan Woman's Hour (AWH) celebrates the role of women in Afghan society. Launched to empower Afghan women, it encourages them to participate more fully in the rebuilding of their country. Cutting across socio-economic and tribal boundaries, it has enabled women to explore new ideas and find practical solutions to their problems.
"Since I am illiterate and can't read books to get information, listening to these subjects on the radio is very important for me."
Mamlakat, 39, illiterate housewife, rural Mazar.
Women journalists
Each week, 20 women journalists gather stories, conduct interviews and record local music from around the country. This content is then broadcast in Dari and Pashto.
The programme focuses on the experiences of women from different socio-economic groups, and from rural and urban areas. Debates, features and phone-ins also cover a wide range of issues.
The programme includes different segments such as:
- Home and family - equality or inequality in the home
- Cooking recipe - regional specialties
- Female role models - female MPs
- Testimony - fiction, drama or real-life stories
The programme offers information, advice and comfort to its listeners. In rural areas, many women are unable to access or afford professional help. So doctors, psychologists, social commentators and female politicians offer advice through Afghan Woman's Hour. The involvement of internationally successful women provides regular listeners with inspiring role models.
Research and impact
- 100 programmes are produced every year
- 45.1% of active radio listeners in Afghanistan have listened to Afghan Woman's Hour including
- 91% of people who listen to the programme agree that Afghan Woman's Hour helps them solve problems
- 83% agree Afghan Woman's Hour inspires them to change their own situation.
- 80% of people who listen to the programme agree that they often talk about things they hear on Afghan Woman's Hour
Working in partnership
Afghan Woman's Hour is broadcast by the BBC World Service. It is also rebroadcast by local radio stations all over Afghanistan as well as the state broadcaster Radio Television Afghanistan.
In the long-term it is hoped that production of the programme moves entirely to Afghanistan.
Training
A major part of the Afghan Woman's Hour initiative is training women journalists and strengthening their ability to report on issues that concern them.
Over a 2-3 year period, the project intends to train 30-50 women journalists. Training is ongoing- both for new recruits and for the core team of reporters.
Awards
The team responsible for Afghan Woman's Hour won 'Team of the Year' at the first BBC World Service Awards in 2007.
Afghan Woman's Hour is supported by the UK Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) Global Opportunity Fund.