March 1, 2005
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Suraya Parlika to speak at World Affairs Council, San Francisco
Thursday, Mar-10-2005
Suraya Perlika is Afghanistan's Premier Women's Rights Advocate, on Elections and Women's Rights in Afghanistan
She is a Member of the Afghan Loya Jirga (legislature) and 2005 Senatorial Candidate; Leader, All Afghan Women's Union
She is also the Director of the Peace Circle, sister circle of the Sonoma County Women's Council, and the Founder of the All Afghan Women's Union
Suraya Parlika is one of about 100 female delegates to the new Afghan Loya Jirga and has recently been nominated for the 2005 Nobel Peace Prize. Next Spring she will take on a new challenge as she asserts women's right to a role in the government of Afghanistan. If the new Constitution is ratified, Suraya will run as a Senatorial candidate in the 2005 elections, despite the danger to women who try to lead in Afghanistan.
In addition to being a Loya Jirga delegate, Suraya is the leader of the All Afghan Women's Union (AAWU), formed to oppose the flood of oppression and violence that surround women's lives. Especially during the "dark regime of the Taliban," when the doors of schools, colleges and offices were closed against women and girls, she and her brave companions risked beatings, jail and death to teach them English courses, computer skills and handicrafts in secret in their homes.
In 1978, after earning a Masters in Economics she was elected chairman of the Democratic Organization of Afghan Women. The price of her leadership was torture and imprisonment in Pul-e-Charkhi prison. She was unbowed. On December 27, 1979 she was released from prison and again accepted the chairmanship of the Democratic Organization of Afghan Women, where she continued until 1986. At this point Suraya became head of the Afghan Red Crescent, a post she held until she was fired in 1992, when the mujahedin entered Kabul and ousted the Najibullah regime.
She has been imprisoned, attacked, and shot, but vows to keep fighting. "I will continue my activities until Afghanistan has democracy, peace, equality between women and men, social development and the involvement of women in political, economic and social affairs."
Check In: 11:30 AM, Program 12:00 PM,
Members: Free, Students (with ID): Free, Nonmembers: $15 Cosponsors: $7
Location: At the Council, 312 Sutter Street, 2nd floor Conference Room, San Francisco
Cosponsored by: Afghan Women's Association International, International Museum of Women, and the Center for Justice and Accountability