Human Rights Education Project

Radio Programs - Cycle 1
2006 -2007

In an effort to broaden our outreach in Iraq and reach a larger, more diverse audience across the nation, the Iraq Foundation added human rights education radio programs to the educational workshop programming in 2006. Broadcast on al-Iraqiya Radio in Iraq, the Foundation produced eight programs, addressing a variety of human rights issues.

The first program was broadcast on October 29, 2006 via al –Iraqiya radio and featured Hanna Edwar, a well-known Iraqi human rights activist and the Secretary General of the Iraqi Al-Amal Association. The program discussed constitutional articles that address freedoms and rights as well as the role of citizens in demanding their rights, and the need to create human rights advocacy groups. The program concluded with a discussion of the role of civil society in protecting freedoms and rights and preventing violations of these rights.

IF produced and broadcast four radio programs in November 2006 via al-Iraqiya radio, which focused on basic human rights, minority rights, disabled children’s rights, and the rights of women. The first broadcast in November, which occurred on the 5, covered the human rights situation in Iraq. On November 12, 2006, IF broadcast a program on the situation and rights of minorities in Iraq. On November 19, 2006, IF broadcast a program on the rights of the disabled children in Iraq. On November 26, 2006, IF broadcast a program on wives that have been abandoned by their spouses in Iraq.

In March, 2007, the Iraq Foundation broadcast two radio programs on al-Iraqiya Radio. The first of which featured Aala' al Jabouri, a noted Iraqi journalist and human rights activist. Al Jabouri discussed social norms and women's rights. The discussion focused on early marriage, women's rights violations, the role of women in fighting discrimination, and the legal perspective on such issues. Jabouri argued that women's organizations have been unable to successfully advocate for the rights of Iraqi women and criticized constitutional article 41, which restricts women's rights and replaces personal status law 188 of 1959. Jabouri also expressed dissatisfaction with the work of the Ministry of Women and its role in assisting women and particularly vulnerable groups, such as widows in Iraq.

The Second broadcast in March took place on the 25th and addressed street children in Iraq. Talib Hussein, an Iraqi professor and social scientist, explored various reasons behind the growth in the number of street children in Iraq as well as ways in which civil society and the government could assist these children and re-integrate them into society. Hussein also discussed his findings from a study on how these children perceive themselves, their families, and the government. Jabouri warned that these children are being exploited and allured into engaging in terrorism activities in return for money. Jabouri made a number of recommendations to the government and civil society on how both sectors could combine their efforts to help save this group and provide a brighter future for the children of Iraq.

The last program broadcast in this radio cycle took occurred on April 1st, 2007. The program focused on sectarian induced displacement in Iraq. Featuring Alaa Jabouri, a human rights activist and journalist known for her work on women's rights, the program discussed the plight of the internally displaced and externally displaced persons, the role of civil society in assisting such groups through monitoring and documenting their situation, and the short and long term economic and social consequences that displacement could result in, among other issues.

View Cycle 2 of the Radio Programs
(2007 - 2008)

Last Update: Thursday, February 21, 2008