ACTivate - Taliban Continue their War against Women and Girls, One Canadian Charity Fights Back
ACTivateShow Notes
This month Catherine speaks with Dr Lauryn Oates, Executive Director of Right to Learn Afghanistan, a charity that for twenty-five years has championed education programs and made the right to education for women and girls a reality. With the Taliban in power, the current system of ‘gender apartheid’ sees girls over the age of 12 banned from education, resulting in at least 2.5 million school-aged girls out of school. Women are also banned from universities and a now-closed loophole that exempted health care training, to which many students switched their studies, has cut off training for new female nurses, doctors and midwives. Yet, Right to Learn Afghanistan continues to push back with online schools, grants and scholarships. Dr Oates (PhD Language & Literacy Education) explains there are significant risks for participants but, as the female suicide rate surges, female students tell them, "The biggest risk is having no education at all." Listen out for Part 2 of this interview next month. Read more at rightolearn.ca, Use your freedom and sign Amnesty’s petition at https://amnesty.org.nz/break-the-silence/
More from ACTivate
Listen to Sarah Morris, Advocacy and Policy Manager at Amnesty Aotearoa, tell us about this exciting new big picture campaign that aims to strengthen community decision-making as a powerful way to protect human rights. This campaign is a response to what Amnesty's been noticing NZers talk about; Are our politicians really listening to a diverse range of views? Is NZ a fair place to live for everyone? What about respect for Te Tirti o Waitangi? Amnesty is getting curious and asking kiwis around the motu what they think is needed to improve how decisions are made. This campaign is about people being able to meaningfully participate in the decisions that shape their lives, not just once every three years, but every day, in workplaces, schools, community halls, and all types of public life. Go to https://morevoices.nz to share your thoughts and get involved.
Listen to Catherine speak with Sanat Singh from, "On a Roll", a non partisan rangitahi-led campaign urging young people to get on the roll before the 25 October deadline. Sanat explains that it's a myth that young people are apathetic; Instead he suggests older people and politicians should, "get curious about what they care about" and "talk with" instead of "talking about" young people. Hear Sanat speak about strengthening and honouring the fundamental right to vote so that it becomes a part of our cultural identity. If you want to help the movement go to: https://onaroll.nz, volunteer, go to an event, and check in with the young people in your life and ask them if they are enrolled. What if we all showed up? And, keep showing up for the people of Sudan. Go to https://amnesty.org.nz/humanitarian-catastrophe-in-sudan/ and demand that the NZ government do more. Now.
This month, listen to Catherine explain what is happening in Sudan and how you can stand with the people. This is NOT a civil war but a brutal war against civilians sustained via a lucrative war economy driven by gold and vital commodities like gum arabic. The chance to move towards democracy post the non-violent revolution of 2018/2019 was stolen from the people by the brutal power struggle between the leaders of the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) and the Sudan Armed Forces (SAF). UAE's support of the RSF is prolonging the violence against civilians. The RSF is currently encircling the strategic city of El Obeid. Fears rise of another looming massacre like El Fasher where atrocities committed last October and November amount to genocide. The NZ Government needs to do more! Stay tuned for a link to a webinar with Sudan Advocacy Network Aotearoa's chairperson, Fatima Sanussi in conversation with David Vega, Amnesty International Campaigns Manager.
Let's not forget the people of Myanmar where a drop in humanitarian assistance is worsening the suffering of millions of people after five years of conflict-related violence, says a UN report from June 2026. ASEAN leaders meet with military backed negotiators and rebel groups. Also, a conversation from the archives - listen to Dr Mariana Cifuentes talk about her experience of the 2021 coup, reflections on Aung San Suu Kyi and a hopeful message, "art and culture actually can be a way to foster peace." Check out Dr Cifuentes' new project: yaygyiyar.org
The #NoHarmware campaign led by Amnesty International and Tāhono Trust (an organisation seeding and supporting cross-sector action across Aotearoa) is proud to release an open letter signed by businesses, media organisations, and not-for-profits across the motu calling on the government to strengthen tech accountability for online harm.