Afghan women’s rights heroine combat domestic violence and help traumatised women
Nisaa FM: - The security situation is a huge burden for the women’s rights defenders at the organization Medica Afghanistan. Kabul is a dangerous place and violent attacks shake the city almost every day. In the first six months of 2017 alone, more than 1600 civilians have lost their lives in shootings and attacks. Shakiba Amiri has to think carefully about the route when walking to work in the morning. The 26-year-old legal expert is working to ensure that women and girls receive justice. "I will never remain silent when I see injustice against women."
She works with the legal assistance team. Her family supports her, even if they are often concerned about her safety. For her own protection, Shakiba Amiri never talks about her work with people she does not know. Before she sets off to go to court, she always informs herself about the current security situation, to minimise the risks.
Making a difference in a male-dominated culture
Shakiba Amiri studied law in Kabul, participated in the recruitment program at the human rights organisation Global Rights, and took courses on gender-based violence, Sharia, victim rights and forensics.
She describes her motivation: "I have always wanted to help women who never receive any other support even though they are subject to various sorts of violence. I could never understand how people could do this to other people - especially men doing this to women who are their wives, sisters and mothers." She decided to become a lawyer in order to be able to use legal means to help liberate women from violence. Why should the laws only be applied to benefit the men?
The legal assistance team counsels both clients who are facing trial as defendants and women who are taking cases to court themselves after experiencing violence. On a typical day, Amiri will see six clients - in the offices, in court or in prison.
Most of the women face accusations of adultery, others are defending themselves on charges of murder or drug crimes. Other women are seeking divorce on grounds of domestic violence and are fighting for custody of their children and maintenance payments. As defence counsel, Amiri assists and advises the women through every stage of the judicial system, studies the indictment documents, and collects evidence and witness statements.
Working to combat domestic violence and help traumatised women
Each week, Shakiba Amiri visits imprisoned women. She also refers them to psychosocial counsellors and social workers, who can assist them in their difficult times. In prison, many women suffer from isolation because their families break off contact with them. They often do not even know how their children are. There is a high incidence of severe traumatisation among the women, who often suffered years of beating, humiliation or rape from their husband or relatives.
A large number of the cases involving violence are brought under the "EVAW Law" - the Elimination of Violence against Women Law that was passed in 2009. This was a milestone in the Afghan legal system, which is otherwise very traditional. It helps to ensure better protection for women who experience violence and it can help liberate women from violent life situations. Several hundred cases have been dealt with by the special court that was set up in Kabul for this.
Her work means that Shakiba Amiri confronts injustice every day: "I use all the means which the law places at my disposal, however small these may seem, to work against violence," proclaims the committed lawyer.
Source: www.medicamondiale.org