Woman's+Rights

Sengupta, A., Long, E., Singhal, A., & Shefner-Rogers, C. (2007). THE SADA SAYS `WE WOMEN HAVE OUR RIGHTS'. International Communication Gazette, 69(4), 335-353. doi:10.1177/1748048507079006.


 * Abstract**: "This study analyses Voice for Humanity's (VFH)Sada initiative to promote women's rights, citizen participation and civic education during the Afghan parliamentary elections in 2005. A qualitative assessment was conducted to gain an in-depth understanding of how Afghan women, in particular, utilized the Sada device. This research, positioned within current literature on information communication technology (ICT) and gender, views the Sada device — a solar-powered digital audio player (similar to an MP3 player) — as an CT. Universally, women have unequal access to ICTs, yet the findings of this study suggest that projects such as this one in Afghanistan can play a powerful role in promoting women's rights. The findings reiterate that information dissemination, spurred by a suitable technology, can lead to family and community dialog. Such dialog, coupled with a more enabling environment for women's concerns, can contribute to women's empowerment and realization of women's human rights."
 * Abstract taken from article.

- The Universal Declaration of Human Rights says that everyone has the right "to seek, receive, and impart information and ideas through any media and regardless of frontiers". - Unfortunately social, ethnic and gender inequalities limit the access of this information to some people. - The people most effected are women and even more so women in developing countries. - Although it has been said that the world has become a global village, information technologies have actually become an "invisible barrier", its helps the connected but only further excludes the rest. - In Afghanistan there is a radio show called Voice for Humanity (VFH) Sada ICT initiative. This show reaches out to both men and women.
 * Important points:

Why this article is relevant: This article is relevant to our project as it looks at different barriers to people around the world. It is interesting to see what different parts of the world are doing to work on equality between the sexes. **