I have a right to | 大象传媒 World Service

Programmes - 2002

The global education project "I have a right to..." features radio programmes produced by 大象传媒 World Service producers who have traveled the world over.

They have visited remote regions of Uzbekistan and war-ravaged Sri Lanka. They have talked to people in the refugee camps of Angola and the mountain villages of Bangladesh, and have spoken to Taleban prisoners held in Pakistan.

Their programmes highlight not only human rights violations but also bring to the fore examples where change and progress are being made.

BENGALI
Manoshi Barua looks at human rights issues in Bangladesh and also West Bengal's minority communities.

The series "I have a right to..." examines acid attacks against women as well as some of the positive steps that are being taken to improve their situation. Manoshi speaks to people and organisations that are making a difference.

The series also includes the Khasi tribe in Bangladesh, whose land rights are an issue. She learns that they are increasingly speaking out to defend their human rights.
Click here to read Manoshi Barua's Story

BURMESE
The producers for the Burmese series were not able to conduct interviews in Burma for the programmes, so instead they travelled to border areas.

Kyaw Zan Tha chose India, Bangladesh and Burma. I went to the Northern and Western part of Thailand.

The programmes explore the human rights situation of ethnic minorities who have left Burma and now live in the border areas. Lack of freedom of expression, rape, forced labour, and arbitrary arrest and detention are among the violations examined in their programmes.
Click here to read Tin Htar Swe's Story

FRENCH FOR AFRICA
Michel Lobe Ewane looks at human rights issues in Ivory Coast, Benin and Cameroon.

His programmes examine the problems of ordinary people who have lost their right to citizenship in Ivory Coast. In Benin, he talks to children who work on cocoa, rice and coffee farms. They never learn a trade and never go to school. They are exploited and have been allegedly trafficked to other countries.

In Cameroon, he focuses on the "nine lost of Bepanda" - nine young men whose families say they disappeared after being arrested by the operational police unit.
Click here to read Michel Lobe Ewane's Story

INDONESIA
With the overall human rights situation having worsened during 2001, Mohamad Susilo travels to Jakarta, Tangerang, Bekasi, Bandung, Malang, Banyuwangi and North Sumatra to look at torture, the ill-treatment of workers, child prostitution and forced removals from slums.

His series looks at human rights violations in Aceh and Papua against the armed group, Free Aceh Movement. He talks to children in Jakarta who want to go to school but how can they? So many of them live on the streets.
Click here to read Mohamad Susilo's Story

PASHTO
For "I have a right to...", Muhammad Dawood Azami travels to Afghanistan and Pakistan. Eight radio programmes examine timely issues such as the rights of women and children, the Taleban prisoners in Pakistan and Afghan labour in the Gulf.

The recent war in Afghanistan and the ensuing refugee crisis has worsened the human rights situation in the region. However, the war has also resulted in increased interest in human rights. In Pakistan, Dawood contacted organisations that help women become more aware of their rights and help them to have a say in elections.
Click here to read Muhammad Dawood Azami's Story

PERSIAN
Daryoush Karimi went to Afghanistan and Tajikistan for the "I have a right to..." 15-part series. It emphasises the universality of human rights in a diverse region.

In Afghanistan, one of his programmes focuses on the right to education and meets children, who are teaching English and computer studies from their home. In Tajikistan, where freedom of speech is denied in the name of national security, he examines the trafficking of girls.

He was unable to travel to Iran, because he was not granted permission by the authorities. Instead, Daryoush talks to Iranians living in Turkey and the UK about conditions in Iran.
Click here to read Daryoush Karimi's Story

PORTUGUESE FOR AFRICA
Teresa Lima and Filipe Correia travel to Mozambique and Angola, respectively, in order to look at the development of human rights after several decades of civil war.

Both countries have recently signed peace agreements and are in a phase of reconstruction. Are human rights better respected since the wars have ended? Which problems continue to affect all of society?

The series "I have a right to" gives ordinary citizens the opportunity to speak about their experiences and what they are doing to overcome their difficulties.
Click here to read Teresa Lima's Story
Click here to read Filipe Correia's Story

PORTUGUESE FOR BRAZIL
In a series of 10 programmes, Rafael Gomez explores the human rights situation in the Brazilian favelas, the slums or shanty towns in which 4.4 million impoverished Brazilians live.

The series focuses on two very different favelas, Rocinha in Rio de Janeiro and Alagados, in Salvador da Bahia. "I have a right to" seeks to raise awareness of the most common problems in the favelas, namely indiscriminate violence, police brutality, lack of basic healthcare, lack of access to the judicial system, lack of education and pervasive discrimination.

The series also features successful initiatives, organised by local communities, which have improved the quality of life for favela residents.

SINHALA
In 'Sandeshaya,' the Sinhala programme which is broadcast in Sri Lanka, Wimalasena Suduwa-Hewage aims to raise people's awareness of human rights.

The 15 programmes in the "I have a right to..." series incorporate folk music and folklore to discuss human rights in Sri Lanka in the context of the 20-year civil war. Human rights violations such as rape, torture and the conscription of children are discussed as are the basic social rights to shelter, education and health.
Click here to read Wimalasena Suduwa-Hewage's Story

SOMALI
Mohamed Mohamed visits Somalia and Somaliland. His programmes discuss human rights in ways which are interesting to all.

The series features interviews with local activists and victims of human rights violations, as well as the works of artists who are commissioned to give a creative aspect to the human rights discussion. For example, a poet shares a poem about the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR) and musicians write a song which is used as the signature tune for the series.
Click here to read Mohamed Mohamed's Story

TAMIL
In the Tamil series, Sampath Kumar focuses on human rights in Sri Lanka and Tamil Nadu, the southernmost state of India. In war-torn Sri Lanka, there are alleged reports of disappearances, extra judicial executions, rape and torture in custody.

In Tamil Nadu, police are under fire for their alleged role in custodial deaths and rapes. "I have a right to..." explores these issues through dramatic reconstruction, as well as through personal interviews of both victims and human rights activists.

Each part of the 15-programme series is introduced by a folk singer in the rural art of villupaattu, which is similar to the chorus in Greek drama.

UZBEK
Pahlavon Turgunov examines the human rights situation in Uzbekistan through debates between government authorities, human rights activists and victims of human rights violations.

Key issues that are considered in the 10-part series include torture, the lack of freedom of expression in religion and the media, and the arbitrary arrest of political figures from the opposition and Muslims.
Click here to read Pahlavon Turgunov's Story

	Language Services:		Programmes - 2002 The global education project "I have a right to..." features radio programmes produced by 大象传媒 World Service producers who have traveled the world over. They have visited remote regions of Uzbekistan and war-ravaged Sri Lanka. They have talked to people in the refugee camps of Angola and the mountain villages of Bangladesh, and have spoken to Taleban prisoners held in Pakistan. Their programmes highlight not only human rights violations but also bring to the fore examples where change and progress are being made. BENGALI Manoshi Barua looks at human rights issues in Bangladesh and also West Bengal's minority communities. The series "I have a right to..." examines acid attacks against women as well as some of the positive steps that are being taken to improve their situation. Manoshi speaks to people and organisations that are making a difference. The series also includes the Khasi tribe in Bangladesh, whose land rights are an issue. She learns that they are increasingly speaking out to defend their human rights. Click here to read Manoshi Barua's Story BURMESE The producers for the Burmese series were not able to conduct interviews in Burma for the programmes, so instead they travelled to border areas. Kyaw Zan Tha chose India, Bangladesh and Burma. I went to the Northern and Western part of Thailand. The programmes explore the human rights situation of ethnic minorities who have left Burma and now live in the border areas. Lack of freedom of expression, rape, forced labour, and arbitrary arrest and detention are among the violations examined in their programmes. Click here to read Tin Htar Swe's Story FRENCH FOR AFRICA Michel Lobe Ewane looks at human rights issues in Ivory Coast, Benin and Cameroon. His programmes examine the problems of ordinary people who have lost their right to citizenship in Ivory Coast. In Benin, he talks to children who work on cocoa, rice and coffee farms. They never learn a trade and never go to school. They are exploited and have been allegedly trafficked to other countries. In Cameroon, he focuses on the "nine lost of Bepanda" - nine young men whose families say they disappeared after being arrested by the operational police unit. Click here to read Michel Lobe Ewane's Story INDONESIA With the overall human rights situation having worsened during 2001, Mohamad Susilo travels to Jakarta, Tangerang, Bekasi, Bandung, Malang, Banyuwangi and North Sumatra to look at torture, the ill-treatment of workers, child prostitution and forced removals from slums. His series looks at human rights violations in Aceh and Papua against the armed group, Free Aceh Movement. He talks to children in Jakarta who want to go to school but how can they? So many of them live on the streets. Click here to read Mohamad Susilo's Story PASHTO For "I have a right to...", Muhammad Dawood Azami travels to Afghanistan and Pakistan. Eight radio programmes examine timely issues such as the rights of women and children, the Taleban prisoners in Pakistan and Afghan labour in the Gulf. The recent war in Afghanistan and the ensuing refugee crisis has worsened the human rights situation in the region. However, the war has also resulted in increased interest in human rights. In Pakistan, Dawood contacted organisations that help women become more aware of their rights and help them to have a say in elections. Click here to read Muhammad Dawood Azami's Story PERSIAN Daryoush Karimi went to Afghanistan and Tajikistan for the "I have a right to..." 15-part series. It emphasises the universality of human rights in a diverse region. In Afghanistan, one of his programmes focuses on the right to education and meets children, who are teaching English and computer studies from their home. In Tajikistan, where freedom of speech is denied in the name of national security, he examines the trafficking of girls. He was unable to travel to Iran, because he was not granted permission by the authorities. Instead, Daryoush talks to Iranians living in Turkey and the UK about conditions in Iran. Click here to read Daryoush Karimi's Story PORTUGUESE FOR AFRICA Teresa Lima and Filipe Correia travel to Mozambique and Angola, respectively, in order to look at the development of human rights after several decades of civil war. Both countries have recently signed peace agreements and are in a phase of reconstruction. Are human rights better respected since the wars have ended? Which problems continue to affect all of society? The series "I have a right to" gives ordinary citizens the opportunity to speak about their experiences and what they are doing to overcome their difficulties. Click here to read Teresa Lima's Story Click here to read Filipe Correia's Story PORTUGUESE FOR BRAZIL In a series of 10 programmes, Rafael Gomez explores the human rights situation in the Brazilian favelas, the slums or shanty towns in which 4.4 million impoverished Brazilians live. The series focuses on two very different favelas, Rocinha in Rio de Janeiro and Alagados, in Salvador da Bahia. "I have a right to" seeks to raise awareness of the most common problems in the favelas, namely indiscriminate violence, police brutality, lack of basic healthcare, lack of access to the judicial system, lack of education and pervasive discrimination. The series also features successful initiatives, organised by local communities, which have improved the quality of life for favela residents. SINHALA In 'Sandeshaya,' the Sinhala programme which is broadcast in Sri Lanka, Wimalasena Suduwa-Hewage aims to raise people's awareness of human rights. The 15 programmes in the "I have a right to..." series incorporate folk music and folklore to discuss human rights in Sri Lanka in the context of the 20-year civil war. Human rights violations such as rape, torture and the conscription of children are discussed as are the basic social rights to shelter, education and health. Click here to read Wimalasena Suduwa-Hewage's Story SOMALI Mohamed Mohamed visits Somalia and Somaliland. His programmes discuss human rights in ways which are interesting to all. The series features interviews with local activists and victims of human rights violations, as well as the works of artists who are commissioned to give a creative aspect to the human rights discussion. For example, a poet shares a poem about the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR) and musicians write a song which is used as the signature tune for the series. Click here to read Mohamed Mohamed's Story TAMIL In the Tamil series, Sampath Kumar focuses on human rights in Sri Lanka and Tamil Nadu, the southernmost state of India. In war-torn Sri Lanka, there are alleged reports of disappearances, extra judicial executions, rape and torture in custody. In Tamil Nadu, police are under fire for their alleged role in custodial deaths and rapes. "I have a right to..." explores these issues through dramatic reconstruction, as well as through personal interviews of both victims and human rights activists. Each part of the 15-programme series is introduced by a folk singer in the rural art of villupaattu, which is similar to the chorus in Greek drama. UZBEK Pahlavon Turgunov examines the human rights situation in Uzbekistan through debates between government authorities, human rights activists and victims of human rights violations. Key issues that are considered in the 10-part series include torture, the lack of freedom of expression in religion and the media, and the arbitrary arrest of political figures from the opposition and Muslims. Click here to read Pahlavon Turgunov's Story