GPE at the Human Rights Film Festival Berlin: Amplifying voices for girls’ education in Afghanistan

Read how GPE’s participation at the 2023 Human Rights Film Festival Berlin helped to raise awareness and advocate for girls’ education in some of the world’s most challenging contexts.

November 06, 2023 by GPE Secretariat
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2 minutes read
A panel moderated by Danish-Afghan football coach and girls’ education activist Nagin Ravand (left), featuring Afghan journalist Zahra Nader (center) and Oxfam Germany's Executive Director, Serap Altinisik (right) at the Human Rights Film Festival Berlin. Credit: Dovile Sermokas
A panel moderated by Danish-Afghan football coach and girls’ education activist Nagin Ravand (left), featuring Afghan journalist Zahra Nader (center) and Oxfam Germany's Executive Director, Serap Altinisik (right) at the Human Rights Film Festival Berlin.
Credit: Dovile Sermokas

In October 2023, GPE partnered for the second consecutive year with the Human Rights Film Festival Berlin (HRFFB), contributing to a powerful convergence of voices from politics, pop culture, and activism.

This collaboration highlighted GPE’s ongoing commitment to advocating for education in some of the world’s most challenging contexts.

As part of the festival, GPE and HRFFB organized a hybrid event that featured the screening of the documentary Children of the Taliban, followed by a panel discussion titled "Battles Beyond the Battlefield: Safeguarding Girls’ Education in Afghanistan."

The documentary provided a poignant look at the deteriorating educational opportunities for Afghan children, especially girls, since the Taliban's takeover in 2021.

The panel, moderated by Danish-Afghan football coach and girls’ education activist Nagin Ravand, featured Afghan journalist Zahra Nader and Oxfam Germany's Executive Director, Serap Altinisik.

Panel moderated by Danish-Afghan football coach and girls’ education activist Nagin Ravand (left), featured Afghan journalist Zahra Nader (center) and Oxfam Germany's Executive Director, Serap Altinisik (right). Credit: Dovile Sermokas
Panel moderated by Danish-Afghan football coach and girls’ education activist Nagin Ravand (left), featured Afghan journalist Zahra Nader (center) and Oxfam Germany's Executive Director, Serap Altinisik (right).
Credit:
Dovile Sermokas

The discussion underscored the urgent need to protect and promote education for Afghan girls in the face of immense adversity.

In addition, GPE and HRFFB launched the Youth Jury Award, empowering young people to participate in critical socio-political issues. The jury, which included students, GPE youth leader and actor Jess Mukeba, and chaired by artist and GPE ambassador Alli Neumann, awarded the prize for the best documentary to Mind Game.

This compelling film, directed by Als van Driel, explores the psychological challenges faced by minor refugees as they navigate life in Europe. Both van Driel and the film's protagonist, Sajid Khan, were present to accept the award in person.

The movie team accepting the award.

The movie team accepting the award.

The movie team accepting the award.

The movie team accepting the award.

The movie team posing for photographs.

The movie team posing for photographs.

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The 2023 Human Rights Film Festival Berlin, themed "The Good Fight," focused on stories of those who tirelessly strive for justice and a better world.

The festival, which serves as a hybrid on- and offline platform, continues to be a vital space for discussions, Q&As, and new perspectives on democracy, justice, freedom, and environmental protection.

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