First Festival of appreciation of Influential Personalities on Democracy and Development of Afghanistan

The Afghanistan Democracy and Development Organization (ADDO) organized the Festival of Appreciation for Influential Personalities to honor individuals dedicated to democracy and development in Afghanistan. Through this program, ten outstanding figures were recognized as the Influential Personalities of the Year 1396. This initiative was established with the vision to be held in the first week of every new year, continuously celebrating ten influential individuals annually.

These figures were carefully evaluated and selected based on the following 10 indicators:

Efforts to reduce discrimination between Afghan nation;
Efforts to increase the coherence of most Afghan citizens;
Effective movements for Promoting Democratic Values in Afghanistan;
Earning national and international honors for the country;
Efforts to promote transparency, accountability and public participation;
Supporting vulnerable groups of society;
Conduct follow-up appeals related to human rights and essential rights of citizens;
Attempt to create and promote a culture of voluntarism;
Efforts to raise the level of community knowledge;
Increase the capacity of the cultural and leaning agencies.

The 10 Influential Figures

Saad Mohseni

Media

Saad Mohseni

Director of MOBY Group

Mohseni was born on 23 April 1966 in London, United Kingdom, where his father, Yassin Mohseni, was serving as an Afghan diplomat. Yassin Mohseni served in Kabul, Washington,DC, London, Islamabad, and Tokyo during his 25-year career.

After the Soviet invasion of Afghanistan, Yassin Mohseni, then serving in Tokyo, resigned from the diplomatic corps and sought asylum. The family relocated to Australia in 1982.

Mohseni began his banking career as an apprentice at an Australian funds management entity, and later became a commodities and derivatives trader in Melbourne, Sydney, and London, culminating in the management of a trading desk of an Australian investment bank.

After the removal of the Taliban government in late 2001, Mohseni returned to Afghanistan to participate in the country’s reconstruction and launch MOBY Group. He entered the media arena in 2003 by establishing Arman FM, the country’s first privately owned radio station. Arman played Western and Afghan pop music, which was groundbreaking after years of Taliban rule, in which all music, television, and independent news had been banned. In 2004, MOBY Group launched TOLO TV, which airs international soap operas, The Voice Afghanistan, Afghan Star, and locally produced dramas. In addition to TOLO TV, MOBY also owns TOLOnews and Lemar TV, a Pashto-language channel. MOBY channels are viewed by over 60 percent of Afghans.

In 2009, MOBY launched Farsi1, a general-entertainment satellite channel targeting Persian speakers in the Middle East and West Asia. In 2014, MOBY launched LANA TV in Iraq, the first satellite channel to dub shows into the local Iraqi dialect. Mohseni is played an important role to promote democracy values in Afghanistan through its radio and TVs channels.

Horia Mosadiq

Human Rights

Horia Mosadiq

Researcher with Amnesty International

Horia Mosadiq is 43 -years-old Afghan human rights defender and journalist with around 23 years of work experience in Afghanistan and the region, in the fields of media, human rights, transitional justice and women rights.

Award Winner of 2007 national human rights award in Afghanistan and in 2011 she was recognized among 50 bravest women of the world for her work by Glamour magazine in the United Kingdom, and in 2012 and 2015 won Women Rights Defender Award from Amnesty International and in 2015 also won the prize for outstanding achievement in human rights from Open Asia/ Armanshahr Foundation in Afghanistan and in 2017 won the Aspire Award from Diaspora Afghan academia of Europe and USA.

During the past 23 years Horia Mosadiq served as Afghanistan Researcher for Amnesty International since 2008, Director of Human Rights Research and Advocacy Consortium (HRRAC) 2004-2008, Media Commissioner for Afghanistan Elections Commission 2005, Senior Advisor to Afghanistan Independent Human Rights Commission 2005-2006, Observer in the Constitutional Loya Jirga of Afghanistan in 2003- 2004, Political and Gender Advisor to the Canadian Embassy in Kabul and served as journalist for many years in Kabul and Islamabad and served as a war reporter during civil war in Afghanistan for both local and international media organizations.

Horia represented Afghanistan in tens of international conferences and events as key speaker including Paris Donor Conference 2008, 51st Session of UN commission on status of women 2007, London Donor conference 2010 and Bonn donors Conference 2011 are among them.

She represented Afghanistan in 51st UN session Commission on the Status of women in year 2007 and chaired the human rights and civil society panel in Paris donor Conference in 2008 and participated in London donor conference 2010, Bonn II donor conference 2011 and Tokyo conference in 2012.

Since September 2008 she is working at Amnesty International, International Secretariat as Afghanistan Researcher.

In 2013 she established a local NGO Safety and Risk Mitigation Organization (SRMO) which is mainly working with the Human Rights and Women Rights Defenders in Afghanistan to provide protection, build resilience and assist with risk mitigation strategy and enabling environment for the defenders specially the grassroot defenders who are working in volatile and insecure provinces.

Horia is also author of more than 100 articles on human rights, women rights and political issues published by different national and international media outlets and did interviews and provided political and situation analysis of Afghanistan and region for different media outlets including BBC, Al Jazeera, CNN, France 24, Rueters, Voice of America, TOLO, Ariana and many more.

In year 2003 Horia was featured in a CNN documentary as women rights activist in Post-Taliban Afghanistan.

Matiullah Wesa

Education

Matiullah Wesa

Founder and President at Pen Path Civil Society (PPCS)

Mr. Wesa was born on November 4th, 1992 in Kandahar province of Afghanistan. Matiullah and his family were forced to relocate to Spinbaldak in Afghanistan. His school was burnt down and ever since he decided that he would not let anything stand between a child and their right for education. He is Founder & President of Pen Path Civil Society. Wesa is Education activist and he launched 18 libraries and helping to re-open closed 52 schools in rural and remote areas of Afghanistan. Wesa is collected 130,000 school book and distributed among the children in rural and unsecure areas of Afghanistan. He began the campaign of Motorcycle and Book Distribution with aim to literate community members in rural areas specially elders. Wes is established three equipped Computer Labs in Kandahar and Urozgan Provinces.

He is engaging directly with the local communities in Southern Afghanistan, especially with the women to promote the importance of education and highlighting the importance of education for. He believes girls’ education is critical to changing village’s views and progressing society.

Mary Akrami

Women and Peace

Mary Akrami

Executive Director, Afghan Women’s Skills Development Center (AWSDC)

Mary Akrami is the Executive Director of the Afghan Women Skills Development Center (AWSDC),the organization that established the first shelter for women at risk in 2003.

Ms.Akrami envisioned an equitable and peaceful society through AWSDC and initiated the community based peace shuras (councils) in different provinces of Afghanistan. These peace councils became the only platform where women were able to find an opportunity to engage in conflict resolution mechanisms at the local levels and that was the start of women’s inclusion in community based peace building.

She is a strong advocate for promotion and protection of Women’s Human Rights in Afghanistan since 2001, she played key role from beginning stage to approval and implementation of EVAW Law and it is one the results of her untiring efforts in this regard.

Ms.Akrami’s organization has been working with other civil society organizations engaged in peace building and conflict resolution programs and provided them with trainings and mentoring on mechanisms on women’s engagement in political and community based peace building.

In additions to promoting women’s contribution in the community based peace building and conflict resolution, Ms.Akrami has been engaged in advocacy and campaigning for women’s inclusion within the political and peace processes that included the 2010 Peace Consultative Jirga & the 2011 Grand Assembly for Peace Process.

Ms. Akrami has been selected as member of the selection of election commissioners in 2016, and now joint High Peace Council of Afghanistan as member to representing on behalf of Afghan women to HPC.

For her struggles for women’s rights, Ms.Akrami has the honor to get the first International Women of Courage Award from the US State Department in 2007. MS. Akrami has the privilege to be part of First Bonn Conference Dec,2001 and besides, she has participated in numerous international conferences and regional platforms for women in peace in Af-Pak region.

Ms. Akrami is a Columbia of New York University’s Human Rights Advocacy Fellowship in New York, United States.

She is enjoying the membership of South Asian for Human Rights (SAHR) since 2013.

She is the pioneer member of Frontline Defenders in Afghanistan.

Another remarkable achievement Ms.Akrami has got, was the establishment of Bost Family Restaurant the first Restaurant which provide jobs for women (Survivors of Violence) and contributes for women economic empowerment.

Under her leadership for reintegration of women survivors of violence (reside in AWSDC shelter) through economic empowerment, a number of shelter residents are trained in hotel management and a restaurant is opened for them. This is the first restaurant in the history of Afghanistan which is owned and run by women.

She was an active member of The Committee to draft and review women friendly laws which is another valuable contribution to protect women’ human rights through provision of a legal framework.

Recently she is given the responsibility to work as member of High Peace Council of Afghanistan.

Abdul Mujeeb Khalwatgar

Freedom of Expression

Abdul Mujeeb Khalwatgar

Executive Director of Nai

Ab. Mujeeb Khalvatgar is a radio journalist by profession; he has been working as journalist for more than 10 years besides being an active activist for freedom of expression and free media in general. He started his professional works with Internews Network in 2002 and then as general manager for a national radio programming channel, Salaam Watandar.

Khalvatgar, then joined Nai Supporting Open Media in Afghanistan, as Executive Director and then he joined Foundation Open Society Institute – Afghanistan, as media coordinator and later as Acting Country.

He then joined Nai Supporting Open Media in Afghanistan as Executive Director in July 2010 and currently working in this position.

Ab. Mujeeb Khalvatgar beside his activities as a media organization director is an active member of Access to Information Law Working Group, a group of more than 15 media professionals and activists working for better Access to Information Law in Afghanistan, as well as an active member of Journalists Ethics Codes Group, a group which for the first time drafted ethical codes for media community in Afghanistan.

Khalvatgar with his Master degree in civil engineering from Kabul Polytechnic University has spent more than one and half year in journalism studies in Brazil, Germany, Belgium, India, Turkey and Sri Lanka as well as of more than 10 weeks in Kabul.

He also has more than 10 years’ experiences on journalism and management trainings.

He speaks Dari, Pashto and English and is found of German.

Nargis Nehan

Good Governance

Nargis Nehan

Acting Minister of Ministry of Mines and Petroleum

Nargis Nehan was born in Kabul – Afghanistan.

By establishment of the Policy Coordination Unit of the President, Ms. Nehan was appointed as Head of Policy Coordination Unit of the President by the President of Islamic Republic of Afghanistan based on decree No. 955 dated 22/07/1394, who yet leads this office. Also, Ms. Nehan has worked for the Afghan government in different senior level positions since the establishment of the Interim Administration of Afghanistan. She worked as Director General of the Treasury Department at the Ministry of Finance, Vice Chancellor of Kabul University at the Administration and Finance Department, Senior Administration and Finance Advisor to the Minister of Education, and Senior Planning and Coordination Advisor to the Ministry of Higher Education.

In addition to that, Ms. Nehan has led successful reforms of the Treasury Department at the Ministry of Finance. These reforms included the centralization of collecting government revenues and expenditures of 34 provinces, the establishment of a Treasury Single Account, monthly meetings with the Central Bank, digitalization of the government financial management system, weekly revenue and expenditure reporting to the cabinet, and the establishment of Fiduciary Standards to monitor the reform of the Ministries’ financial performance.

Furthermore, Ms. Nehan coordinated the development of a World Bank-funded five-year strategic plan for the Ministry of Education. This resulted in the establishment of the Grants Management Unit, launch of the Program Budgeting Process, and linkages between departments to coordinate the strategic plan and annual budget. She also supported the Ministry of Labor and Social Affairs in the initial assessment of the Ministry’s budget, finance, procurement, planning and coordination capacity, and presented recommendations for implementation to the senior leadership.

Moreover, to improve the renumeration of educators, Ms. Nehan designed and led a two-month survey of teachers’ census, which covered more than 10.000 schools and eventually led to an increase in the monthly salary payment of teachers that had been pending for over six months. Ms. Nehan additionally volunteered as a short-term advisor to the Minister of Interior to assist the Ministry with the establishment of the Afghan Public Projection Force (APPF) as a state-owned enterprise.

Besides working for Afghan government institutions, Ms. Nehan has been an active member of Afghan’s civil society and founded EQUALITY for Peace and Democracy (EPD) to empower women and youth at the community and policy levels in Afghanistan and served as Executive Director.

Additionally, she participated many meetings at the national and international levels to voice the concerns of ordinary citizens and to offer recommendations. She organized and facilitated a number of workshops, conferences and round-table discussions to increase citizens’ interaction with policy makers on different issues, and has worked with civil society groups to raise awareness among citizens and opinion leaders about their civil rights and responsibilities. Ms. Nehan has also collaborated with several international NGOs to promote democracy at the grass-roots levels.

Ms. Nehan has received a series of exclusive trainings on leadership, contract management, strategic planning, result-based budgeting, gender budgeting, good governance, peace building and conflict resolution.

Saber Hosseini

Child Rights

Saber Hosseini

Founder of Mobile Libraries and Child Foundation

Saber Hosseini was born on 1982 in Bamyan, Afghanistan. He has been engaged in fiction literature. Since more than two years ago, his activities have started in Bamyan province. He started delivering books to children with bicycle. One of the most remarkable achievements of his activities has been establishing eight children libraries with more than thirty one thousands books. Early activities was mainly focused on Bamyan. However, with increased volume of books and sense of community among locals, the activities spreaded to other villages including Yakavlang and Saighan, even in other cities such as Kabul and Mazar sharif. His mobile libraries is an initiative which helped a lot of children in remote areas to access the education and book.

Naheed Farid

Politics

Naheed Farid

Member of Parliament

Naheed Farid daughter of Mohammad Ibrahim has been born on 1984 in Herat province Currently she living in in Kabul City.

In 2010, at the age of 27, she was elected to the Afghanistan Parliament, becoming one of the youngest elected members in the nation’s history.

Farid has worked tirelessly to engage Afghan youth and women in the nation’s political process. Prior to running for Parliament, she was involved in the rebuilding of her nation. She has founded and led various NGOs assisting women, children and engaging in rural community development amongst others. She has advocated for the reduction of gender-based violence and human rights violations against women, and for expanded access to education and employment for women.

Born in 1984, Farid earned a Bachelor’s degree of Law and Political Science from Herat University in 2007. She holds a Master’s degree in International Relations from George Washington University in 2010.

She wrote numerous articles on development and international relations which is published in national and international journals. She worked as Program Director of Medica Mondal office and currently Member of Parliament, member of International Relation Commissions’ member and Director of Farid Foundation.

Khalil Raufi

Civil Society

Khalil Raufi

Civil Society Activist

Mr. Khalil Raufi was born on 28 Sep 1987 in Kabu, Afghanistan.

He is holding Bachelor of Psychology from Kabul Education University. He also has a Diploma of Special Leadership and Management from HIHE University. Mr. Khalil Raufi is the elected secretariat member of CS_JWG- Civil Society Joint Working Group and founder of Afghanistan youths social and Educational Organization (AYSEO). Raufi is a well-known Civil Society Activist and civil rights activist in Afghanistan. He starts his volunteer work with civil society organization by establishing of Youth Development Center on 2002. Mr. Raufi attended in several International conferences on Human rights and civil society, peace, democracy and good governance as a speaker. He was one of the co-leader to manage and organize the Afghanistan National Youth Peace Jirga in 2012.

In 2013, he selected as Member of Civil Society Emerging leader program, in 2016 he become member of working committee for the Brussels conference on Afghanistan and key facilitator of National conference on Kabul entitled a Head for Brussels, in 2017 he elected focal point of Afghanistan civil society for SOM and JCMB conference to Afghanistan government and UNAMA.

He got several appreciate letter by the international organizations, Afghanistan government and Afghanistan parliament because of his achievement and hardworking for civil society and youth.

He is leading several campaigns and advocacy program along with other Civil Society Activists in Afghanistan since 2002.

Laila Haidari

Social Activist

Laila Haidari

Civil Activist: Serving the affected and wounded people of Afghanistan

Laila Haidari was born as a refugee in 1978 in Pakistan and lived as a refugee in Iran. She successfully completed her bachelor’s degree in religious studies. In addition, she has been trained in short courses as director at Young Cinema Organization, journalist, nurse and teacher. Laila, a lady whose name has been woven as “mother” for hundreds of men and women in ruined city of Kabul, her homeland. Laila’s identity was first shaped with poetry. The poet Laila, filmmaker Laila, the activist Laila and perhaps the Laila that works tirelessly and dedicated herself soulfully to serve one of the most disadvantaged groups of her society – the drug addicts. Laila serves a cause, perhaps a very important cause to help the drug addicts quit addiction and giving them another chance to live their lives. As she believes “life is beautiful”. Furthermore, Laila manages Taj Begum Restaurant to financially support her cause and serve the addicts in quitting.

Throughout her life and specially her recent work in Afghanistan, Laila has been abused ,threatened and even kidnapped by the people who are against her work. In her everyday work she is being insulted for working with addicts. However, Laila become stronger and more determined day by day. So far, there have been tens of reports on Laila’s work, both in national and international media/websites.

Materials

Video Training

Materials

Video Training

First Festival of appreciation of Influential Personalities on Democracy and Development of Afghanistan

The 10 Influential Figures

Saad Mohseni

Horia Mosadiq

Matiullah Wesa

Mary Akrami

Abdul Mujeeb Khalwatgar

Nargis Nehan

Saber Hosseini

Naheed Farid

Khalil Raufi

Laila Haidari