Announcement

Kunduz Community Cultural Center Opens

Centers provide legal information and resources to Afghan citizens.

Kunduz, Afghanistan  | Thursday, April 30, 2009

Photo: USAID/ARoLP

Community Cultural Center volunteers distribute information about access to justice and women's rights.

Many people in Afghanistan, especially women, do not know their legal rights or how to use the formal justice system.  To bridge this gap, USAID has established 34 Community Cultural Centers (CCCs) in six of the country’s provinces.  The centers rely on trained local volunteers to educate their fellow citizens about their legal rights and how to defend their rights in Afghanistan’s formal and informal justice systems.  In spring 2009, USAID opened its newest center in Kunduz Province.         

The Community Cultural Centers have had a tangible positive impact on the lives of Afghans who seek information and resources there.  For example, one center recently helped a young women leave a forced marriage, legally and with the blessing of her community.  Other Afghan citizens have used the centers to prepare successfully for trials in court or to educate themselves about women’s rights.  Now residents of Kunduz also have access to this essential resource to learn about, and protect, their rights.