FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: March 2, 2015
Contact: Rohit Mahajan 202 530 4976 mahajanr@rfa.org
RFA Launches New Edition of Asian Women’s e-Book
WASHINGTON – Ahead of International Women’s Day, Radio Free Asia (RFA) today launched the second edition of an e-book profiling women from Asian countries and regions under authoritarian rule taking up the fight for human rights on their families’ and communities’ behalf. ‘It’s not OK’ collects and presents additional portraits of these remarkable individuals, whose often untold stories demonstrate courage under fire, in China, Southeast Asia, and North Korea. The book is available for free on the iTunes Store and Google Play.
"For women living in Asian countries under strict authoritarian rule, the challenges of fighting for human rights can be immense," said Libby Liu, President of RFA. "These fearless individuals must contend with rigid social norms, little representation in government, and few legal protections, at great cost to themselves and their families.
"That is why it is especially important to know and share their stories. Awareness and attention can help protect them, improve their situation, and advance their cause."
Portraits selected by RFA’s nine language services are based on RFA reporting and interviews over the years, in addition to other sources. The e-book also features multimedia content, including video interviews, graphics, and illustrations, the latter of which were created by the Broadcasting Board of Governor’s Office of Digital & Design Innovation (ODDI).
The new portraits in this edition are: women’s advocate and poverty activist Susanna Hla Hla Soe (Myanmar); jailed mother Nurungul Tohti (China’s Uyghur region); UK born Tibetan advocate Dechen Pema; jailed veteran journalist Gao Yu (China); anti-human trafficking activist Tran Thi Nga (Vietnam); land grab activist Sivanxai Phommalath (Laos); and Park Sun-young (South Korea), an advocate of North Korean defectors.
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Radio Free Asia is a private, nonprofit corporation broadcasting and publishing online news, information, and commentary in nine East Asian languages to listeners who do not have access to full and free news media. RFA’s broadcasts seek to promote the rights of freedom of opinion and expression, including the freedom to “seek, receive, and impart information and ideas through any media and regardless of frontiers.” RFA is funded by an annual grant from the Broadcasting Board of Governors.
Rohit Mahajan | Radio Free Asia | Media Relations Manager
mahajanr@rfa.org | O: 202.530.4976 | M: 202.489.8021
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