Podcast #3: Writing Hawa
In the third episode of the Movies that Matter podcast, journalist Shermin Chavoushi sits down with Devika Partiman, social activist and founder of Stem op een Vrouw (Vote for a Woman), for a powerful conversation on women’s emancipation, gender apartheid, and global solidarity. Together, they reflect on the documentary Writing Hawa (now showing in Dutch cinemas) and explore how its story connects to the broader fight for equality in the Netherlands and worldwide. 10 September, 2025
Filmed over a period of five years, Writing Hawa tells the story of three generations of Hazara women from the same family in Afghanistan. With unique access and great empathy, director Najiba Noori films her mother Hawa and niece Zahra as they try to break free from patriarchal traditions. But when the Taliban return in August 2021, the lives of the three women are turned upside down.
Based on the documentary, Shermin Chavoushi and Devika Partiman discuss women’s emancipation, gender apartheid and broader questions about solidarity and global responsibility. Among other things, they discuss the parallels between Hawa’s struggle and women’s emancipation in the Netherlands and the rest of the world. They also discuss how different generations of women can strengthen each other in their struggle for equal rights. Finally, they discuss ways in which women in Afghanistan can be effectively supported. Read more about the film Writing Hawa here.
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