Nelofer Pazira brought an international focus to women’s issues in Afghanistan by starring in the movies “Kandahar” and “Return to Kandahar,” based on her life story.

Now, the Afghani journalist and actress will share her views on the status of women’s issues in the Middle East — and especially in Iraq and Afghanistan — Tuesday at Kansas University.

“She’s going to talk about the U.S. invasion in Iraq, what life is like now as opposed to then and the difficulties involved in forming a democracy,” said Molly Dingel, one of the event’s organizers. “She’ll help give us an understanding of what’s happening in other countries when it comes to gender issues.”

Pazira’s appearance is organized by the KU campus group February Sisters. The organization’s name refers to the group of women who occupied a campus building for 13 hours in February 1972. The group negotiated with Chancellor Laurence Chalmers for the establishment of Hilltop Child Development Center and the women’s studies program, among other things.

Pazira, who will speak at 7:30 p.m. Tuesday in Woodruff Auditorium of the Kansas Union, was the driving force behind the 2001 movie “Kandahar,” in which she depicts a woman traveling to Afghanistan to keep her sister from committing suicide. The movie examines the repressive side of Afghan society, including the difficulties women have in seeing a male doctor or traveling.

The movie’s sequel, “Return to Kandahar,” takes place after the U.S. bombing of Afghanistan.

Pazira grew up in Afghanistan, and her family eventually fled to Canada. She has worked for the Canadian Broadcasting Co., the Ottawa Citizen and the Toronto Star, among other media outlets.

Roksana Alavi, co-chair of the February Sisters, said talking about oppression in the Middle East was the best way to get the issue on the minds of Americans. She cited the increase of rape in Iraq in recent months as an example of problems that exist in the region.

“I really think it’s hard to make judgments,” she said. “There’s a lack of information — it’s not a lack of empathy. I think walking in the streets alone in the dark is scary for women, no matter where you are.”