“A human rights activist has to be stubborn… it’s not your dignity, [you’re] fighting for other’s dignity.” – Ms. Asma Jahangir
A prominent human rights lawyer defending the most vulnerable in Pakistan, Ms. Asma Jahangir is remembered as an incredibly courageous person, well known for her sustained advocacy on behalf of women, children, religious minorities and poor and disenfranchised communities. Co-Founder of the Human Rights Commission of Pakistan, she served as Secretary-General and Chairperson, promoting and defending human rights in Pakistan, and was also one of the leaders of the Women’s Action Forum (WAF), a women’s rights organization in Pakistan. She made history when she was elected the first female President of the Supreme Court Bar Association of Pakistan in 2010. She held the mandate of United Nations Special Rapporteur on Extrajudicial Killings, Freedom of Religion & Belief, and the Situation of Human Rights in Iran. She was recognized, amongst many accolades, with human rights awards including the Prize for Freedom and the Martin Ennals Award for Human Rights Defenders. Ms. Asma Jahangir was also awarded the Hilal-e-Imtiaz, Ramon Magsaysay Award, Four Freedoms Award, Right to Livelihood Award, Field of Human Rights Award and, posthumously, the Nishan-e-Imtiaz.

Celebrating Pakistan’s 75th Independence Day, FWBL pays tribute to iconic women whose legacies are strongly interwoven in the fabric of the nation’s heritage. Their remarkable achievements, in their own unique way, contribute to who we are as a nation today.