International Women’s Day is a time to reflect on the
struggles women have and do face, and celebrate what women have achieved
against all adversity. We present 10 women who have fought; fought for their
rights, fought for the rights of other women, fought for the rights of others.
It is humbling to live in times where such women exist. For your determination,
we praise you. For your courage, we admire you. For your persistence, we thank
you.
Safia (Warasta) Amajan – Afghanistan
Remembered as a teacher and ‘true public servant’, Safia Amaja fought for women’s rights through education. During the Taliban’s fundamentalist rule, she was an outspoken critic of the Taliban and defied their ban on educating women: she memorised the Quran and secretly taught Islamic studies to young girls in Kandahar. After the Taliban fell, Amajan worked for the new Afghan government setting up the provincial department of women’s affairs. Her progress in this role eventually lead to her assassination by the Taliban.
Taslima Nasreen - Bangladesh
The eminent writer and intellectual, Taslima Nasreen, continues to support freedom of expression and thought, women’s equality, and secularism despite the call for her death by extremist groups and expulsion from her home country. She won a Bengali language literary award for her book Lajja (Shame), which was banned by the Government of Bangladesh, shed light on the unfair treatment of Hindus in Bangladesh.
"When I write, I don't allow the feat of consequences to interfere with the writing process. I have in the past paid for my commitment to the truth and the way I live my life. I am prepared to pay more if I have to."
Asma Jahangir – Pakistan
Asma Jahangir is Pakistan’s leading human rights lawyer. She was involved in forming the first law firm established by women in Pakistan, was the first female president of the Pakistan’s Supreme Court Bar Association, the United Nations Special Rapporteur of Freedom of Religion or Belief from August 2004 until July 2010 and a founding member of Pakistan’s Human Rights Commission. Jahangir’s work traverses the advancing women’s rights in Pakistan, the prevention of persecution of religious minorities, and fighting extremism.
Sunila Abeysekera – Sri Lanka
Sunila Abeysekera spent a lifetime fiercely advocating for the victims of human rights abuses in Sri Lanka, despite being brandished a traitor for it and being forced to leave the country for safety at times. She was also a staunch feminist who played a lead role in the global women’s rights movement, including recognition of "women’s rights are human rights" at the 1993 UN World Conference on Human Rights in Vienna. She was particularly forthright in fighting violence against women and championing for sexual and reproductive rights.
“When everyone is criticizing you, then you are doing the right thing.”
Anuradha Koirala - Nepal
Having recovered 50,000 women from
human trafficking, Anuradha Koirala and her organisation Maiti Nepal, continue
to rehabilitate and empower women and girls traficcked and forced into sex work across the Indian border.
Khushi Kabir - Bangladesh
After the liberation of Bangladesh, Khushi Kabir became the
first women to work with marginalised women and men. She has tirelessly advocated
to improve the lives of the rural poor in Bangladesh, particularly women. She
was nominated
for the Nobel Peace Prize in 2005.
“When
did I become a feminist? There are lots of moments in every woman’s life that
make her stand up for herself and her sisters, and there were many in mine. But
the first one that comes to mind is the day I was told I couldn’t take a seat
on the bus, simply because I was a woman.”
Malala Yousafzai – Pakistan
As
a young women activist, Malala Yousafzai spoke out against the Taliban’s war on
education for women. Her words were such a threat that the Taliban attempted to
assassinate her. Her courage and determination to continue fighting for her
right to education on behalf of all women was recognised when she became the
youngest person, the first Pashtun, and the first Pakistani to win the Nobel
Peace Prize.
"One
child, one teacher, one book, one pen can change the world."
Laxmi Narayan Tripathi - India
Laxmi Narayan Tripathi is a prominent artist and LGBT
activist. She was the first transgender woman to represent the Asia-Pacific
region in the UN General Assembly task force on HIV/AIDS while championing her
role as the ambassador to the Asia Pacific Network of Sex Workers (APNSW).
“The recent landmark
decision by the Supreme Court recognizing a third gender is something positive
that is helping to protect the identity and rights of future generations of
hijras in India. I personally never thought this judgement would ever be made
in my lifetime, but we were fighting for it .”
Mangala Sharma – Bhutan
Speaking out
against the Bhutanese Government’s “one nation, one people” policy and
discrimination against ethnic minorities, Mangala Sharma was exiled from
Bhutan. She created Bhutanese Refugees Aiding
Victims of Violence (BRAVVE) which supports thousands of refugee women
from Bhutan who had been subjected to sexual violence and torture. She was the
first winner of the Ginetta Sagan Fund award in 1997 due to her work to protect
the rights of women and children in areas where human rights violations are
pervasive.
Aneesa Ahmed - Maldives
The former Deputy Minister of Women’s Affairs in the Maldives, Aneesa Ahmed brought to the surface the taboo subject of domestic violence. Since her governmental service, Ahmed is a strong advocate on ending gender-based discrimination and violence and the harms of female genital mutilation.
