Iron lady: Pakistani lawyer Jalila Haider wins International Women of Courage Award
The human rights activist helps vulnerable women and children, provides free counselling
Dubai: Jalila Haider known as the ‘iron lady’ of Pakistan has won the presitigous International Women of Courage Award for her relentless services to impoverished women and children in Balochistan province.
Jalila Haider who is the first female lawyer from Hazara community in Balochistan, is on the list of 12 extraordinary women who are the recipients of International Women of Courage Award (IWOC), the United States Department of State announced on Wednesday
US Secretary of State Michael R. Pompeo will host the annual IWOC Awards at the US State Department The First Lady of the United States Melania Trump will deliver remarks to recognise the extraordinary accomplishments of these women.
According to a US State Department, the award, now in its 14th year, recognises women around the globe who have demonstrated exceptional courage and leadership in advocating for peace, justice, human rights, gender equality, and women’s empowerment at great personal risk.
The US State Department paid tribute to Jalila Haider and also shared her brief profile.
It says: “Known as the Iron Lady of Balochistan, Jalila Haider is a human rights attorney and founder of “We the Humans — Pakistan”, a non-profit organisation to lift local communities by strengthening opportunities for vulnerable women and children. She specialises in defending women’s rights and provides free counselling and legal services to poverty-affected women.
“The first female attorney of her Hazara community, Haider led a peaceful hunger strike to recognise the right to life for the Hazara following a series of targeted attacks. Ms. Haider has taken up the cause of many other vulnerable communities. As Balochistan’s President of the Women Democratic Front and Balochistan’s branch of the Aurat (Woman’s) March, she fought against violence against women in public spaces, at work, and at home.”
Other women named on the list include Zarifa Ghafari (Afghanistan), Lucy Kocharyan (Armenia), Shahla Humbatova (Azerbaijan), Ximena Galarza (Bolivia), Claire Ouedraogo (Burkina Faso), Sayragul Sauytbay (China), Susanna Liew (Malaysia), and Amaya Coppens (Nicaragua).
Since the inception of this award in March 2007, the US State Department has recognised 134 women from 73 countries. This year will bring the total to 146 awardees from 77 countries. US diplomatic missions overseas nominate one woman of courage from their respective host countries. The finalists are selected and approved by senior Department officials. Following the IWOC ceremony, the 12 awardees will participate in an International Visitor Leadership Program (IVLP) visiting various cities throughout the country, before reconvening in Los Angeles for the conclusion of their program on March 16.