Another woman from Swat bags Int’l Award

AoA,

Mera Pakistan

WASHINGTON: Another women rights activist from the scenic but militancy-infested  Swat Valley bagged international award. 

It is to be mentioned here that the youngest  Nobel Peace Prize winner Malala Yousafzai is also from Swat.

Founder of an NGO, Khwendo Jirga, or Sister’s Council, Tabassum Adnan was awarded the 2015 Secretary of State’s International Women of Courage Award in recognition of her services of women’s rights.

According to a US Department of State press release, Deputy Secretary Higginbottom presented 10 extraordinary women from 10 countries with the 2015 Secretary of State’s International Women of Courage Award.

First Lady Michelle Obama joined Deputy Secretary Higginbottom and the awardees as a special guest at the afternoon ceremony at the US Department of State.

A victim of child marriage, Adnan was married when she was 13-year-old. After suffering 20 years of physical and mental abuse, Adnan divorced her husband – which made her lose her children, home, and money.

Later she started her NGO, Khwendo Jirga, a first of its kind women-only jirga, where women meet weekly to discuss issues such as honour killings, acid attacks, and swara, or giving women as compensation for crimes.

Patricia