Hadiqa Bashir (born 2002) is a Pakistani activist with a goal to end child marriages. She is the recipient of Asian Girls Human Rights Ambassador award and Muhammad Ali Humanitarian Award.[1][2]
Hadiqa Bashir | |
|---|---|
| Born | 2002 (age 21–22) Swat, Pakistan |
| Nationality | Pakistani |
| Occupation | Activist for female education |
| Known for | Activist for child marriage, especially female |
| Awards |
|
Early life
editBashir was ten years old when her grandmother wanted to marry her off. She had seen the plight of her classmate who was married at an early age and did not want to get married. Her uncle Erfaan Hussein, the founder of Girls United for Human Rights helped her push off the marriage.[3][4] Since then, Bashir has been working in her community to help end child marriages.[5]
Activism
editThe journey for Bashir started after her own struggle to avoid a marriage. In 2014, she founded Girls United for Human Rights with her uncle to fight for women's rights.[6][3] After school, she goes from house to house to talk to women persuading them to not marry off their young teenage daughters. She advocates for education for girls. She intervenes whenever she hears of a forced marriage.[3] She has been able to convince five families in her community to not force their young daughters to marry. Through her organization, Bashir helps women who face domestic abuse. The aids are medical or legal so that the women are supported.
Girls United is a group of fifteen girls who conduct awareness sessions in local schools, colleges and in communities to openly talk about benefits of child education and health. Through her work, Bashir wants her conservative community to start seeing women's rights, education and marriage differently.[6]
Awards
editIn 2016, Bashir became the first Pakistani girl to receive the Asian Girls Human Rights Ambassador award.[7]
In 2015, Bashir was awarded the third Muhammad Ali Humanitarian Award for dedicating her life to ending the practice of child marriages in Pakistan.[7][2]
References
edit- ^ "Pakistani girl Hadiqa Bashir wins Asian Girls Human Rights Ambassador award". Retrieved 7 November 2019.
- ^ a b "Hadiqa Bashir; Another Malala In The Making". 5 October 2015. Retrieved 7 November 2019.
- ^ a b c "Send Girls Off to Learn, Not Off to Marry, Says 13-Year-Old Pakistani Activist". Archived from the original on 15 November 2019. Retrieved 8 November 2019.
- ^ "The girl fighting to stop child marriage in Pakistan". BBC News. Retrieved 8 November 2019.
- ^ "THE SIDE OF PAKISTAN YOU DON'T SEE". Retrieved 8 November 2019.
- ^ a b Thomas, Sonia Mariam (24 March 2016). "After Refusing To Marry As A Child, This Girl Now Fights Child Marriage In Pakistan Like A Boss". BuzzFeed. Retrieved 8 November 2019.
- ^ a b Khaliq, Fazal (10 October 2016). "14-year-old Swat girl Hadiqa Bashir wins Asian Girls Human Rights Ambassador award". DAWN.COM. Retrieved 8 November 2019.