After Swat’s own Nobel Peace Prize laureate Malala Yousafzai, the valley has cause for joy yet again.
Tabassum Adnan , founder of her NGO Khwendo Jirga, or Sister’s Council, a women-only jirga was awarded the 2015 Secretary of State’s International Women of Courage Award in recognition of her services to 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 Thursday night.
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-years-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 the 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.
The jirga brought awareness to women’s security, their right to vote and offers free legal help to victims of violence.
The Secretary of State’s International Women of Courage Award 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, often at great personal risk.
The award was launched in 2007, and since then, has been given to 86 women from more than 50 different countries.
“This year’s recipients reflect women’s roles as agents of change and leaders in many of the crises and challenges facing the world today, from countering violent extremism to promoting security and recovery from the Ebola Virus Disease,” said the press release.
