CHITRAL, Oct 27: Rubina Aziz from Mastuj, upper Chitral, has been crowned with the first Nelson Mandela Human Rights Award initiated this year by a Pakistani NGO for her services in promoting human rights and creating awareness among the people of the backward and remote valley.
She received the award at a ceremony during a ‘democracy festival’ in Multan, organized by the Centre for Human Rights Education. It may be noted that the Centre for Human Rights Education gave the Nelson Mandela Human Rights Award 2014 to young human rights defenders from all over Pakistan to encourage them to struggle for the voiceless and oppressed members of society.
A large number of people and human rights activists from different parts of the country were present on the occasion. Ms Rubina is a member of the Qashqar Area Development Programme (QADP).
Talking to ChitralToday correspondent on phone, Ms Rubina said she had been raising voice under the platform of her organization about the promotion of human rights and values at all forums. She said she always worked for the promotion of education, healthcare and women and children’s rights. She said the award would be a catalyst in her struggle in the field of human rights.
Meanwhile, Sajid Hussain, the executive director of the QADP, said that the award was a big honour not only for the organization but also for the people of Chitral. It would also helped in motivating other Chitrali women to work in the field of human rights in the valley, he added.