The United Nations announced to posthumously award the Asma Jahangir with the Human Rights Award 2018. Pakistani lawyer Asma Jahangir will be receiving the award on December 10. United Nations also announced the names of other recipients of the Human rights Prize for 2018 that includes Tanzanian activist Rebeca Gyumi, Brazilian activist Joenia Wapichana and human rights organisation FrontLine Defenders.
“Today I announced the 2018 winners of the @UN Human Rights Prize. I am proud to recognise the contributions of individuals & organizations that promote & protect human rights Rebeca Gyumi. Asma Jahangir Joênia Wapichana. Your work is an inspiration to us all,” tweeted President of the UNGA Maria Fernanda Espinosa Garces on Friday.
Today I announced the 2018 winners of the @UN Human Rights Prize. I am proud to recognise the contributions of individuals & organizations that promote & protect human rights @RebecaGyumi @Asma_Jahangir Joênia Wapichana @FrontLineHRD Your work is an inspiration to us all #UN4ALL
— UN GA President (@UN_PGA) October 25, 2018
Jahangir served as the UN Special Rapporteur on Extrajudicial Executions from 1998 to 2004 and as the UN Special Rapporteur on Freedom of Religion and Belief from 2004 to 2010.
The United Nations Prize in the Field of Human Rights is award honoured to give recognition to individuals or organisations for their outstanding achievement in the field of human rights. The award ceremony will take place in New York on December 10 on World Human Rights Day.
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Asma Jahangir was born on January 1952 in Lahore. She was the first woman to serve as the president of Pakistan’s Supreme Court Bar Association. She also served as the United Nations Rapporteur for Human Rights, and a former Pakistan Human Rights Commission chief.
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She won spurs with her free speech. She spoke against human rights violations and was a loyal supporter of democracy. She wrote for many publications and also penned down books. She breathed her last in Lahore and died due to a cardiac arrest in February.
