In a society where women have no bodily autonomy, no reproductive rights, and are used as a tool in dispute settlement mechanisms, Asma has been an advocate for gender equality. Historically she has influenced major social and political issues in Pakistan.
Pakistan had one of the most draconian, barbaric, and absurd set of laws, the Hudood Ordinance (Introduced by the Army only to appease Saudi Arabia so that they participate in Operation Cyclone). Due to this law, hundreds of innocent men and women had been wrongfully convicted and imprisoned. Women who dared to report rape were, and still are, often accused of zina and locked up while their offenders were never questioned and as a result walked free. Asma came as a savior for most of these persecuted women some familiar names are Safia Bibi, Mukhtaran Bibi, Jehan Mina, and Shahida Parveen.
According to Robert Fisk, Pakistan has the grotesque reputation of being one of the leading ‘honor killing’ countries. Millions of women in Pakistan live under a constant threat of being shot, burned, or death by stoning for violating traditional norms. Judicial bias and gender discrimination adds to the affliction of women in Pakistan. Governmental response has been mostly indifferent. Thanks to Asma, many cases of injustice towards women have come to light and have resulted in international criticism of women’s status in Pakistan. (Abbas, 2010)
She has also proposed interactions on the civil society level through social exchange combined with efforts to uplift the status of women and at the same provide financial stability through business and job opportunities to poor Pakistani.
The human rights violation in Afghanistan had never been a major part of any international discussion until 9/11. But Asma had highlighted the crimes against humanity committed by the Taliban well before. The Revolutionary Association of the Women of Afghanistan (RAWA) has also been praised her for her efforts towards the human rights situation in Afghanistan.
An equally vicious law, commonly known as the Blasphemy law, has been responsible for persecuting thousands of minorities; Asma has spoken out against this law and has represented a number of people falsely accused of blasphemy.
Asma Jahangir has raised concerns all over the world on religious/ethnic discrimination, sectarian conflicts, constitutional violations, and child labor in Pakistan.
Asma has always resisted military governments and is a vocal critic of military dictatorship and the past military policies in Bangladesh, Baluchistan, Afghanistan, and FATA. She is despised by many for bringing to international attention the factual accounts of abuse reportedly committed by the army in Baluchistan.
Another major reason behind the military’s hostility towards Asma is due to her opinion on Indo-Pak relations. Asma has publicly supported friendly relations and cultural exchange with India. She has also criticized the mujahedeen training camps and the Islamists-military nexus.
Despite her achievements, she is often harassed and criticized by the State, the media and intelligentsia. It is ironic that a person who has worked towards promoting human rights and democracy has been maltreated and slandered.
Asma Jahangir is recipient of several national awards, including Sitara-i-Imtiaz(Star of Distinction) in 1995. In recognition of her services in the field of human rights,
she was awarded the American Bar Association International Human Rights Award in
1992, the Martin Ennals Award for Human Rights Defenders and the Ramon Magsaysay
Award in 1995. She was also honored with the Bernard Simons Memorial Award of the
International Bar Association in 2000. She has authored two books: Divine Sanction?
The Hudood Ordinance (1988) and Children of a Lesser God: Child Prisoners of
Pakistan (1992). She is a mother of two daughters and a son. Her contributions for the
uplift and emancipation of women are extremely commendable and unmatchable.
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