Pakistani Lawyer Mary Gill Wins Anna Lindh Prize for her campaign ‘#SweepersAreSuperheroes’

Pakistan’s Human Rights activist and lawyer Mary Gill has been honored with this year’s Anna Lindh Prize.

Gill has been awarded the prize for her campaign #SweepersAreSuperheroes.

Very pleased to share that the 2020 Anna Lindh Prize goes to Pakistani human rights lawyer @maryjamesgill for her campaign #SweepersAreSuperheroes. Mary is a former MPA and member of #WomenInLaw. Please join us in congratulating her on this accolade. #AnnaLindhPrize2020 pic.twitter.com/uX1NVHOPKY

— Women In Law (@WomenInLawPk) August 24, 2020

Mary Gill is a former MPA and a member of Women in Law.

Gill was nominated by WaterAid Sweden. Lena Hjelm-Wallen, the chairman of Anna Lindh’s Memorial Fund and former foreign minister in Sweden states:

“As a lawyer and activist, Mary James Gill connects human rights, health, and working conditions not least thorough the Sweepers are Superheroes campaign. Mary’s insistent work for the most vulnerable groups, based on human rights is entirely in line with the values Anna Lindh stood for. Therefore, we are very proud to award Anna Lindh prize 2020 to Mary James Gill.”

The prize is awarded annually to an individual, organization, or project working internationally.

According to details, The memorial fund explains goals of the prize as one that “aim to encourage primarily women and youth who, in Anna Lindh’s spirit, show the courage to work against indifference, prejudice, oppression, and injustice in order to stimulate a society where human rights are respected. The Prize is awarded as encouragement for ongoing projects.”

Mary Hill has run a successful campaign. Her motive ‘Sweepers are Superheroes’ launched in 2017 has gained international recognition as well. Through this campaign, she became a voice of garbage collectors who work in vulnerable working conditions. She spoke for the rights and safety of sanitation workers.