Hina Jilani announced as 2020 Stockholm Human Rights Award laureate

The civil rights activist and Supreme Court Advocate Hina Jilani was announced as the recipient of the 2020 Stockholm Human Rights Award – bestowed annually by the Swedish Bar Association, the International Bar Association (IBA), and the International Legal Assistance Consortium (ILAC).

According to the details, The Award will be presented to Ms Jilani on Monday 30 November 2020 at the Swedish Bar Association, Laboratoriegatan 4, 102 54, Stockholm, Sweden.

Many Congratulations to 🇵🇰 Hina Jilani, announced as recipient of the 2020 🇸🇪 Stockholm Human Rights Award 👏👏

Details brlowhttps://t.co/AUSnJgvdi2… pic.twitter.com/xWtXXeXTWx

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— Sweden in Pakistan (@SwedeninPK) October 7, 2020

Who is Hina Jilani?

Ms Jilani grew up in Pakistan. Her father was a politician and an outspoken critic of the country’s military dictatorship, who spent much of her childhood in prison.

Injustices and human rights abuses witnessed first-hand sparked a lifelong commitment to challenging social norms and promoting human rights and democracy in Pakistan, and around the world, in Ms Jilani.

In 1980, Ms. Jilani founded Pakistan’s first all-female law firm, providing legal aid to women. The scope of her practice grew to include legal education, research, and protection from exploitation. The same year she established the Women’s Action Forum, a campaign group that advocated for women’s rights and challenged the discriminatory laws with which she had grown up.

In 1986 Ms Jilani set up Pakistan’s first Legal Aid Centre, going on to conduct many landmark cases and setting new standards for human rights in Pakistan. Her focus has always been the most vulnerable sections of society.

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In the same year, the Human Rights Commission of Pakistan was established with Ms. Jilani as one of its founding members. Today, it has branches throughout the country and is the most renowned national body for the monitoring of human rights violations.

In 1990, Ms Jilani co-founded Dastak, a shelter providing free legal counsel and support to women fleeing gender-based violence. It also raises awareness on issues such as domestic abuse, child marriages and ‘honour killings’. Her work often makes her vulnerable to hostile propaganda, arrests, abuse and intimidation, but she continues to live and work in Lahore, where she remains committed to social change and at the heart of the human rights movement.

Ms Jilani remains an Advocate of the Supreme Court of Pakistan, having been appointed in 1992. She also currently serves as President of the World Organisation against Torture, Co-Chair of the World Refugee Council and Co-Chair of the International Task Force on Justice.

Stockholm Human Rights Award

The Stockholm Human Rights Award is given to an individual, and/or organisation, for outstanding contributions to human rights and the rule of law.