Youngest Pakistani girl wins international award for working to end gender-based violence

Peshawar: Shawana Shah, a 23-year-old girl and resident of Peshawar, has won the Mohammad Ali Humanitarian Award 2016. She is the only youngest Asian to have won this award and it’s a proud moment for Pakistan.

Shawana Shah, president of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Working Women Union as well as the general secretary of Da HawwaLur, a non-government organization, received this award at the fourth annual Mohammad Ali Humanitarian Awards ceremony.

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According to the press release issued on Tuesday, Shawana Shah works to end gender-based violence in Pakistan as well as to provide a platform to the women to fight for their basic rights.

Shawana Shah established the Da HawwaLur, which is targeted at ending gender-based violence, offering the free legal and psychological support to the victims of gender-based violence, improving women leadership, as well as promoting peace.

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She furthermore established the Working Women Union in KPK, which provides 300 women, home-based and local workers a platform to fight for their civil rights.

While addressing the ceremony, Shawana Shah said she was honoured to receive this award. “This award is a credit to all those women for whom I work. I have an unshakeable belief that women can be the greatest leaders, peace makers and they can also bring positive change in their respective communities,” she added.

She moreover said that she was blessed along with a supportive family especially her father, who always supported her.