Zubair Qureshi
The embassies of France and Germany have jointly presented the Franco-German Prize for Human Rights (HR) and the Rule of Law to Pakistan’s eminent Human Rights activist, particularly working for empowerment and welfare of transgender community, Ms Nayyab Ali.
Nayyab is one of the 15 human rights defenders who have been selected for the award as a symbol of the common values carried by Germany and France and an illustration of their joint commitment to the protection and promotion of Human Rights.
Both the ambassadors of France and Germany, Dr Marc Baréty and Bernhard Schlagheck presented the award to Nayyab Ali at a simple but graceful reception organized by the Embassy of Germany on Thursday. They congratulated Nayyab for the award and hoped she would continue her work with the same zeal to become voice of the voiceless and her struggle would inspire others too, to tolerate and respect diversity in society.
According to a press statement, every year since 2016, Germany and France have been jointly presenting the award to mark the Human Rights Day.
“This year, and for the second time since its creation, the Franco-German Prize for Human Rights is given to a Pakistani citizen,” it said.
According to the citation, the award is presented to Nayyab Ali as an acknowledgment of her tremendous commitment to the defence and promotion of the rights of the transgender community and its inclusion in the Pakistani society.
As a researcher and renowned activist working on gender and minority inclusion issues, Nayyab Ali has been a resource person for building law enforcement agencies’ capacities and sensitization across Pakistan and for tackling the political, institutional and social challenges of the transgender community, further said the statement.
Her expertise, experience and personal journey have led to her becoming the national coordinator of All Pakistan Transgender Election Network, to be an active member of the special committee formed for the review of the bill which became the Pakistan transgender Persons (Protection of Rights) Act 2018 and also to create the first school for Okara’s transgender community.
The protection of Human rights is one of the overarching objectives of France and Germany’s external action, jointly with the European Union (EU).
