Kashmiri woman Hurriyat leader Shamim Shawl has been granted the European International Women’s Leadership Award by the Forum Interna-tional Du Leadership Féminin for her human rights work she has tirelessly been doing for the people of Indian illegally occupied Jammu and Kashmir.
The European international Women’s leadership Award by the Forum International Du Leadership Feminine for the human rights work was awarded to seven women of the globe from different geogra-phies for their outstanding and exceptional human rights work.
The award ceremony was held at Brussels. The award was distributed by MEP Corina Cretu, former EU Regional policy Commissioner to the laureates.
hose awarded included Oyunna Bold (Mongolia, Belgium), Monika Griefahn (Germany), Yasmine Hasnaoui (Morocco, United States), Gulnoza Is-mailova (Uzbekistan), Irene Kamanzi (RdC, Bel-gium), Bissan Salman (Palestine, Israel), Shamim Shawl (Kashmir, UK) and Yangdutso Yangkartsang (Tibet, Belgium).
Ms Shamim Shawl in her address at the cere-mony said, “Dear guests, dear fellow laureates. I am grateful for this opportunity provided to me to share my views during this award giving ceremony.
My selection for this award is the recognition to the plight of our Kashmiri people – torn by conflict and occupation.
It is the acknowledgement of the suffer-ing of my people, particularly by women, living in the troubled Jammu and Kashmir, Thanks you for your efforts to empower women and honour their achievements.
The conflict has given Kashmiri women new roles: some – unexpectedly – found themselves as head of the household or as primary breadwinner.
The conflict gave women as well as well greater access to public space. The intense military presence – coupled with a complete impu-nity given to Indian forces – increased sexual vio-lence.”
She said, the role of women in this atmosphere of vulnerability is challenging. She paid great re-spect to courageous political and human rights activists like -Aasiya Andrabi, Aasiya Jeelani, Khadijah Mir and Perveena Ahanger, the President of Association of Parents of Disappeared Persons (APDP).—INP
