Late Asma Jahangir Wins UN Human Rights Prize

Late Asma Jahangir Human Rights Activist has won United Nations Human Rights Award 2018 among other recipients.

The other activists are Brazilian activist Joênia Wapichana ,Tanzanian activist Rebeca Gyumi, and human rights organisation FrontLine Defenders were the other recipients.

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Today I announced the 2018 winners of the @UN Human Rights Prize. I am proud to recognise the contributions of individuals & organizations that promote & protect human rights @RebecaGyumi @Asma_Jahangir Joênia Wapichana @FrontLineHRD Your work is an inspiration to us all #UN4ALL

— UN GA President (@UN_PGA) October 25, 2018

The recipients were announced on Thursday by the United Nations for the Human Rights Price for 2018. Asma Jahangir, Brazilian activist Joênia Wapichana ,Tanzanian activist Rebeca Gyumi, and human rights organisation FrontLine Defenders won the prize. Asma Jahangir got the prize posthumously.

Asma Jahangir had served as the UN Special Rapporteur on Extra judicial Executions from 1998 to 2004, and as the UN Special Rapporteur on Freedom of Religion and Belief from 2004 to 2010.

Maria Fernanda Espinosa,the UN General Assembly President made the announcement of the winners of the prestigious United Nations Prize.

The award ceremony will take place in New York on December 10 on World Human Rights Day. The award is given in recognition outstanding achievements and contributions in protection of human rights to individuals and organizations. The Human Rights Prize is awarded every five years, in accordance with a resolution of the General Assembly which was adopted in 1966.

Asma Jahangir, was born in Lahore in January 1952. The first woman to serve as the president of Pakistan’s Supreme Court Bar Association. She was also the United Nations Rapporteur for Human Rights, and a former Pakistan Human Rights Commission chief.

Well known for fighting against human violations rights and a staunch supporter of Democracy. She wrote for many publications and authored two books. She died in Lahore due to a cardiac arrest in February. Some reports said the lawyer had battled cancer for years.