Draft:Naeem Mirza
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Naeem Mirza is a human rights defender, writer, and journalist, with over 30 years of experience working on issues related to gender justice, women’s rights, democratic development, and press freedom. He is currently the Executive Director of Aurat Foundation..[1], a leading women’s rights organization that has worked in Pakistan on gender equality and women empowerment since 1986. At the Foundation, his work has contributed to effective national advocacy to address gender-based violence, improve women’s political participation, and mobilize citizen action in support of women’s rights.
Academic Life
Naeem Mirza began his educational career in Government College University, Lahore in 1960s.
Professional Career
In 2011, Mirza wrote a preface for the study titled 'A Pilot Study on: 'Honour Killings' in Pakistan and Compliance of Law' published by Aurat Foundation under the Legislative Watch Programme for Women's Empowerment and authored by Maliha Zia.[2] He reviewed and wrote an introduction for the comprehensive report titled 'Pakistan NGO Alternative Report on CEDAW (2005-2009) (With Updated Notes - 2009-2012) published by Aurat Foundation.[3] This report was researched and written by Maliha Zia and Riffat Butt and reviewed by Neelam Hussain, Naeem Mirza, Nasreen Azhar, Younas Khalid. It was endorsed by 24 civil society organizations.[4] He contributed a foreword to the research study titled 'Pakistan’s Perspective on Climate Action and Role of Women: A Study on the Contributions and Challenges in Combating Climate Change' authored by Simi Kamal.[5] The study is undertaken by Democracy and Empowered women Jamhooriat aur Baikhtiar Aurat (JAZBA) project.
Mirza has actively spoken about women's rights and laws to empower women.
In September 2013, he participated in a demonstration organized by civil society activists at F-6 Markaz, Islamabad to protest against the rape of a minor girl in Lahore.[6]
He spoke in February 2015 as Aurat Foundation released data gathered by its sources on violence against women. He said, "We are part of the committee and we are pushing for the bill to be passed as soon as it can be,” he says. “The draft seems to be unanimously approved so far, but now it basically depends upon the assembly and the secretariat which has to give it priority.”[7]
In July 2016, he spoke in favor of the Punjab Protection of Women Against Violence Act 2016[8] passed by the Punjab Assembly. He said, "A woman can ring up a toll-free number for help, women protection officers can enter any premises to rescue her, and the husband is constrained by the law from throwing her out of his house. If he remains violent, he can be turned out of his house, and forced to wear a GPS tracker to ensure he doesn't get anywhere near the victim until a settlement is reached," he says. "If implemented, these measures will fundamentally change the traditional power equation between men and women, something which the religious lobby will find hard to tolerate."[9]
In an interview given to Deutsche Welle in November 2019, Mirza spoke about women's rights and how he became a prominent figure in the feminist movement in Pakistan. He said, "I was very active in left-leaning labor movements in the 80s. But I realized that gender-discrimination is a bigger issue, as women suffer on multiple levels. Women are being oppressed across all economic classes, and their suffering is multi-layered and more intense," Mirza told DW.
"We have faced many odds during our struggle. Much still needs to be done, but I feel encouraged that an increasing number of women are now demanding their rights. They no longer tolerate domestic violence, for example. They resist and raise their voice," Mirza said.
"It wouldn't be right to say that we don't receive support from the state. Without some help from the government, we would not have been able to do our work effectively. But it is also true that we had to work a lot to get support from the authorities. We had to campaign a lot," Mirza said. "Victims of violence need immediate support. If they don't receive support in the first few hours, then it becomes even more difficult to provide relief to them," he said. "These women are not taken in by the government-run shelter homes unless they receive an order from the court. Now, after our campaigning, the authorities eased their rules and women can now find shelter in government-run facilities immediately."[10]
He spoke at a film screening organized by Human Rights Commission of Pakistan on 7th December 2024 as part of its campaign for the 16 days of activism against gender-based violence. Mirza said 'It is imperative that the male lawmakers actively support and enforce legislative recommendations made by their female colleagues to safeguard the rights of women and marginalized communities.'[11]
Books
He is also the author of the Urdu language book “Tareekh ki Azeem Feminist Auratein: Hayaat, Nazriay aur Tehreekein”[12], published in 2022 by Sang-e-Meel Publications. The book was launched on 9th November at the 10th edition of Islamabad Literature Festival 2024 organized by Oxford University Press held in Islamabad. [13]
Awards
In 2005, he received the Fatima Jinnah Award for Contribution to Women’s Empowerment. He is also the recipient of the 2010 Shaheed Benazir Bhutto Human Rights Award[14]. In 2023, he received HUM Women Leaders Award[15]
Media/Podcast Appearances
Naeem Mirza has made numerous appearances on national television as well as on different YouTube podcasts.
References
[edit]- ^ "Aurat Foundation". af.org.pk. Retrieved 2025-01-03.[non-primary source needed]
- ^ Zia, Maliha (Nov 2011). "A Pilot Study on: Honour Killings in Pakistan and Compliance of Law" (PDF). af.org.pk. Retrieved 2025-01-07.
- ^ Zia, Butt, Maliha, Riffat (November 2012). "Pakistan NGO Alternative Report on CEDAW (2005-2009)" (PDF). af.org.pk. Retrieved 2025-01-07.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link) - ^ "CEDAW alternative report". www.thenews.com.pk. Retrieved 2025-01-20.
- ^ Kamal, Simi (March 2023). "Pakistan's Perspective on Climate Action and Role of Women" (PDF). af.org.pk. Retrieved 2025-01-07.
- ^ news.desk (2013-09-19). "Protest against rape: Government asked to ensure children's protection". The Express Tribune. Retrieved 2025-01-20.
- ^ Jalil, Xari (2015-02-13). "Violence against women 'most rampant' in Punjab". DAWN.COM. Retrieved 2025-01-20.
- ^ "The Punjab Protection of Women against Violence Act 2016". punjablaws.gov.pk. Retrieved 2025-01-20.
- ^ "Why is a Pakistani bill to protect women unpopular?". BBC News. 2016-03-17. Retrieved 2025-01-20.
- ^ "Fighting for women's rights in patriarchal Pakistan – DW – 11/21/2019". dw.com. Retrieved 2025-01-20.
- ^ Shahid, Jamal (2024-12-07). "Gender-based violence continues to be pervasive in Pakistan: HRCP". DAWN.COM. Retrieved 2025-01-20.
- ^ "Tareekh Ki Azeem Feminist Auratein - Naeem Mirza". Sang-e-meel Publications. Retrieved 2025-01-03.
- ^ Baig, Zulfiqar (2024-11-09). "'Time to break barriers to genuine dialogue'". The Express Tribune. Retrieved 2025-01-07.
- ^ wagha, wasim (October–December 2010). "Our litmus test, Legislative watch newsletter, Issue 34, Oct-Dec 2010, Aurat Foundation" (PDF).[non-primary source needed]
- ^ Report, Recorder (2023-03-09). "'Women Leaders Awards': President for utilising women's potential for progress, prosperity". Brecorder. Retrieved 2025-01-03.