HUMAN RIGHTS DEFENDERS DEFY REPRESSION AMID SOME HOPES IN SOUTH ASIA
The year began with the death of one of the region’s bestknown advocates for the dispossessed, Pakistani lawyer and activist Asma Jahangir. For decades, she exemplified the struggles of millions in South Asia. On the streets, she defied political repression, called for an end to enforced disappearances and extrajudicial executions, and was beaten and arrested for protesting on behalf of women’s rights. In the courtroom, she faced down threats for her work in representing people, including women seeking to escape their violent husbands, bonded labourers trying to win freedom from their oppressive “owners”, and religious minorities needing to find sanctuary after attacks by hardline mobs. Asma Jahangir during a visit to Amnesty International Netherlands in 1998. Asma Jahangir was a human rights lawyer and founding member of the Human Rights Commission of Pakistan. She was harassed for defending women’s rights. © Ilya van marle. 34
