Hina Jilani facts for kids
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Hina Jilani (Urdu: حنا جیلانی; born 19 December 1953) is a well-known lawyer and human rights activist from Lahore, Punjab, Pakistan. She is a lawyer on the Supreme Court of Pakistan. Hina Jilani helped start Pakistan's first law firm run entirely by women. She also co-founded Pakistan's first legal aid centre and the Women's Action Forum.
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Early Life and Education
Hina Jilani was born and grew up in Pakistan. She began her work as a lawyer in 1979. At that time, Pakistan was under martial law, which means the military was in charge of the government.
Career as a Human Rights Defender
In February 1980, Hina Jilani and her sister Asma Jahangir started Pakistan's first law firm for women. It was called AGHS Legal Aid Cell (ALAC). At first, they mainly helped women with legal issues. Over time, their work grew to include teaching people about their rights. They also worked to protect people from unfair treatment. They did legal research and offered advice.
Jilani also helped create the Human Rights Commission of Pakistan. She was also a founder of the Women's Action Forum (WAF). This group started in 1980 to fight against unfair laws. In 1986, Jilani also set up Pakistan's first legal aid centre. This centre offered free legal help to people who could not afford it.
In 1991, she helped create a women's shelter called Dastak. This shelter provides a safe place for women. Dastak also holds workshops to teach people about human rights. These workshops focus on protecting women.
Working with International Organizations
Hina Jilani has worked with many important international groups. These include the United Nations Human Rights Council. She has also worked with the Carter Center. In 2019, the UK Foreign Office chose her for a special group. This group works to create laws that protect freedom of the press around the world. Freedom of the press means journalists can report the news without fear.
Roles at the United Nations
From 2000 to 2008, Jilani was the United Nations Special Representative of the Secretary-General on Human Rights Defenders. In this role, she spoke up for people who work to protect human rights. In 2006, she was part of the International Commission of Inquiry on Darfur. This group looked into human rights issues in Darfur.
In 2009, Jilani joined the United Nations Fact Finding Mission on the Gaza Conflict. This mission investigated events in the Gaza conflict.
In 2017, Jilani helped lead a special group. This group focused on the health and human rights of women, children, and teenagers. It was a joint effort by the World Health Organization and the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights.
Challenges Faced
Because of their work for women's rights, Hina Jilani and her sister Asma Jahangir faced many dangers. They were arrested and received threats. They also faced public criticism. There were even attempts to harm them and their family members. Despite these risks, Jilani continued her important work in Lahore.
Awards and Recognition
Hina Jilani has received many awards for her dedication to human rights:
- 2000 – Ginetta Sagan Award from Amnesty International
- 2001 – Millennium Peace Prize for Women
- 2008 – Editor's Award for Outstanding Achievement by The Lawyer Awards
- 2016 – Honorary doctorate from Trinity College Dublin
Further Reading
- Neither Peace Nor Justice for Newsline, 2 March 2009
- Shame on Who? for Newsline, 7 October 2005
- Profile in TIME
See also
In Spanish: Hina Jilani para niños
