Oinikhol Bobonazarova facts for kids

International Women of Courage Award, 2014. United States First Lady Michelle Obama with Oinikhol Bobonazarova of Tajikistan

Oinikhol Bobonazarova is a brave activist from Tajikistan. She has dedicated her life to helping people and protecting their rights. She is known for her important work in human rights and for trying to become the first woman president in her country.

Early Life and Challenges

Oinikhol Bobonazarova faced a difficult time in 1993. She was accused of serious wrongdoing and spent some months in jail. After this experience, she decided to work even harder to help others.

Working for Human Rights

After her time in jail, Oinikhol Bobonazarova became a human rights counselor. This means she helped people understand and protect their basic rights. She worked for the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe in Tajikistan.

She also worked with the Open Society Foundation, another group that supports open societies and human rights.

Leading "Perspektiva Plus"

Since 2013, Oinikhol Bobonazarova has led a human rights group called "Perspektiva Plus." This group does very important work. They help:

• People who are in prison.
• Women, making sure their rights are respected.
• Tajikistani workers who travel to other countries for jobs (called labor migrants).

Monitoring Prisons

One of her big achievements was helping to create Tajikistan's first independent program to check on prisons. This program allows people from outside to visit prisons and make sure prisoners are treated fairly. This was especially important because, since 2004, prisons in Tajikistan had been closed to outside visitors.

A Pioneer in Politics

In 2013, Oinikhol Bobonazarova made history. She became the first woman to try to run for president in Tajikistan. Although her campaign did not gather enough signatures to continue, her attempt was a big step for women in her country.

International Recognition

In 2014, Oinikhol Bobonazarova received a special honor. She was given the International Women of Courage Award. This award recognizes women around the world who show great bravery and leadership in working for human rights and peace. She was the very first woman from Tajikistan to receive this important award.