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Tabassum Adnan
Tabassum Adnan (Pakistan) -- 2015 - International Women of Courage Award.jpg
Born 1977
Swat Valley, Pakistan
Nationality Pakistani
Occupation women's rights activist
Years active 2013 - present
Known for founding the first female jirga in Pakistan

Tabassum Adnan (Urdu: تبسم عدنان; born 1977) is a brave Pakistani woman. She works hard to protect and support women's rights. She comes from the Swat Valley in Pakistan. In 2015, she received a special honor. It was the U.S. State Department's International Women of Courage Award. This award recognized her important work. She helps Pakistani women find justice and fairness.

About Tabassum Adnan

Early Life and Inspiration

Tabassum Adnan was born in 1977. She grew up in the beautiful Swat Valley of Pakistan. She faced many challenges early in life. She married at a young age, at 13. She later became a mother of four children. After 20 years, she decided to divorce her husband. This left her without a home or money.

Adnan then joined a program. This program helped women learn to be strong and independent. It inspired her greatly. She realized she wanted to help other women. She wanted them to have a say in important decisions.

She first tried to join a traditional council. These councils are called Jirgas. They are usually made up only of men. The main Swat Aman Jirga did not accept her. Jirgas are informal groups of elders. They help solve problems and disputes. Their decisions are often respected in the community.

Starting the Sister's Council

In May 2013, Tabassum Adnan did something amazing. She started her own jirga. It was the first one in Pakistan run entirely by women. This group is called the Khwendo Jirga. This means "Sister's Council."

Traditionally, women in the region had little power. They were sometimes treated like property. They could be used to settle arguments between men. For example, a woman might be married off to pay a debt. Adnan knew her group needed to push for change. They had to make authorities listen.

Her Sister's Council has 25 members. All of them are women. They work to pressure the police and courts. They want them to take action on behalf of victims. The council also gives legal help to women who need it.

Making a Difference

The Khwendo Jirga does more than just help with justice. They also work for other important causes. They advocate for free education for girls. They want to protect women's and girls' health. They also support training for women. This includes traditional skills and new job skills.

They also help women get small loans. This is called microfinancing. It helps women start businesses. The council also works for women to be part of peace talks. They want women to have access to justice and voting. They push for laws that protect women from violence. This includes laws against honor killings and acid attacks.

At first, some people did not like the Khwendo Jirga. Both men's jirgas and some women's rights activists were against it.

In 2014, something happened that changed public opinion. A child was harmed, and the police did not act. The Khwendo Jirga organized a protest walk. This brought attention to the case. The people responsible were caught. For the first time in Pashtun history, a woman was asked to join a male jirga. That woman was Tabassum Adnan. She helped make decisions in the case.

Since that first protest, the women have had more successes. In July 2014, Adnan and her group worked hard. They pushed for a law to stop child marriages. Despite strong opposition, the Sindh Assembly passed a ban. It stopped marriages for anyone under 18. In December 2014, the Punjab Assembly also agreed to change the law.

Tabassum Adnan still receives threats. But she continues her work. She believes women should be part of all decisions. These are decisions that affect their lives.

Awards and Recognition

Tabassum Adnan has received many awards for her courage.

  • In 2013, she won the Human Defenders Award.
  • In 2014, she was nominated for the N-Peace Empowerment Award.
  • In 2015, she won the U.S. State Department International Women of Courage Award.
  • She also won the Nelson Mandela Award in 2016.
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