UN awards human rights prize to late Asma Jahangir

Asma Jahangir, the late lawyer and human rights activist, has been chosen as one of the four winners for the 2018 United Nations Human Rights Prize.

United Nations General Assembly President Maria Fernanda Espinosa Garces announced the news on Friday on her official Twitter handle. Others to be receiving the prize are Tanzanian activist Rebeca Gyumi, Brazil's first indigenous lawyer Joenia Wapixana and Ireland's human rights organisation Front Line Defenders.

Today I announced the 2018 winners of the @UN Human Rights Prize. I am proud to recognise the contributions of individuals & organizations that promote & protect human rights @RebecaGyumi @Asma_Jahangir Joênia Wapichana @FrontLineHRD Your work is an inspiration to us all #UN4ALL

— UN GA President (@UN_PGA) October 25, 2018

The lawyer passed away on February 11 in Lahore due to cardiac arrest. Asma, who was also the former president of Supreme Court Bar Association, was 66 years old. Born in 1952, Asma studied at the Convent of Jesus and Mary before receiving her B.A from Kinnaird College and LLB from the Punjab University in 1978.

She was put under house arrest and later imprisoned in 1983 for participating in the movement for the restoration of political and fundamental rights during the military regime. She was also active in the 2007 Lawyers’ Movement, for which she was again put under house arrest.