A 22-year-old woman from Swat, Hadiqa Bashir, has brought immense pride to Pakistan by clinching the prestigious Global Citizen Youth Leader (GCYL) award. She is the first Pakistani to achieve this honor.
Bashir, a resident of Saidu Sharif, is a dedicated activist striving for the advancement of women’s education and rights in the Swat region. She is the founder of ‘Girls United for Human Rights’ and has been fervently campaigning against the detrimental practice of underage marriages in her community.
According to Global Citizen, Bashir is a relentless advocate for gender equality, particularly in tribal areas, and strongly believes in the transformative power of education for young girls. Her dynamic leadership and unwavering advocacy have made significant strides toward social justice and sustainable development in Pakistan, epitomizing the essence of positive change.
In addition to the GCYL award, Bashir has previously been honored with the Muhammad Ali Humanitarian Award and the Asian Girls Ambassador Award. She was also a finalist for the Commonwealth Award.
Notably, Bashir hails from the same region as Malala Yousafzai, a Nobel laureate and global icon for her advocacy for women’s education.
This year, Global Citizen is recognizing 32 young innovators and advocates from the Asia-Pacific region, providing them with funding to address social issues in their communities and expand their impactful initiatives. Moreover, all award recipients will have the opportunity to participate in a Youth Leadership Summit in Melbourne, fostering global connections and collaboration.
