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Farhat Asif fights to raise importance of women’s involvement in peace negotiations
BANGKOK: Farhat Asif, an activist from Azad Jammu Kashmir, received the N-Peace Award 2017 by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), in partnership with the Canadian government and Washington-based Institute for Inclusive Security, here in the Thai capital.
Farhat Asif received this award in the action category for her tireless services as a prominent academic who brings together government officials, NGOs, think-tanks and educational institutions to raise the importance of women’s involvement in peace negotiations.
Through her initiation of the Institute of Peace and Diplomatic Studies (IPD) and Centre for Women Peace and Security (CWPS), Farhat ensures participation of women in different Pakistani social, political and economic aspects.
“At the core of everything I do, I the desire to establish collaborative thinking to arrive at solutions that are inclusive, and that positively affect women in conflict zones.”
The N-Peace awards recognise peace builders’ efforts for women at the grassroots. The winners support services for women affected by post-conflict violence, access to education and training services, campaigning for more women in local and national leadership positions, and advocating for women’s rights in conflict-ridden areas in the Asia-Pacific region.
This year, 11 winners under three categories were recognised from seven participating countries—Afghanistan, Pakistan, Myanmar, Nepal, Indonesia, Sri Lanka and the Philippines.