A Conversation with Feminist Rukhshanda Naz from Pakistan

About

Rukhshanda Naz will be joining us, in person, from her home country of Pakistan in a conversation facilitated by Professor Alejandra Gonza. Rukhshanda brings with her 30 years of experience as a human rights activist and will shed light on how the field of women’s human rights has shifted within in her community and globally. Rukhshanda is a longtime advisor for Global Fund for Women, having recommended and vetted over a dozen local Pakistani women’s human rights groups to receive funding. Most recently, Rukhshanda and her efforts to end early and forced marriage in Pakistan were featured in Global Fund for Women’s highly anticipated docuseries Fundamental.

A lawyer by profession, Rukhshanda predominantly works in the KP region, situated in the northwest part of Pakistan, along the Afghanistan border, an area that has historically been affected by militarism, isolation, and human rights violations. Despite resistance from the state and other religious institutions, there remains a strong women’s movement working to redefine gender normative standards. Rukhshanda has served in a number of positions both in her local community and internationally to secure the rights of women and girls in the work place, in the home, and in society.