Asma Jahangir with an Honorary Degree

On the recommendation of Baabul Ilm Education Society’s directors Simon Fraser University Decorated

SFU’s honorary degree of doctorate is the highest honour conferred by the University. Honorary degrees are awarded to distinguished individuals in recognition of their outstanding services to the humanity. This year the honorary degree of doctorate in law was awarded to Asma Jahangir, the renowned lawyer and distinguished human rights activist from Pakistan. Dr. Zareen Naqvi, one of the directors of Baabul Ilm Education Society nominated Asma Jahangir for this award. Asma Jahangir is the first Pakistani woman to have received this highest honour by Simon Fraser University. The Chancellor of the university, Dr. Anne Giardini, in the presence of the Lieutenant Governor of British Columbia, The Honourable Judith Guichon, and more than 2,500 audience invited Dr. Zareen Naqvi to present the honorary degree candidate, Asma Jahangir. In her introduction of Asma Jahangir, Dr. Naqvi highlighted the long and hard struggle that Asma Jahangir has undertaken to protect the rights of Pakistani women, children, and minorities for four decades. Dr. Zareen mentioned that Asma Jahangir was born in a prosperous and politically active family in Lahore. Asma watched her father repeatedly jailed or put under house arrest in support of his political beliefs. These events had a tremendous impact on Asma’s life and upbringing. In 1980, Asma Jahangir along with her sister and other fellow activists formed the Women’s Action Forum to cam- paign against discriminatory legislation in Pakistan. She resisted the attempts by General Zia ul Haq’s military regime to mix religion with law and undermine women’s rights with courage and determination. That struggle made Asma Jahangir the most recognized faces of Pakistan’s women rights movement. Dr. Naqvi further said that Asma Jahangir has a long list of impressive accomplishments: she is the co-founder of Human Rights Commission of Pakistan, first women president of the Supreme Court’s bar association, co-chairperson of the South Asia Forum for Human rights, vice president of the International Federation of Human Rights, United Nations Special Rapporteur on Freedom of Religion, and the list goes on. Ms. Jahangir has been fearless in her dedication to raise the human rights standards in Pakistan. She has been recognized with many national and international awards, Dr. Naqvi concluded. Dr. Naqvi requested the chancellor of the Simon Fraser University to confer upon Asma Jahangir the degree Doctor of Laws, honoris causa. Dr. Asma Jahangir in her convocation address said that she is humbled and encouraged to receive this honor. She said that none of us may be able to escape deteriorating global trends in respecting human dignity unless we actively promote and protect human rights at the international level. Global consensus on universal values of human rights is under severe threat. Most worryingly, discrimination on the basis of race and religion is being justified in the name of security. Religious intolerance has given rise to extremism. Increasing terror related violence and internal conflicts are inflicting severe hardships on the lives of several innocent people. It continues to traumatize several hundred women and children on a daily basis with no end in sight. Technology has brought the images of this misery in every household. None of us can any longer plead ignorance to the pain being suffered by millions of people because of their religion, race or belief or for the perverse manner in which violence is being inflicted in the name of religion. Both are equally deplorable. She further said that, I am disturbed that policies are being made by world leaders for the security of their respective countries, rather than for the protection of all humanity. A far greater challenge confronts us today -to uphold the values of human rights for all but at the same time to marginalize the forces of intolerance and militancy. Addressing the graduates she said I would only like to encourage you to remain positive. The world has seen worse travesty but eventually common sense and a commitment to justice has always prevailed. ou have an onerous task ahead; to speak for the voices, to lead public opinion for those who are oppressed, and to continue to advance the cause of justice, equality and peace. ou are the leaders of a better tomorrow, she concluded. Also present at the convocation ceremony were Dr. Mohammad Tariq, Counsel General of Pakistan, directors of Baabul Ilm Education Society and members of the Pakistani community.