ISLAMABAD -- A Pakistani woman's rights activist from Swabi District Thursday (October 5) received the Anna Politkovskaya Award, as well as slain Indian journalist Gauri Lankesh, reported Dawn. Lankesh was shot by unknown assassins in Bengaluru, India, in September.
Gulalai Ismail received the award from the London-based Reach All Women in War (RAW in WAR) NGO. Gulalai and her sister Saba founded Aware Girls in 2002 to build girls' leadership skills so they can empower women and build peace.
"Speaking out for our rights and speaking out against religious extremism is our fundamental right," Gulalai said upon hearing of the honour from RAW in WAR, according to Dawn. She is expected to pick up the award in London next March.
Politkovskaya, a Russian journalist, was assassinated in Moscow in October 2006. RAW in WAR presents the award every year to honor female human rights activists.
