Kirthi Jayakumar

Overview

Kirthi Jayakumar born Bangalore, India December 15, 1987. Women’s rights activist and peace educator; artist, author, and playwright. Graduate of UN Peace University, Costa Rica. Founded Red Elephant Foundation peacebuilding initiative, 2013.

Quotations

“We are so, so, so bereft of compassion that as a race, we fight for vested interests and claim lives as we do it. It’s incredibly sad that we are such warring people, and not peace-loving.” (Thinkerviews interview, Mar. 9, 2018; photo amazon.com)

Asma Jahangir

Overview

Asma Jahangir born Lahore, Pakistan January 27, 1952. Human rights leader; UN Special Rapporteur on Human Rights, 2004-10. Led campaigns against domestic violence and military rule; arrested and beaten, 1983; arrested, 2004. Awarded Magsaysay Prize, 1995; awarded UNESCO/Bilbao Prize, 2010 ; Right Livelihood Award, 2014.

Quotations

"I devoted my life to marginalised and oppressed people. . . I will not be deterred." (Asianews.it, June 20, 2012)

"The parliament will have to be more forceful and also begin to realize that they [the army] can’t hold the economy of this country hostage, foreign policy hostage." (Aug. 13, 2011; 2010 photo Wikipedia)

Hina Jilani

Overview

Hina Jilani born Lahore, Pakistan June 30, 1953. Human rights activist; frequently arrested by military for protests on behalf of women's rights. First UN Special Rep. For Human Rights Defenders, 2000-08; embarked upon UN fact-finding missions on Darfur, 2006, and Gaza, 2009. Founded first Pakistani women's law firm.

Quotations

"I always had this feeling that if you see injustice, you have to speak out against it; otherwise you are not in a position to complain." (Human Rights Magazine, Summer 2000; photo cartercenter.org)