As WISCOMP celebrates 25 years of its existence, a significant milestone in its journey to foreground women’s initiatives to build peace and security while promoting a climate of coexistence and dialogue in South Asia, it is felicitating change makers who embody the spirit of the organisation with the Saahas (Bravery) awards.
The third edition of the WISCOMP Saahas Awards felicitates some exceptional people who have facilitated spaces for women building peace at the grassroots level in protracted conflict zones across South Asia.
Women in Security, Conflict Management and Peace (WISCOMP) was launched in 1999 as an initiative of The Dalai Lama’s Foundation for Universal Responsibility, to build a culture of coexistence and nonviolence in South Asia that is gender-sensitive and inclusive. The not-for-profit, non-sectarian, non-denominational Foundation was established with the Nobel Peace Prize awarded to The Dalai Lama in 1989.
WISCOMP formally introduced the discourse on Gender, Peace and Security in South Asia to facilitate a central role for women in influencing public policies and peace processes. At a time when the repressive Taliban 1.0 ruled Afghanistan and Jammu & Kashmir was in the throes of turmoil, the launch of WISCOMP and the possibilities it offered brought a glimpse of hope to the lives of many beleaguered women across the region.
To recognise and encourage the efforts of the many hitherto voiceless women facing the grim reality of conflict-riddled lives, WISCOMP instituted the Saahas Awards in 2016. These awards, to give recognition to institutional and societal change makers for their exemplary work on gender justice that contributes towards the realization of equality enshrined in Article 14 of the Indian Constitution.
Awarded every four years, the 2024 edition of the WISCOMP Saahas awards has expanded its footprint beyond India. This third edition of the Saahas awards felicitates those who have facilitated spaces for women building peace at the grassroots in protracted conflict zones across South Asia. The award comprises a citation, a shawl and a unique, specially crafted plaque made from stone dust, created by a master craftsperson.
The Awards are inclusive in nature and open for women, men and LGBTQIA+ from diverse socio-economic and cultural backgrounds, faith persuasions and the differently-abled. This year, over 50 applications were received under two categories from South Asia: from individuals – practitioners, media persons, educators, youth leaders, artists, civil society members and organizations working on gender, peace and security in areas of protracted conflict.
The Jury consisting of eminent members of civil society and gender experts, chaired by Ambassador Shyam Saran, former Foreign Secretary of India, screened and reviewed applications to select the awardees. The jury included Ambassador Gautam Mukhopadhaya, Gita Mittal, former Chief Justice of J&K High Court and acting Chief Justice of Delhi High Court, Krishna Menon Professor and former Dean, School of Human Studies, Dr. B.R. Ambedkar University, Susan Ferguson, Country Representative, UN Women, India and Poonam Muttreja, Executive Director of the Population Foundation of India.
The ten awardees of 2024, drawn from diverse conflict contexts, exemplify resilience, hope, and indomitable courage in the face of adversities. Their work spans countering gender-based violence and cultures of misogyny in Afghanistan, advocating for the rights of minority communities in Bangladesh, facilitating inter-faith dialogues in Pakistan and championing the rights of denotified tribes in India.
The ‘Saahas Shrestha’: Shero (Lion) of Courage has been conferred upon Patricia Mukhim, a fearless peacebuilder and journalist, who is Editor of The Shillong Times. Mukhim has and continues to work tirelessly across ethnic fault lines in India’s North-eastern states. A recipient of numerous national and international awards, including the Indian government’s ‘Padma Shri’, Mukhim said she is very proud and humbled to receive this award, which will be conferred on her and the other awardees on December 16, 2024. She will continue to tirelessly work, as she has over decades, to correct injustices in society.
This writer has seen Mukhim, a household name in Shillong, in action, taking a group of politicians to task for being misogynist. Ahead of the 2022 state assembly elections in Meghalaya, every contending political party in the state had organised a public round table meeting, to outline their party agendas. After they finished, the diminutive Mukhim walked up to the lectern and told the candidates that they and their parties ought to be ashamed for their misogyny. There wasn’t a single woman among the eight representatives of all the political parties, including the national ones. The stunned contenders didn’t know where to look as the audience exploded in applause at her words!
The four Saahas Shakti Awardees include a brave Afghan woman who prefers to remain anonymous, but continues to advocate for gender equality and peacebuilding in Afghanistan, amplifying the voices of Afghan women and girls in national and international policy processes. She is joined by a brave social activist from Cox’s Bazar, Bangladesh, who empowers women and girls, especially refugees in camps, and also prefers to remain anonymous.
Laxmi Chetri, a grassroots peacebuilder and gender justice advocate in Assam, India, has empowered domestic violence survivors and marginalized women in the Bodoland Territorial Region; and Deepa Pawar, an activist from Maharashtra, India, advocating for the rights of women and girls from NT-DNT (Nomadic and De-notified Tribes) who, as founder of Anubhuti Trust, empowers marginalized communities through education, leadership training, and gender justice initiatives, will also receive this award.
Other categories include the Saahas-e-Azim Award, to be conferred upon four women:
Saeeda Diep, a peace activist and human rights advocate from Pakistan, championing the rights of religious minorities through a gender lens. As the founder of the Centre for Peace and Secular Studies, her work bridges divides through cultural harmony and cross-border peacebuilding initiatives.
Ruchira Gupta, a renowned journalist, filmmaker, and activist from India, dedicated to eradicating sex trafficking. As founder of Apne Aap Women Worldwide, she leads grassroots movements addressing gender-based violence and advocating for systemic change.
Mossarat Qadeem, a peacebuilder and women’s rights activist from Pakistan, pioneering initiatives to prevent violent extremism and foster community resilience. Through her organization PAIMAN Trust, she empowers women and radicalized youth in conflict zones to become agents of peace and reconciliation.
Beena Sarwar, a journalist, filmmaker, and peace advocate from Pakistan, committed to gender equality and fostering dialogue between India and Pakistan. Through initiatives like SAPAN and her impactful documentaries, she addresses critical issues of human rights, communal harmony, and social justice.
Omar Hafiz, from Srinagar, will receive the Saahas Chetna Award. A peacebuilder and social activist from Kashmir, India, dedicated to empowering marginalized communities, especially Trans persons and other sexual minorities, Hafiz, as the founder of The STEAR, creates safe spaces, challenges stereotypes, and promotes gender equality through innovative programs and youth-led initiatives.
Saahas Mashal Award will be given to the Conflict Victim Women National Network, Nepal, a grassroots organization in Nepal that advocates for the rights of women affected by long years of insurgency and war in Nepal. Focused on transitional justice and gender-sensitive peacebuilding, CVWNN provides psychosocial support, legal aid, and leadership opportunities to women survivors of violence and marginalization through truth telling, memorialization and documenting of their stories.
Beena Sarwar, commenting after the awards were announced, said, “I am absolutely honoured and thrilled to be among the four Saahas-e-Azim awardees including women I greatly respect and admire for their work over decades. Delighted that Sapan News Network advisory council member, the wonderful Patricia Mukhim, is being awarded the WISCOMP Saahas Shresta (Great Courage) award 2024 for Shero of the year in Delhi. I’m also delighted that besides Patricia, three of of the Saahas-e-Azim awardees are part of our wonderful tribe of Southasia Peace Action Network Peacemongers,” said Sarwar.
It is unclear if the awardees from Afghanistan, Bangladesh and Pakistan will be able to receive the awards in person in New Delhi, given logistical issues that exist.
INDIA NEWS STREAM