GENEVA: In honor of International Women’s Day and the 75th anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR), a painting of the late Begum Shaista Ikramullah, a renowned Pakistani human rights activist, was unveiled at Palais Wilson, the headquarters of the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR).
During a solemn ceremony attended by UN and Pakistani officials, the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, Volker Turk, and Pakistan’s Ambassador to the UN offices in Geneva, Bilal Ahmad, performed the unveiling.
Begum Ikramullah, Pakistan’s first female member of Parliament and former Ambassador to Morocco, had a significant impact as a delegate to the United Nations, advocating for equal rights for men and women and emphasizing the importance of women’s participation in advancing human rights globally.
Pakistan’s Foreign Office contributed the painting to commemorate Begum Ikramullah’s tireless efforts in advancing the international human rights agenda.
Ambassador Bilal expressed immense pride on behalf of all Pakistanis, noting that Begum Shaista Ikramullah’s portrait now graces the halls of Palais Wilson. He emphasized her enduring influence, highlighting Pakistan’s steadfast commitment to human rights and gender equality, with Begum Ikramullah serving as a source of inspiration.
Recognizing Begum Ikramullah’s contributions, High Commissioner Volker Turk described her as a beacon for human rights defenders worldwide, acknowledging her significant role in shaping the discourse on equality and rights for all individuals.
He also underscored the vital leadership role of women in various spheres of public life, from driving the Pakistan Movement to contributing to arts, culture, politics, and governance.
