Shahnaz Bukhari

Shahnaz Bukhari is an Pakistani clinical psychologist, and activist. She is founder and director of the Progressive Women’s Association (PWA).

Education

Master's of Science from Punjab University, Lahore.

Activism

*Bukhari lobbied for the institution of all-female police stations in Pakistan and was successful in January 1994, under Prime Minister Benazir Bhuttocite news
title=Bio of Bukhari at Women's eNews
publisher=Women's eNews
url=http://www.womensenews.org/article.cfm/dyn/aid/1637#Bukhari
date=2004-05-20]
*Bukhari stablished the first destitute home in Rawalpindi for female Domestic Violence victims (known as AASSRA) in 1999, in her own home. It was intended as a safe haven where battered women with children could acquire self-respect and were empowered to plan their futures. AASSRA accommodates 30 residents at a time. It has supported 150-120 women per year since it started in spite of police raids.
*Bukhari and the Progressive Women's Association have uncovered over 5,675 stove-death victims as part of the 16,000 cases they have documented of violence against women.

Controversy in Pakistan

*In 2001, she was arrested for "abetting an attempt to commit adultery." In the case, after a woman fled the AASRA shelter seeking escape from an abusive husband, Bukhari was charged for failing to deliver the woman to the authorities. She was tried under nation's Sharia law and exonerated two years later.

Awards and Recognitions

* May 20, 2004 - 21 Leaders for the 21st Century Awardcite news
title=21 Leaders for the 21st Century Award for 2004
publisher=Women's eNews
url=http://womensenews.org/21leaders2004.cfm
date=2004-05-20]
* 2003 - Civil Courage Prize, New York-based Northcote Parkinson Fund

External links

* [http://www.pwaisbd.org/ Progressive Women's Association]

References