Khawar Mumtaz | |
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| Born | 29 June 1945 Karachi, British India |
| Education | M.A. International Relations, University of Karachi |
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| Children | Samiya Mumtaz (daughter) |
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Khawar Mumtaz (born 29 June 1945) is a Pakistani women's rights activist, feminist author and university professor. [1] She is the Former Chairperson of the National Commission on the Status of Women (NCSW) who served for three consecutive terms from 2013 to 2019. [2]
Mumtaz is married to Kamil Khan Mumtaz, an architect, and they have three children: a daughter Samiya Mumtaz, a prominent actress, and two sons. Her great-aunt was Ismat Chughtai, an Urdu novelist and filmmaker. [3]
Mumtaz was enrolled in St. Joseph's Convent School, Karachi, Pakistan for primary and secondary education. She completed her higher secondary education from St. Joseph's College, and earned a degree of Bachelor of Arts and Master of Arts in International Relations from the University of Karachi, [4] where she topped in the examination. She has a diploma in French language. [5] She was once offered an opportunity to study at the Sorbonne in Paris. [3]
A sense of fairness and sensitivity to discrimination created the spirit and sew the seeds of activism in her, and she became politically aware during the agitation against General Ayub Khan in the late 1960s. [6] By 1977, a series of repressive laws were enacted, including one that called for the stoning of women accused of adultery to death. [1] She is one of the founders of Women's Action Forum (WAF), [7] [6] which was formed to reject regressive laws introduced by General Zia -ul-Haq regime, and to bring women's issues on political and legislative agenda, and to assert women's equal rights in Pakistan. [6]
She initially started teaching in a university, however, she has to leave the job after she was asked to stop her activism in 1983. [1] Mumtaz is one of three females appointed to coordinate the Shirkat Gah, [8] which is women's rights and development organization engaged in developing research reports, training manuals and advocacy materials, and focuses the issues related to women and environment, women and law, women's reproductive health and rights. She served as the Coordinator and the CEO at Shirkat Gah before joining NCSW as its chairperson. [9] [10] It was the institution that helped develop her understanding, learning and experience. [6]
She brings almost 35 years of experience[ when? ] of teaching and journalism, transnational advocacy and activism, and is specialized in areas such as women's rights and development, women's political participation, poverty and environment, women's reproductive health and rights. [11] Her work spans from capacity building of community-based organizations to research, analysis and evidence-based advocacy with policymakers. [12]
She has over 60 publications to her credit, and her research, writing, and lecturing have focused on women and development, feminism, politics, the economic and environment challenges facing women, and sexual and reproductive health. [13] She has been serving as a member of governing body and board of directors of national and international organizations, [14] including as vice-president of International Union for the Conservation of Nature, and the Society for International Development, [15] [16] ARROW, UNEP International Resource Panel, the Punjab Rural Support Programme, and the PANOS South Asia, [17] and Lead Pakistan. [10] She contributed to the development of Pakistan's national conservation strategy, and represented West Asia on the International Union for Conservation of Nature Council (IUCN). [18] She sits on the board of directors of the International Institute for Sustainable Development (IISD) as well as the editorial panel of the Society for Development's journal, Development. [4] She has served as the member of the International Institute for Sustainable Development (IISD) as well as the editorial panel of the Society for Development's journal, Development, [4] Working Group of Pakistan's Planning Commission on Economy, Poverty and Sustainable Agriculture, [19] and Pakistan Poverty Alleviation Fund (PPAF). [20]
Over the course of her career, she has assumed diverse responsibilities and has got experience serving in universities, organizations, and human rights institutions. She has been the chair of the Senate of Karakoram International University. [21] She has been associated with the women's movement in Pakistan, and has given talks and lectures on several national [22] and international forums [8] on theme relating to women's rights, gender-based violence, women's development and empowerment, and environment challenges that affect women's health. [23]
Under her leadership, NCSW undertook several initiatives that contributed to the implementation of women's rights.
She received many awards for her contribution to women's empowerment. [37]
She has contributed to several books and research reports as the author as well as the Editor.