Mukhtaran Mai is one of Pakistan’s most well known women’s rights activists. Mukthran was gang raped in her Pakistan, which ranks 121 out of 155 in the United Nations Development Programme 2014 Gender Inequality Index. This index serves as a measure of reproductive health, women’s empowerment, and economic activity.
Mukhtaran, now 42, was raped in 2002, at the age of 28, in her village as a form of honor revenge. She was attacked after her 12-year-old brother was falsely accused of having an affair with an older woman by order of the village council as her punishment.
Mukhtaran walked in Fashion Pakistan Week for the designer Rozina Munib. She wore green.
Mukhtaran’s participation in fashion week was because Rozina Munib wanted to illustrate her courage and show her strength on a larger platform.
The designer explained, “The purpose behind bringing her to Karachi and making her a part of my show is to tell her story so that it gives courage to other women.”
…and boy has she given other women courage. Honor revenge is more common in Pakistan and many women who have experienced what Mukhtaran, will commit suicide or fall into a severe depression. This is because the survivors don’t want to bring dishonor onto her families.
Instead, she stood up for her rights, speaking up against the case, and taking it to the Supreme Court when 4 out of 5 of her attackers were acquitted. The court decision was not reversed, causing an International outcry.
Since her attack, Mai has not only become an advocate for women’s rights, but also named Glamour’s Woman Of The Year and has a best selling autobiography.
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Gang Rape Survivor Sends Strong Message On Fashion Runway was originally published on hellobeautiful.com
