Women in the fire of war

On October 7, in London awarded the Anna Politkovskaya Prize. One of the two winners was killed by the house a month before the award

About the prize
The Anna Politkovskaya Prize was established by the International Non -Governmental Organization RAW in War (Reach All Women in War - “Help every woman in the fire of war”).

The first laureate of the award in 2007 was Natalya Estemirova.
In 2008-Afghan human rights activist Malalay Joya.
In 2009, the award was noted by the female movement of Iran One Million Signatures Campaign for Equaly.
In 2010, Dr. Halima Bashir, human rights activist from Sudan, became the laureate.
In 2011, a journalist, lawyer for human rights, ramps Zaitunakh from Syria received the award.
Mary Kolvin, who died in Syria, became a 2012 laureate.
In 2013, the Pakistani schoolgirl and human rights activist Malala Yuzufsai received a high award.
In 2014-Vian Dahil, a deputy of the Iraqi parliament.
The laureate of 2015 was the Syrian journalist Holud Valid.
Last year, there are two winners: Colombian journalist Hinet Bedoi Lima and Russian human rights activist Valentina Cherevatenko.
This year there are also two laureates: Pakistani human rights activist Gulalay Ismail and Gauri Lankesh from India.

The Pashtun human rights activist Gulalai Ismail in 2002 (she was 16 years old), together with her sister, founded the organization of AWARE GIRLS (“Informed Girls”), trying to fight the violence and oppression of women in Pakistan. They held meetings and seminars for girls and young women, defending the rights to education and equal opportunities. One of the participants in the programs of this organization was Malala Yusafzai, the Nobel laureate of the world and the laureate of the Anna Politkvo 2013 Prize.

Gulalai was repeatedly threatened for her activities. The AWARE GIRLS organization was declared an agent of the CIA in Pakistan. On May 16, 2014, four armed militants broke into the Gulalai house. But her luggage was detained at the airport - and this fell as a result of her life.

Despite the threats and danger that she and her family faces, Gulalai continues her work in Pakistan.

In 2010, Gulalai created a “youth peaceful network”, which opposes the “talibanization” of young people in Pakistan. In 2013, she created the Maratyal telephone line to assist women, victims of violence. In 2016, together with partners, Gulalai created the “Paksko-Afghan Feminine Network of the World”, which unites women-peacekeepers from both countries seeking a solid world in the region.

Gauri Lankesh - a fearless journalist from Bangalore, like Anna, was killed near her house (September 5, 2017).

Gauri Lankesh was known as a cruel opponent of nationalism, division by caste and gender principles. She defended the Naksalites (Maoist rebels who for a long time fought against the Indian government) stubbornly fought so that the small nations cease to be marginal so that freedom was not only in statements, but also in consciousness.

After her murder, crowds of people went out into the streets in protest and memory.

RAW in WAR also notes the brave representative of the people of Rohingya Jamalida Run. He herself became a victim of rape in Myanmar, she played a significant role in attracting the attention of the world community to gross violations of human rights in Myanmar.

"New"

Letter to Anna from Gulalai Ismail

"The choice between hope and darkness"

“Dear Anna, a few days ago I learned that I was awarded a bonus, named after your name, embodied your fearlessness and your persistent persistence to tell the truth to the authorities. This is a great honor for me.

Thanks to this award, I replenished the ranks of the brave women who change the story that with their activities to protect human rights of the most vulnerable members of society, with their struggle with religious extremism and their desire to make this world better at risk of their own life.

For 15 years now I have been working to protect the rights of young women and the fight against religious extremism in our community. During this time, I learned a lot: I learned about what incredible things happen when we boldly and openly tell the truth. I realized that the voice of a person is more powerful than weapons. To put an end to wars and conflicts, we need not weapons, but voices.

My own life experience taught me how easy it is to process young people's brains, how easy it is to convince them to embark on the path of jihad and how difficult it is to keep the young from radicalization. While terrorist organizations are recruited to their ranks of new supporters, in Pakistan I urge young people to the ranks of peacekeepers, civilian activists, I try to distract them from entering into paramilitary groups, I strive to make them possible to realize their potential. I am sure that if all young people will have such opportunities that I give them and which our work opens before them, they, like me, will make the right choice.

Anna, the world may seem like a hopeless place, when everywhere, in hundreds of points of the globe, conflicts occur when they persecute people like us.

Matley Khan, a young guy from my village, was full of wonderful ideas. His father often told him that it was better not to share his ideas with others, because others may not understand him. Nevertheless, Matley was a real humanist, he always preached tolerance. On April 13, 2017, Mashala was accused of blasphemy, and he was torn to pieces by a crowd of young people at his own university. Today, his sisters cannot return to school/university because of fear for their lives.

How painfully it is painful to realize what people have to choose between the right to freedom of speech and the right to life. No one should be faced with such a choice. And yet I want to tell you, Anna, that even hope is warming in the darkness. Young strong voices sound louder and stronger, they are heard in the gloomy zones of the conflict. Jamalid Run, a brave representative of the people of Rohyingj, subjected to rape of Myanmar’s special services, spoke about what happened to her about the abuse of other women from her village. Despite all the threats, she told the truth and attracted the attention of the whole world to malicious violations of human rights, including ethnic purges that take place in relation to the people of Rohingya. Jamalida became proof of the power that the truth said in person has.

We are not alone, our voices will become the voices of many, they will help to change the world. Anna, I promise you that we will not leave our land in today's state, we will turn it into a more worthy and peaceful place. Very soon, the power of love will prevail over the power of power.

"Dear Anna, they will never make me shut up."

There is only one choice between darkness and hope - hope.

With love, Gulalai Ismail "