Founder and Executive Director, Peace Education and Development Foundation, Pakistan
In Pakistan, women represent approximately 23 percent of the national parliament. Women in Pakistan continue to identify avenues to increase their participation in politics and attain leadership positions, including the implementation of quotas. Though women continue to increase their role in public life, cultural, and traditional barriers still impede their participation in some tribal and rural areas. These barriers have prevented some women from running for office, earning leadership roles in their political party, and voting. Sameena Imtiaz is the founder and executive director of the Peace Education and Development (PEAD) Foundation, which focuses on peacebuilding, human rights, and democracy in Pakistan. Imtiaz has more than 13 years of experience in the development sector focusing specifically on human rights, conflict transformation, peace-building, and democratic development. Imtiaz works extensively with religious clerics to promote understanding towards other faiths and was instrumental in establishing the Coalition for the Rights of Minorities, a civil society forum that addresses issues religious minorities face in Pakistan. In addition, Imtiaz is the provincial coordinator of the Women’s Coalition for Moderating Extremism, and works with the Women’s Action Forum, a Pakistani women’s rights advocacy organization. She also established and leads the Peace Network Pakistan, a national-level advocacy forum of leading civil-society organizations.
Diplomatic Courier honors the Top Global Women who have worked to improve the world. Download the entire list here.
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Sameena Imtiaz
March 25, 2014
Founder and Executive Director, Peace Education and Development Foundation, Pakistan
In Pakistan, women represent approximately 23 percent of the national parliament. Women in Pakistan continue to identify avenues to increase their participation in politics and attain leadership positions, including the implementation of quotas. Though women continue to increase their role in public life, cultural, and traditional barriers still impede their participation in some tribal and rural areas. These barriers have prevented some women from running for office, earning leadership roles in their political party, and voting. Sameena Imtiaz is the founder and executive director of the Peace Education and Development (PEAD) Foundation, which focuses on peacebuilding, human rights, and democracy in Pakistan. Imtiaz has more than 13 years of experience in the development sector focusing specifically on human rights, conflict transformation, peace-building, and democratic development. Imtiaz works extensively with religious clerics to promote understanding towards other faiths and was instrumental in establishing the Coalition for the Rights of Minorities, a civil society forum that addresses issues religious minorities face in Pakistan. In addition, Imtiaz is the provincial coordinator of the Women’s Coalition for Moderating Extremism, and works with the Women’s Action Forum, a Pakistani women’s rights advocacy organization. She also established and leads the Peace Network Pakistan, a national-level advocacy forum of leading civil-society organizations.
Diplomatic Courier honors the Top Global Women who have worked to improve the world. Download the entire list here.
