Meet the daredevil activists changing the game for women in Swat
Tabassum Adnan was becoming concerned with how little women in Swat knew about their basic rights. It disturbed her that Swati women were not in control of their own security, and had little knowledge of their right to vote. Victims of violence rarely knew where they could go for help or what options they had, legally or otherwise.
Spurred by the void, she established Khwendo Jirga (Sister’s Council), a sensitisation space where women come together to discuss problems ranging from chilling acid attacks to collectively improving their security.
“I received a positive response [from the community] and formed the Jirga,” Tabassum says, “Women from different areas gather, discuss their issues and resolve them.”
Drawn to this unique space, women began to meet regularly in the Sister’s Council to talk about honour killings, acid attacks, and other violations in the community.