Afghan Sikh Heroine & 2011 UNESCO Prize laureate Senator Dr Anarkali Kaur Honaryar

Anarkali Kaur modern day “Mata Bhago Kaur”  

France: Afghan women’s rights campaigner is the winners of a United Nations award recognizing her outstanding contributions to the promotion of tolerance and non-violence, the UN announced.

Anarkali Kaur, defender of the rights of women and minority groups in Afghanistan received the UNESCO-Madanjeet Singh Prize for the Promotion of Tolerance and Non-Violence, was honoured in a special ceremony on 9 December 2011 at the agency’s headquarters in Paris.

Ms Honaryar is honoured for her work helping women who suffer from domestic abuse, forced marriages and gender discrimination and for her commitment to promote the ideals of human dignity, human rights, mutual respect and tolerance in her country.

After the parliamentary elections of 2010,  Anarkali Kaur became the first non-Muslim woman member of Afghanistan’s Wolesi Jirga, the lower house of parliament.

Watch her YouTube interview
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rDSpPYyEDSk

UNESCO awards peace hero defenders – Dr. Anarkali Kaur Honaryar and Khaled Abu Awwad

United Nations: An Afghan women’s rights campaigner and a Palestinian peace activist are the winners of a United Nations award recognizing their outstanding contributions to the promotion of tolerance and non-violence, the UN announced.

Anarkali Honaryar, defender of the rights of women and minority groups in Afghanistan , and Palestinian activist Khaled Abu Awwad will receive the UN Education, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) Madanjeet Singh Prize for the Promotion of Tolerance and Non-Violence, and will be honoured in a special ceremony on 9 December at the agency’s headquarters in Paris .

Ms. Honaryar will be honoured for her work helping women who suffer from domestic abuse, forced marriages and gender discrimination and for her commitment to promote the ideals of human dignity, human rights, mutual respect and tolerance in her country. Last year she became the first non-Muslim woman to become a member of the Afghan Parliament’s lower house.

Mr. Awwad will receive recognition for his work as a peace activist and leader in the reconciliation process between Palestinians and Israelis. He heads the Palestinian Branch of the Parents Circle Families Forum, an organization of Palestinians and Israelis who have lost immediate family members in the conflict, and is one of the founders of AI-Tariq (The Way), a Palestinian institution for development and democracy.

According to a news release issued by UNESCO, the two laureates, who were selected by an international jury, will receive a $100,000 award, to be split equally between them.

The UNESCO-Madanjeet Singh Prize is awarded every two years and was created in 1995 on the occasion of the 125th anniversary of the birth of Mahatma Gandhi, with the support of the Indian writer and diplomat Madanjeet Singh.

Source: http://womennewsnetwork.net/2011/11/17/unesco-awards-peace-hero-defenders/

Dr Anarkali Kaur Honaryar – Only Sikh Women Senator in Afghan Parliament. Pride

Kabul. Dr. Sayed Makhdom Raheen, Minister of Information and Culture congratulated Anarkali for her being awarded the award of bravery and elimination of violence. Miss Anarkali Hunaryar is an active human rights activist in the country and has got the 2011 award of Madan Jiet Singh for the first time in the history of the nation. Addressing the ceremony Dr. Raheen congratulated Miss Anarkhali and said that we should struggle against all types of violence against women.

Condemning violence against women Dr. Raheen added that I congratulate the victory of Miss Anarkali Hunaryar to all countrymen and praise the services of personality of Madan Jet Singh the good will ambassador of UNESCO who has rendered outstanding services for the South Asian nations and considered his services in growth of culture as very important. The senate message was also read out by Omara Khan Head of the South-Asia for Afghanistan . Miss Anarkali thanked the ministry of information and culture for organizing the ceremony and said that this award does not belong to her but it is the pride of all Afghan people.

http://www.bakhtarnews.com.af/eng/culture/item/473-anarkali-hunaryar-gets-bravery-violence-elimination-award.html

Watch her Latest Full Interview

http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_detailpage&v=y_x2BU3I2ho#t=42s