Mohna Ansari ; Nepals first female Muslim lawyer
April 19, 2016
In this man dominated world, it is
difficult for women to achieve something big especially to those who live in a
developing country like Nepal.
But advocate Mohna Ansari proved her
mettle and shown the world that everything is possible with
firm determination and hard work.
Mohna Ansari
Apart from being only female Muslim
attorney in Nepal she is also the member of Nepal Human Rights Commission,
“In our community women’s leadership
is not easily accepted. Our religion mentions equality, equal opportunity for
education and even having the choice of marriage. In practice, however, due to
cultural reasons, women leaders are not accepted by the society. I faced lots
of challenges while I was going to school, at times my family was even asked
why they were sending me to school.” She said in an interview with
International IDEA.
A carpenter’s daughter, she studied
in a government school and dropped out after a year in college due to financial
problem. A scholarship enabled her to restart education after a gap
of three years and in 2003 Ansari passed out as law graduate from Mahendra
Multiple College of Nepalgunj becoming the first Muslim female law graduate.
After doing graduation, Ansari went
on to work for global NGO’s, from where she progressed to UNDP and then to
National Women’s Commission. It was while working at NWC as commissioner that
she got a call from the Prime Minister’s office to join NHRC.
Now Mohna Ansari works earnestly for
the rights of the marginalized section of society. Nepal having undergone
significant political upheaval in the last decades is fraught with many human
rights issues. Madhesis are a historically under privileged class who having
felt neglected by Nepal’s new constitution rose in protest in Tarai region in
September 2015. Government used force to subdue their protest and close to
fifty people ended up losing their lives.
When Ansari raised the issue of
Madhesis publically and question the use of force by army against the protest
of civilians she landed in the eye of storm. Criticism and threats
poured in from several quarters. In her own words “It is very difficult to
operate”.
Her approach to the UN Human Rights
Council in Geneva, with regard to use of force against Madhesi protesters has
not gone too well with the government. However she has the support of social
activists and human rights groups. Amnesty International, Human Rights Watch
and International Commission of Jurists come out in her support.
Mohna has also raised issues
relating to gender justice and women empowerment and supports 33% reservation
for women in government jobs. “I raised a lot of issues, especially violence
against women, and advocated for a gender bill to end discriminatory
practices,” Ansari told while talking to Al Jazeera
She got recognition of her work and
was conferred upon Suprabal Jana Sewa Shree award and the Nava Devi Award, both
in 2012.
On her twitter page she writes ‘My life has a meaning. My misfortune has
become useful to the community
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