Syeda Ghulam Fatima, a Pakistani human rights activist was honoured on Sunday with a Global Citizen award in New York for her dedication to civil rights and labour laws in Pakistan.

Fatima is the elected general secretary of the Bonded Labour Liberation Front (BLLF) Pakistan.

The activist works for the compliance of the International Labour Organisation’s labour standards in Pakistan, and campaigning for the legal rights of brick kiln workers and female domestic staff working through out Pakistan.

Read: HONY helps raise 1.2 million dollars to end bonded labour in Pakistan

Fatima is also a member of the Provincial Committee for Abolition of Bonded Labour Punjab and the District Vigilance Committee.

During his recent visit to Pakistan, photo blogger Brandon Stanton of Humans of New York (HONY) coordinated with Fatima for the relief of bonded labour in Pakistan. HONY did a photo feature depicting Fatima’s struggle as an activist working towards the abolition of bonded labour in the country.

HONY termed Fatima as a modern day Harriet Tubman, and paid tribute to the rights activist who has been shot, beaten and electrocuted during her struggle for ending bonded labour, a form of modern day slavery. HONY’s images had such an impact, that people from around the world donated $2 million to BLLF.

Clinton Global Citizen Awards were established in 2007, and is meant to honour outstanding individuals who bring positive and lasting social change in their communities.

Opinion

Editorial

Battling hate
Updated 15 Mar, 2026

Battling hate

In the current scenario, geopolitical conflict, racial prejudice and religious bigotry all contribute to the threats Muslims face.
TB drugs shortage
15 Mar, 2026

TB drugs shortage

‘CRIMINAL negligence’ is the phrase that jumps to mind when one considers the disturbing consequences of the...
Chinese diplomacy
Updated 14 Mar, 2026

Chinese diplomacy

THERE are signs that China is taking a more active role in trying to resolve the issue of cross-border terrorism...
Fragile gains at risk
14 Mar, 2026

Fragile gains at risk

PAKISTAN is confronting an external shock stemming from the US-Israel war on Iran that few of the other affected...
Kidney disease
14 Mar, 2026

Kidney disease

ON World Kidney Day this past Thursday, the Pakistan Medical Association raised the alarm on Pakistan’s...
Delicate balance
Updated 13 Mar, 2026

Delicate balance

PAKISTAN has to maintain a delicate balance where the geopolitics of the US-Israeli aggression against Iran are...