Teenager from Swat honoured with Muhammad Ali Humanitarian Award in US

Hadiqa Bashir, 13, was awarded for her promotion of rights of women, young girls against forced child marriages

Another teenager from Swat has made headlines after winning the Muhammad Ali Humanitarian Award in Louisville, Kentucky, on Saturday.

Hadiqa Bashir, 13, was awarded for her dedication to the promotion of rights of women and young girls against forced child marriages in Pakistan.

13-year-old Hadiqa Bashir is this year's youngest recipient for her #conviction. #EndChildMarriage #CultureOfCourage pic.twitter.com/jC0BLUl8il

— Muhammad Ali Center (@AliCenter) September 20, 2015

Founder of the Girls United for Human Rights Group, Bashir’s mission is to empower girls in rural areas of Pakistan, eliminate socioeconomic inequality, enable local self-governance and promote people’s advocacy.

Further, through her organization, Bashir aims to reduce discrimination and violence against women, including early and forced marriages, whilst spreading awareness among women about their rights. Bashir has been promoting gender equality despite the risk to her own life.

Read:Swat teenager tackles child marriages

Hosted by four-time Olympic Gold Medalist Janet Evans, the awards were held at the Marriott Louisville Downtown.

The Muhammad Ali Humanitarian Awards honour individuals around the world who have made substantial contributions in attaining peace, social justice, or other positive actions concerning human or social capital. The awards also honor six young people, 30 years and younger, for emulating each of Muhammad Ali’s Six Core Principles: Confidence, Conviction, Dedication, Giving, Respect, and Spirituality.