Yasmeen Hassan
American lawyer and women's rights activist
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Yasmeen Hassan (Urdu: یاسمین حسن) is a Pakistani-American attorney and international women's rights activist. She served as the Global Executive Director of Equality Now from 2011 to 2022.[1]
Yasmeen Hassan | |
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یاسمین حسن | |
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| Born | 1969 |
| Alma mater | Mount Holyoke College, Harvard Law School |
| Known for | Lawyer, Human Rights Advocate |
| Awards | Forbes' 50 over 50, Sakhi for South Asian Women Gender Justice Award, Stanford Law School National Public Service Award |
Background
Hassan was born and raised in Pakistan.[2] She moved to the United States in 1987 to attend Mount Holyoke College, earning a BA, magna cum laude, Phi Beta Kappa in Political Science in 1991. She obtained her J.D. magna cum laude from Harvard Law School in 1994.[1]
The Islamization of Pakistan under the government of general Muhammad Zia-ul-Haq was the primary impetus for Hassan's future advocacy for women and girls. She witnessed at an early age how these legal shifts effectively reduced women to second-class citizens. This experience alerted her to the potential of law as a driving force for social change, motivating her to pursue a legal education.[3]
Career
Hassan's commentary has featured on CNN, Al Jazeera, and in The New York Times,[4] The Washington Post,[5] The Sunday Times,[6] and The Huffington Post.[7]
Hassan has been a member of the advisory board for Gucci's Chime For Change campaign since 2013. Hassan was previously a member of the advisory circle for the Women's Building in New York City.