To mark the Human Rights Day, every year since 2016, on 10th of December, Germany and France

have been jointly presenting the Franco-German Prize for Human Rights and the Rule of Law

to 15 human rights defenders, as a symbol of the common values carried by Germany and France

and an illustration of their joint commitment to the protection and promotion of Human Rights.

 

This year, and for the second time since its creation, the Franco-German Prize for Human

Rights is given to a Pakistani citizen. Ms Nayyab Ali has been presented with this award today

as an acknowledgment of her tremendous commitment for the defence and promotion of the

rights of the transgender community and its inclusion in the Pakistani society. As a researcher

and renowned activist working on gender and minority inclusion issues, Ms Nayyab Ali has been a

resource person for building law enforcement agencies' capacities and sensitization across Pakistan

and for tackling the political, institutional and social challenges of the transgender community. Her

expertise, experience and personal journey have led her to become the national coordinator of All

Pakistan Transgender Election Network, to be an active member of the special committee formed for

the review of the bill which became the Pakistan transgender Persons (Protection of Rights) Act 2018

and also to create the first school for Okara's transgender community. Today, at a ceremony hosted

by the German Embassy, German Ambassador, Bernhard Schlagheck, and French

Ambassador, Marc Baréty, have jointly presented this award to Ms Ali to pay tribute to her

inspiring engagement in favor of the rights of the members of her community and of vulnerable

women and children.

 

The protection of Human rights is one of the overarching objectives of France’s and Germany’s

external action, jointly with the European Union. This strong commitment is also reflected in the

European Union's “Generalised Scheme of Preferences (GSP+)”, granting third countries

preferential trade access to the EU market with the condition of implementing a series of

international conventions. Pakistan and Pakistani people have been beneficiary of the European

Union's GSP+ since 2014.