NOMINATION FOR INTERNATIONAL WOMEN OF COURAGE AWARD

UNCLAS ISLAMABAD 002974 SIPDIS PLEASE PASS TO S/GWI AND SCA E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PREL PHUM KWMN KPAO PK SUBJECT: NOMINATION FOR INTERNATIONAL WOMEN OF COURAGE AWARD ¶1. Embassy Islamabad nominates Masarrat Misbah for the International Women of Courage award. ¶2. In 2003, Masarrat Misbah, a beautician by profession, decided to take action against an abhorrent cultural practice: acid attacks against women and girls. Men and boys perpetrate these attacks when they feel challenged by the actions of women and girls. Cases range from women spurning marital proposals to girls attending school in perceived "violation" of prevailing cultural norms. South Asia has the world's highest incidence of acid attacks and in Pakistan victims are usually young, between 13 and 30 years of age. In some cases, the attacks are carried out by family members and too often the perpertrators are not charged or punished. A victim is typically attacked in the face, sometimes left blinded or deeply-scarred, but victims may also be burned across the entire body. Disfigurement leads to depression and reduced self-esteem that combined with social ostracism can render a victim helpless in society, unable to be married or find good employment. ¶3. Masarrat Misbah, observing that while these heinous attacks often received wide media attention, little was done to help the victims, decided to start an organization to provide women with the medical and cosmetic care they needed to be able to reintegrate into society. In 2003, she posted an ad in the local newspaper and immediately received 42 requests for help. After six years of work, her Depilex Smileagain Foundation, with the collaboration of Italian, French and Pakistani surgeons, has provided over 800 reconstructive operations free of charge. Misbah's foundation communicates its services via beauty salons nationwide. The foundation's work over the years expanded to include a public awareness campaign engaging the media and government officials, a newly-established vocational training program that has helped 10 acid attack survivors find employment, and the on-going construction of a rehabilitation and vocational training center. The foundation also employs victims as beauticians in the network of Depilex Beauty Centers. ¶4. (U) Masarrat Misbah's work extends beyond that of her foundation. She has become an advocate for the need to challenge this practice socially and to bring justice to perpetrators. Misbah has spoken to many government authorities, including the national Women's Parliamentary Caucus, and has pushed for Pakistani laws to mandate harsher punishments for acid attacks on women. ¶5. (U) Misbah's courageous efforts to assist the women and girls who are the victims of acid attacks are significant because she challenges the ingrained injustices and inequalities that women experience in Pakistani society. Reflective of the risks she has taken, Misbah has received threats against her life demanding that she stop assisting victims and reporting the cases to the police. Recognizing Misbah's efforts through the International Women of Courage award would advance the Mission's goal assisting Pakistan in developing civil society and combating injustice as a means to tackle the root causes of extremism. ¶6. Nominee details: Masarrat Misbah is the President and founder of the Depilex Smileagain Foundation. www.depilexsmileagain.com Ms. Misbah has been informed of this nomination and will accept the award, if selected. DOB: 11/25/1959. COB: Pakistan Citizenship: Pakistan. Address: 22-Z, DHA, Lahore, Pakistan ph: 42-3576-1080 (address must include phone number) Phone: 92-42-3576-1080 Email: massarat.misbah@gmail.com. Passport Number: Post will obtain. Languages: English, Urdu. PATTERSON PATTERSON