Aisha Mughal

2022 IVLP Impact Award Project: Support Network for the Transgender CommunityPakistan

Aisha Mughal is a transgender woman who works as an activist, researcher and professional trainer. Since 2015, she worked for transgender empowerment, health and rights in Pakistan through the National Commission for Human Rights, the government of Pakistan and her co-founded organization called Wajood Society. Aisha was a member of Pakistan's National Task Force on the Transgender Bill and helped pass the Transgender Persons Act of 2018. She served as the UNDP expert consultant for Pakistan's Ministry of Human Rights from May 2019 to February 2021. In 2020, Aisha became the world's first transgender women to represent the government of Pakistan in the official state delegation at the United Nations. She also was Pakistan's first transgender lecturer and government consultant. In 2021, Aisha was appointed as the ambassador for inclusive education in Punjab. Currently, she works as the director of programs at Wajood Society. 

IVLP Impact Award Project: Support Network for the Transgender Community

Creating a safe space for community members is very crucial in cases of violence and harassment. Transgender people do not feel comfortable when they approach law enforcement agencies and other government authorities. Thus, this intervention aims to lessen the trust deficit between both sides. This project built a support network to bridge the gap between the government departments and grass root community in case of any incidents. This was achieved by holding an advocacy seminar in Islamabad with more than 50 attendees including transgender leaders, embassy staff, allies, government officials and organizations who were invited to discuss the pressing issues faced by the transgender community, as well as to raise awareness on transgender issues in Pakistan more broadly. The sessions that were part of this advocacy seminar were also an opportunity for community members to share their success stories.

The advocacy seminar was followed up with five community meetings with around 15 community members in attendance at each, where health concerns like HIV were discussed, as was anti-trans violence in the country. The number of murders and violence against the transgender community is on the rise, making these efforts more vital than ever. Some seminars also focused on human rights, including an explanation of the Transgender Persons (Protection of Rights) Act of 2018. There were also 9 meetings with government officials to continue promoting dialogue between the transgender community and the government. This intervention has helped facilitate the transgender community to trust in the law, and the pro bono pool of lawyers will be able to provide them relief in hard times.

"Aisha is doing a wonderful job ... to empower the Transgender [individuals] who have been rendered as a marginalized community, so I congratulate her for taking forward the community and getting its dignity and respect..." - Rabiya Javeri Agha, Chairperson of the National Commission of Human Rights

IVLP Exchange Experience 

Aisha was a participant in the IVLP Project: Human and Civil Rights for Marginalized Populations for the Indo-Pacific, organized by the U.S. Department of State and Cultural Vistas.

Aisha's exchange experience led to the development of her IVLP Impact Award Project: "IVLP is a good learning experience, and it gives us, the young community leaders, a platform to enhance our knowledge and exposure. I'm looking forward to the in-person IVLP program!"

U.S. Communities Visited Virtually

Washington, DC; Orlando, FL; Atlanta, GA; Honolulu, HI

Country: Pakistan

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