Pakistani gang-rape victim becomes crusader for women's rights

Progress is human rights is only possible when ordinary people bravely go out on a limb and take action.

Here is an inspiring story of such a person, from the March 20 edition of The Scotsman:

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A PAKISTANI woman who turned her tribal gang-rape ordeal into a crusade for women's rights was honoured by the Council of Europe yesterday.

Mukhtar Mai was gang-raped on the order of elders in her remote village in southern Punjab - an act supposed to restore her family's honour after her younger brother's involvement with a girl from a rival tribe.

Instead of accepting her "punishment" and saying nothing, Ms Mai, a farmer's daughter, started legal action and successfully fought her case in Pakistan's highest court, where her attackers were convicted.

The case shocked Pakistan, and Ms Mai used her government compensation money to set up a village school and found an organisation to counter violence against women.

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