Parveena Ahanger
Parveena Ahangar and Parvez Imroz have long been at the forefront of the struggle against arbitrary abuses of power in a region of India that has borne the brunt of escalating violence, militarisation and international tension.
Parveena Ahanger is a woman human rights defender and the Chairperson of the Association of Parents of Disappeared Persons (APDPK). She is an active advocate against enforced disappearances and has been at the forefront in demanding justice for victims of violence in Jammu and Kashmir. Ahanger was awarded the Rafto prize in 2017 by the Rafto Foundation in Norway, for her work helping victims of human rights abuses.
Human rights defenders in India face a diverse range of attacks and harassment from state and non-state actors alike, including killing, physical assault, arbitrary detention, threats and judicial harassment.
