Wagma Feroz, a young woman rights activist and documentary filmmaker hailing from the tribal belt of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa is our IVLP alumna (2015). She has been engaged in peace-building activities for more than a decade, using the creative tools of theatre, films, media, and training workshops to support social change and counter violent extremism in Pakistan. She has recently earned the international Stefanus Prize in recognition of her outstanding contribution to promoting human rights. After eminent human rights defender and lawyer Ms. Asma Jahangir, Wagma is the second woman and the youngest one from Pakistan who won this “prestigious award”.
Wagma strongly believes that true democracy is based on the realization of human rights and gender equality. Women’s participation in politics, economy, academia, and media is fundamental to strengthening democracy, restoring peace, and achievement of sustainable development goals. With this vision in her mind, after her return from IVLP, she created an awareness campaign about women’s right to vote, as women in tribal areas were not allowed to vote or have their voices heard in public debates. Wagma mobilized the communities through street theaters and awareness seminars. As a result, 120 street theaters were conducted about the importance of women’s participation in the political process. A survey regarding the impact of these theatres revealed that there was a 30% rise in women’s participation in the elections and ongoing political processes.
At the age of 19 (2010), she created “Da Torsaro Saadar” (women empowerment) – a nonprofit, where she started advocating for peace, girls’ education, and women’s empowerment. In 2020, she started working for the rights of a religious minority and started educating faith leaders using the ‘Live What You Believe’ pieces of training and short film series.
During the pandemic the focus has shifted to online and digital media, Wagma started mobilizing communities on the importance of interfaith harmony through media, video blogging, and short documentary films. In 2021, She equipped 90 women with skills and knowledge through the training sessions. Her documentary film “She Makes Everything Beautiful” won the 2021 Religious Freedom Film Competition, and her works are widely covered by international media outlets. In June 2022, she led the first-ever women’s film festival and interfaith roundtable in Islamabad where Pakistani women filmmakers screened their artistic works. PUAN wishes Wagma Feroz all the best for all future projects. May she continue to fill women with enthusiasm and make them want to do more with their lives.
