STOCKHOLM: This year, Anna Lindh’s Memorial Fund wants to draw attention to a champion of strengthening working conditions for sanitation workers and other marginalized groups. This year’s Anna Lindh Prize goes to human rights lawyer Mary James Gill, who through her tireless work has contributed to increased safety and dignity for
sanitation and waste disposal workers in Pakistan.
Sanitation workers, those who ensure that sanitation systems work, are fundamental to everyone’s health, but millions of them today work in terrible conditions without protective equipment, social safety or access to human rights.
Their situation is rarely noticed, and by awarding the Prize to Mary James Gill, Anna Lindh’s Memorial Fund wishes to draw attention to the
situation of sanitation workers around the world.
Mary James Gill was nominated by WaterAid Sweden, an organization that works toensure that people in the world’s poorest and most marginalized communities have sustainable access to clean water, sanitation and hygiene. – As a lawyer and activist, Mary James Gill connects human rights, health and working conditions, not least through the Sweepers Are Superheroes campaign. Mary’s insistent work for the most vulnerable groups, based on human rights, is entirely in line with the values Anna Lindh stood for. Therefore, we are very proud to award Anna Lindh’s prize 2020 to Mary James Gill, says Lena Hjelm-Wallén, Chairman of Anna Lindh’s Memorial Fund and former Foreign Minister in Sweden.
Mary James Gill is a Pakistani politician, lawyer and human rights activist. Ms. Gill was elected on a reserved seat for women as Member Punjab Assembly for 2013-2018 tenure. She has been vocal on minority rights and issues related to women, children, transgender and persons with special abilities.
Mary James Gill is Founder & Managing Partner of James & Sharif, a human rights law firm. Currently she is serving as Executive Director of Center for Law and Justice, a research-based policy and advocacy organization. She is also founder of the advocacy campaign Sweepers Are Superheroes to outline horrific attitudes and working conditions towards sanitation workers and garbage collectors. The campaign aims to bring dignity, safety and social protection to the sanitation sector in Pakistan.
Her main areas of interest are problems of minority women, improving socio-economic and social inclusion working conditions of vulnerable working classes and mainstreaming religious minorities in political and parliamentary processes.
The award ceremony will take place on 18 November – in conjunction with World Toilet Day November 19.
