Tasneem Ahmar, Pakistan – 2009 Honoree

Tasneem Ahmar is Director of the Uks Research Center, a research, resource and publication center focused on women and media in Pakistan, a country where less than 5% of journalists are women. Disturbed by the negative portrayal of women in Pakistani media, Ahmar launched Uks in 1997 to sensitize the media on how to report on women and human rights in a more balanced way. Under Ahmar’s leadership, Uks has worked tirelessly to promote gender equality through sensitization workshops, mentoring, media advocacy and media monitoring.

In 2003, with support from Internews, Uks launched Meri Awaz Suno, the first independent, syndicated radio program produced by and for women. With Ahmar at the helm as Executive Producer, Uks has produced 16 series to date on a variety of topics including the 2005 Pakistan earthquake, honor crimes, violence against women, peace and justice and legal rights.  Meri Awaz Suno is one of Uks’ most successful programs. 

In addition to improving the portrayal of women in media, Ahmar has also focused on women working in Pakistani media.  She formed the Pakistani Women’s Media Network, which is committed to bringing women working in print and electronic media under one platform to encourage more positive portrayals, increase representation at all levels, and improve conditions for women working in media.

Among her many accomplishments, Ahmar began her career as a journalist for the English language daily, The Muslim, in 1979. A freelance journalist since 1986, her cover story on violence against women entitled “Trial by Fire” was published in The Herald and presented at the 1995 Beijing Conference on Women.  She has authored papers, participated in numerous conferences and seminars focused on women’s issues and contributed to media studies and guides on issues ranging from violence against women to HIV/AIDS and gender sensitivity in the media.

Internews honors Tasneem Ahmar for her leadership in improving coverage of women’s issues and bringing women’s voices and perspectives to Pakistan’s media.

Q & A with Tasneem Ahmar

2009 Internews Media Leadership Awards