UN Women mourns death of Pakistan rights activist Irfan Khudi

UN Women expresses its deep shock and sorrow at the death of Irfan Khudi Ali, a member of the UN Women Civil Society Advisory Group in Pakistan, in the Quetta bomb blast on 10 January, in which over a hundred people were killed and scores more seriously injured. We join the members of the Civil Society Advisory Group in jointly expressing our deepest condolences to Irfan’s family for this tragic loss and that of his brother-in-law. Our thoughts for an early recovery are also with his injured brother.

Irfan Khudi Ali was a strong and committed human rights defender and a beacon to the youth movement in Pakistan, advocating for the rights of all women and men in the country. Eleven years ago, Irfan Khudi Ali founded the organization Human Rights Commission for Social Justice and Peace, in Balochistan, through which he worked tirelessly toward improving the status of women and youth in those challenging geographical areas. His work with youth, women and minorities, among other vulnerable sectors of the population, made him a respected human rights defender in the country. The Civil Society Advisory Group members and the whole UN Women team in Pakistan will honour his memory by acting upon his pledge: “I am born to fight for human rights and peace. My religion is respect and love all the religions.”