Gender Equality Youth Activist
2164. Amaleehah Aslam-Forrester
Amaleehah Aslam-Forrester, aged 26, from Bristol, is a gender equality youth activist. With lived experience of gender-based violence and a passion to change the world, Amaleehah raises awareness of violence against women and girls through social media, youth work and educational initiatives.
Amaleehah’s projects include the co-development of three educational youth-led films which address topics, such as, forced marriage, honour-based violence and sexual harassment, with the Bristol based charity ‘Integrate UK’.
Amaleehah uses social media to empower women through her Instagram fashion and lifestyle blog and has set up 13 feminist group chats to support women who experienced isolation after the pandemic. Amaleehah supports the next generation of young people to lead social change through the #iwill movement in her role as youth engagement officer at UK Youth. As a next generation champion with the ‘School Of International Futures’, Amaleehah is currently designing an educational resource named “HonourTheGirl” enabling students to reimagine equal futures where all women and girls are safe from harm.
Amaleehah has participated in major global conferences including a UN Global Goals event at the 2020 Dubai Expo, has co-hosted a 5-day End-FGM Summit for Swedish Gender Equality Government Agency and attended the No10 Coronation Big Lunch earlier this year. Now, as a postgraduate student studying MSc Development Studies (Gender) and vice president of the Feminist Society at SOAS University London, Amaleehah is embarking on a career to become a feminist leader and advocate for the well-being of women and girls globally.
The award for Amaleehah coincides with International Day of the Girl, an international observance day declared by the United Nations, to increase the awareness of issues faced by girls around the world and to unite them with advocates for their rights.
Amaleehah said:
“’I am thrilled to receive the Points of Light award on the International Day of the Girl. This award is not just a recognition of my efforts to promote gender equality, but a symbol of collective dedication of countless activists and young people who work to end violence against women and girls. Together, we strive to tackle issues like forced marriage, honor-based violence, and sexual harassment through education, policy developments and systems change. This win belongs to every individual who fights for gender equality and contributes to creating a world where women and girls are empowered, safe and heard. We deserve to be free!”