Rubi Khan: Nepalganj, Nepal
In western Nepal, most unmarried Muslim women of Rubi’s age are only allowed out to herd cattle or
collect fodder.
At 19, Rubi works as a ‘change activist’ with ActionAid partner, the Muslim Community Development Awareness Society. She talks to women about coming out of their homes and claiming their rights.
Rubi says that now, “Muslim women are capable of seeing the chief district officer or any other government institution and putting forward their demands.” She is the driving force behind the HungerFREE Women campaign in Nepalganj, demanding government action on hunger. “Hungry men will beat their wife and children and so they are always the first to eat and they always eat most of the food.”
ActionAid has supported the creation of a new national Women’s Rights Forum, and Rubi has just been elected to be its first chairperson.
