Pashtun filmmaker Samar Minallah Khan was honoured at the sixth annual Diane von Furstenberg (DVF) Awards held on April 25th at the United Nations Headquarters. The awards were created in 2010 by fashion designer Diane von Furstenberg and the Diller-von Furstenberg Family Foundation to honor and support extraordinary women.
The honorees at the United Nations event also included journalist and human rights activist Melanne Verveer who is the first-ever ambassador-at-large for women’s issues at the US Department of State; former US Representative Gabby Giffords and founder of ‘Women in Business’ Adi Tafuna’i.
“I am so privileged to know them and to shed light on their important accomplishments,” Diane told Style.com.
The event, which is held annually, was also attended by US presidential candidate Hillary Clinton, actresses Dakota Fanning, Maggie Gyllenhaal and supermodel Naomi Campbell.
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“If we just look at women as victims we will never see them for the leaders they are,” Verveer told the crowd at the event. “The situation for women in the world is not what it should be. And we are regressing,” she added, citing violence against women and human trafficking as pressing concerns. “Let us remember, if we have a voice, it is our obligation and privilege to use that voice for those who have none,” she said.
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Each honoree will receive $50,000 from the Diller-von Furstenberg Family Foundation.
Samar and her fans took to Twitter to express their excitement:
Humbled and honoured to receive this years DVF Award #DVFAwards #UN pic.twitter.com/STgPEBVWGQ
— Samar Minallah Khan (@SamarMinallahKh) April 24, 2015
"I believe it is important to have men and boys on board to shift the culture of violence and injustice." – @SamarMinallahKh #DVFAwards
— DVF (@DVF) April 24, 2015
So proud of @VitalVoices network leaders @SamarMinallahKh & Adi Tafuna'i @DVF Awards Honorees!!!
— Alyse Nelson (@AlyseNelson) April 24, 2015
Congratulations @SamarMinallahKh Khorey! Truly deserved. #womenempowerment https://t.co/VUzzlnxDGO
— Heelai Noor (@Heelai_Noor) April 24, 2015
When U r honoured, we r honoured. It's pride. We r proud of U. Congratulations @SamarMinallahKh brilliant woman. https://t.co/AJsMgoH7or
— Raza Dotani (@rdotani) April 24, 2015
@Fida_Wassan @SamarMinallahKh You are that face of women empowerment in Pakistan for which Shaheed M.Benazir Bhutto sacrificed her life.
— Shams Tumrani (@SereneTumrani) April 24, 2015
@SereneTumrani @Fida_Wassan @SamarMinallahKh #Pakistan salutes its distinguished daughter.
— Nuaman Ishfaq Mughal (@NuamanM) April 24, 2015
@SamarMinallahKh what a superstar you are! May Allah bless you with ever more success in illuminating Pakistan's name. Ameen.
— Mosharraf Zaidi (@mosharrafzaidi) April 24, 2015
@SamarMinallahKh Congratulations! Your work on the deep-rooted culture of sawara deserve appreciation.
— Peshawar Regi ISSUE (@Regi_Model_Town) April 24, 2015
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