Nighat Added to the Generation Leaders List of TIME Magazine

Nighat Dad, Pakistan’s digital-rights advocate, has been named by the TIME magazine as the next generation leader, for helping Pakistani women fight online harassment.

Time’s next generation leader’s programme basically aims to enlist the young creative leaders who are setting examples for others.

Nighat is a 34 years old lawyer by profession. She is the founder of Digital Rights Foundation (DRF), which is a non-profit organization established in 2012 for educating Pakistanis about their digital rights.

Digital Rights Foundation (DRF) also works against the legislation through which the Government and telecom firms investigates the personal information of public.

[pull_quote_center]“We tell Internet users how to adjust their privacy settings, to make sure they have secure connections, change their passwords regularly and not to share unnecessary information. And women should come seek help if they are targeted and not feel ashamed.”[/pull_quote_center]

Nighat Dad said while sharing her introductory write-up.

According to Nighat, the problem of online harassment is global, and young women are mostly found at risk.

26% of women aged from 18 to 24 reported being stalked mostly online and 25% had suffered online sexual harassment. According to Pakistan’s Federal Investigation Agency (FIA), hundreds of cases of online sexual harassment are investigated each year, but unfortunately many remain unreported.

Criticizing the newly proposed Cyber Crime Bill 2015, Digital Rights Foundation (DRF) said that the bill while offering few protections, provides a blank check for abuse and overreach of blocking powers.

[pull_quote_center]“Every new law has one or two provisions that are really about regulating Internet space in Pakistan, and I try to explain laws in layman’s language to inform common people what the government is actually trying to do.”[/pull_quote_center]

Dad said.

Due to all these efforts of her, Nighat Dad has been named by the TIME magazine as a next generation leader, from whom many can learn for their future lives.