We are really pleased to announce that Shaista Gohir OBE of the Muslim Women’s Network UK (MWNUK) has been appointed to the House of Lords as a non-party-political peer. She was selected by the House of Lords Appointments Commission following an independent competitive process and recommended to the Prime Minster because of the expertise and experience she will be able to bring to the work of the House.

Shaista, who is of Pakistani heritage, has worked in the charity sector for nearly twenty years and is a leading women’s rights campaigner, recognized as one of the most influential Muslim women in Britain.

As a leading voice on issues relating to Muslim women, Shaista has ensured their lived experiences inform policy making. For example, she successfully challenged the Foreign Office policy on charging 16-17-year-old forced marriage victims repatriation fees. She conducted ground-breaking research on sexual exploitation of Asian girls and contributed to the government’s Sharia Law Review with her research on Muslim marriage and divorce. Her report on Muslim women’s experience of the criminal justice system shone a light on the justice gap faced by victims of abuse while her latest report, which will be published in June 2022, will focus on the harms experienced by Muslim women and their babies during their maternity care.  Her other achievements have included setting up the national Muslim Women’s Network Helpline, Counselling Service. She also established the APPG on Muslim Women.

In addition to her work at MWNUK, Shaista has served on various national and international advisory groups and boards.  She is currently a Non-Executive Director at the University Hospital North Midlands NHS Trust and the Women’s Voices Lead at the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists, an honorary role with responsibility for ensuring women’s views and experiences of maternity and gynaecology services are heard.  Her passion for social justice led to her to also founding a new charity last year, the Nisa Global Foundation, which will help women and girls in developing countries. Shaista has already been awarded the MBE for services to Muslim People and to Community Relations and OBE for Gender Equality and Women’s Rights.

Source: Muslim Women’s Network UK