Young Pakistani lawyer’s decade-long fight for menstrual equity and gender justice earns global recognition
Pakistani activist and lawyer Mahnoor Omer has been named among 16 global leaders featured on TIME magazine’s annual Women of the Year list, honoring women working toward a more equitable world.
At 25, Omer has spent a decade advocating for gender equality, most recently challenging Pakistan’s so-called “period tax,” which critics say makes sanitary products unaffordable for millions. The issue gained renewed attention after Omer filed a landmark constitutional petition last September seeking relief for women and girls disproportionately affected by high costs and limited access. The case was first heard in late 2025 and is awaiting a government response.
Omer began her activism at 14, founding the Noor Foundation to conduct workshops in rural communities on sexual violence, climate change and menstrual health. According to UNICEF, only 12% of women in Pakistan use commercially produced sanitary products, with many relying on cloth, a practice linked to health risks and school absenteeism.
Now pursuing a master’s degree in gender, peace and security at the London School of Economics, Omer said the recognition underscores the potential of Pakistani women. “I’m not free until every woman is free,” she said, pledging to continue her legal fight for gender minorities and marginalized communities nationwide.
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