Dr. Fouzia Saeed, a social scientist with a PhD from the University of Minnesota , is the author of "Taboo!
The Hidden Culture of a Red Light Area," based on 8 years of field
research among prostitutes in Pakistan .
Dr. Saeed is well known in the activist circles of
Pakistan 's
social movement, having worked for decades on women’s issues especially those
linked to violence against women, prostitution, women in the entertainment
business, women’s mobility and sexual harassment. Her work on violence against
women spans over 20 years and includes founding the first women’s crisis center
in Pakistan
in 1991. Her earlier work with the Folk and Traditional Heritage Institute (Lok
Virsa) led to the book, Women in Folk Theater.
During her career she has headed the UN Gender Program in Pakistan ,
served as Pakistan Country Director for Action Aid and currently is an
international consultant in the field of Gender and Development. As a
consultant, over the years, she has worked in Pakistan ,
USA , Bahamas , Philippines ,
Bangladesh , Cambodia , Thailand ,
India , Afghanistan , Fiji
and several other Pacific
Island countries.
Her current activist work includes being the Director of Mehergarh, an
institute committed to transform the youth of this country, an active member of
AASHA, an alliance against sexual harassment at the workplace and an active
member of a campaign against bonded labor. In addition, the urgency to work on
anti talibanization has moved her to be a part of a nationwide movement against
this vicious process. Her main identity remains as a human rights and women’s
activist in Pakistan .