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Shahzadi Rai

Trans Rights Activist & Motivational Speaker

Shahzadi Rai is a Karachi-based trans rights and HIV activist and motivational speaker, working with Bridge Consultants Foundation as DIC Incharge on an HIV prevention project by UNDP. Recently, she has taken a lead role in countering hate speech against the Transgender Rights Protection Act 2018, organising media campaigns, press conferences, and the first trans-led political event, Sindh Moorat March, to raise visibility and support for transgender rights. In 2023, Shahzadi was elected as the first transgender city councillor in Karachi Metropolitan Corporation (KMC) from Pakistan People's Party, marking a historic step in local government for trans representation.

Her activism spans over a decade, advocating for marginalised communities, including transgender individuals, women, and sex workers.She began reaching vulnerable groups and addressing cases of gender-based violence in 2012, and went on to design a community-led gender violence response and founded PECHRA to end violence against transgender individuals.

Ms Rai played a vital role in drafting the Transgender Rights Bill, passed in 2018, and has continued advocacy efforts to secure trans participation in the Sindh local government elections, working closely with political parties. She was the first trans woman on the organising committee of Aurat March and has been working with them for 4 years. She also represented the trans community in Climate March 2021.

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