HAGUE/QUETTA : In a landmark achievement, Shireen Musa, a social activist from Quetta, Pakistan, has been sworn in as a member of the Dutch Senate. The ceremony took place on September 23, 2025, marking a significant step for representation and a celebration of her human rights work.
Ms. Musa, who is of the Hazara community, will represent the ruling People’s Party for Freedom and Democracy (VVD). Her appointment is seen as a victory for perseverance and a powerful symbol for marginalized communities in South Asia and around the world.
Her journey to the Senate is built on a foundation of dedicated activism. She is the founder of the internationally recognized women’s rights organization “Femmes for Freedom.” The organization works to support women who are victims of forced marriage, marital rape, and gender-based violence globally, including within Europe.
The news of her appointment has been widely welcomed in the Netherlands and has been met with celebration by the Pakistani diasporas, who see her success as a source of inspiration.
In her opening remarks, Musa pledged to use her new role to advance the causes she has long championed.
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“My struggle is for all women who are voiceless,” she stated. “My goal is not just to legislate, but to promote policies that bring real change.”
Shireen Musa’s story serves as a powerful message, particularly for young girls, that with hard work and determination, no destination is out of reach.
