Pakistani Lawyer Mahnoor Umar Named to Time (magazine) Women of the Year 2026 List
Islamabad: Pakistani lawyer and women’s rights activist Mahnoor Umar has been included in Time magazine’s Women of the Year 2026 list in recognition of her advocacy for gender equality and menstrual health rights.
Mahnoor Umar gained national attention in September 2025 when she filed a petition in court challenging the so-called “period tax” imposed on menstrual hygiene products in Pakistan. Her legal action sparked widespread debate across the country on the affordability and accessibility of essential sanitary products.
Alongside Mahnoor, 16 other global figures were featured on the list, including Olympic gold medalist Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone and Oscar-nominated filmmaker Chloé Zhao.
According to the report, Mahnoor founded the Noor Foundation at the age of 14, organizing workshops in rural areas on climate change, menstruation awareness, and gender-based violence. A conversation with a domestic worker about the high cost of sanitary pads led her to realize that menstrual hygiene remains out of reach for many women in Pakistan.
Estimates by UNICEF suggest that taxes on sanitary products increase their prices by up to 40 percent in Pakistan, while only 12 percent of women use commercially produced pads or tampons. The use of cloth alternatives often raises health concerns and contributes to school absenteeism among girls.
The 25-year-old activist is currently pursuing a Master’s degree in Gender, Peace and Security at the London School of Economics. She has stated, “I am not free until every woman is free,” vowing to continue her legal struggle for the rights of women and gender minorities in the years to come.
