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Four South Asian women win Royal Society of Canada award
Sahar Fatima, Humaira Jaleel, Hina Rani, and Prabsimran Sidhu were recognized for advancing equity and justice.
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Pranavi Sharma - Wed, 10, Sep 2025
- 01:53 EDT
- 28
Sahar Fatima, Humaira Jaleel, Hina Rani, and Prabsimran Sidhu. / Royal Society of Canada
Four South Asian women law graduates have been awarded the Justice Rosalie Silberman Abella Prize by the Royal Society of Canada (RSC). The annual prize is presented to one graduating student from each of Canada’s 24 law schools who is most likely to positively influence equity and social justice.
Sahar Fatima, raised in Scarborough, co-founded the Immigration and Refugee Law Society at Osgoode Hall Law School. She also worked at the Barbra Schlifer Commemorative Clinic, assisting victims of intimate partner violence with immigration matters. Fatima is articling at an immigration law firm and will clerk at the Federal Court. She plans to pursue a career in social justice and equity-driven law.
Humaira Jaleel, a graduate of the University of Manitoba, founded Healthy Muslim Families, a charity serving immigrant and refugee populations. She developed initiatives such as the Court Diversion for Racialized Communities program and the Access to Justice project, which provides legal clinics for women facing domestic violence. Jaleel said her focus is on “equity, access to justice, and the creation of culturally safe spaces for those often excluded from mainstream legal systems.”
At McGill University, Hina Rani directed the Montreal Workers’ Rights Legal Clinic and volunteered at the Native Friendship Centre. She also worked as a research assistant on Indigenous legal orders. Rani will article at Cavalluzzo LLP, continuing her work in advancing social justice issues.
Prabsimran Sidhu of Western Law served on the Equity, Diversity, Inclusion, and Decolonization Committee and worked with Pro Bono Students Canada. She also contributed to the Canadian Institute for the Administration of Justice. Sidhu is articling at the South Asian Legal Clinic of Ontario, focusing on advocacy for marginalized groups.
RSC President Alain-G. Gagnon said, “I was very impressed by the remarkable talents and inspiring contributions of the winners of the Royal Society's awards and distinctions. Through their multifaceted contributions, the winners have demonstrated the value of their research for a world that, thanks to them, will be henceforth better prepared to face emerging challenges.”
The recipients will be formally honored at the RSC Awards Ceremony on Nov.14, 2025, during the society’s Celebration of Excellence and Engagement.
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