Ratna Lachman was a well known human rights campaigner and the Director of civil rights organisation Just West Yorkshire. Sadly, the much loved feminist, passed away on Sunday 23 July following a long battle with cancer.
Ratna leaves behind an organisational legacy in JUST, and with that a lifetime of work that aimed to systematically dismantle structures that perpetuate inequality. Throughout her lifetime, Ratna spoke fearlessly and uncompromisingly in her relentless determination to secure freedoms and equality for minorities. Ratna though small in stature was a mighty force on the most critical issues, which she constructively challenged with the Government and many leading institutions to reconsider their positions on a whole host of policy issues with great success.
It is because of the work of people like Ratna that the Government itself is reconsidering its approach to counter-terrorism and namely PREVENT, which Just West Yorkshire will be taking up further by publishing an independent review so that the Government, people like the Mayor of Manchester, Andy Burnham etc can commence a much needed local and national conversation of “what’s next” framed in the context of human rights. This is just one example of Ratna’s legacy that she leaves behind.
Nadeem Murtuja, Chair of JUST Yorkshire said:
Ratna will be incredibly missed – she is, and always will be an irreplaceable force – championing the cause of human rights, civil liberties, feminism and mainly Muslims, who she felt had been hung out to dry since this horrific ill-fated war on terror. Ratna had a simple view, and that was that all of our freedoms were connected…whether those be religious freedom, feminism or choice – none of these were mutually exclusive. To stand up for one freedom, was equal to standing up for them all.
Ratna, fiercely opposed the national / Queens honours and would stop any suggestion she should be awarded an honour. Not because she did not support the concept of “being honoured for contribution to public life” to the contrary she did. Ratna was of the view that to be honoured with an honourary award that included the term “empire” is akin to whitewashing the history and hurt that many of the minorities she spoke for still suffered from today, and in this regard she hoped that the Government and monarchy consider how minorities are awarded for their contributions in public life without compromise.”
Ms Lachman was also a regular contributor to the Asian Sunday newspaper, and had worked tirelessly to speak out against injustices and was never afraid to write about issues that were not just difficult but also challenging.
We therefore, share with the Team of Just West Yorkshire the strongest tribute to Ratna Lachman, for her spirit, contribution and leadership – she fought throughout her lifetime, even during when this disease of cancer had taken a grip on her own life, she still fought tirelessly for the human rights of others, whilst forsaking her own. Ratna certainly leaves a deep void for the people of Yorkshire, but her legacy will most certainly live on.
The funeral will take place on Wednesday 2 August at Rawdon Crematorium, Leeds Rd, Rawdon from 3pm.
Attendees are being requested that if they wish to offer flowers, to instead donate the money to the Sue Ryder Hospice.
Anyone wishing to pay tribute to the human rights and civil liberties champion can do so by emailing tributes@justyorkshire.org.uk
