Pop-up photo exhibition: ‘The Leather Men of Pakistan’

On Tuesday 20 December photo collective NOOR, Oxfam Novib and SOMO will organize a pop-up exhibition in the Humanity House in Den Hague.  NOOR-photographer Asim Rafiqui(opens in new window) traveled for Oxfam and SOMO to Karachi, where he filmed, documented and photographed Pakistan’s leather industry workers’ miserable labour conditions. Much of Pakistan’s leather ends up in clothing and accessories sold by brands in Europe and the United States.

When: Tuesday 20 December 16:00- 18:00
Where: Humanity house, Prinsegracht 8, Den Hague

Pakistan leather by Asim Rafiqui |NOOR

Draft program

• 16.00: Welcome by the moderator
• 16.05: Multimedia presentation from Asim Rafiqui’s work
• 16:10: Explanation about the Pakistan leather industry by SOMO researcher Martje Theuws
• 16:25: Presentation by Rafiqui (NOOR)
• 16.45: Discussion with Martje Theuws (SOMO), Asim Rafiqui (NOOR) and Gerard Oonk (LIW)
• 17.15: Drinks

Reserve now!(opens in new window)

The leather tanning industry in Pakistan employs about 500,000 Pakistanis who often do precarious work under deplorable labour conditions. Chemicals and heavy machinery are used without protective equipment whilst labourers work long hours and still do not earn enough to make a decent living. Leather workers are hired through contractors and have no job security. The leather they produce accounts for 5.4% of Pakistan’s total exports.