Consultation: Provincial human rights strategy to be finalised by Dec

Ashraf said work was underway to prepare draft of a law against ‘honour’ killings and on juvenile justice and...

LAHORE: A consultation held on Wednesday to discuss a draft of a Provincial Strategy on Human Rights decided that the strategy should be finalised by December this year.

The consultation was attended by officials from the Human Rights and Minority Affairs, Home, Prisons, Police, Law, Social Welfare, Education and Special Education Departments and the Provincial Commission on the Status of Women.

It was told that the formulation of a strategy for protection of human rights was in accordance with the National Action Plan.

In his opening address, Ministry of Human Rights Director General Muhammad Arshad said efforts were underway to develop a national policy and provincial strategies for protection of human rights. He said these efforts would help clarify responsibilities of the federal and the provincial governments.

Arshad said there were national and international frameworks for protection of human rights. He said fundamental rights were guaranteed under the country’s constitution. There were specific laws dealing with rights of women, children, and people with disabilities, he said. He added that the country had ratified seven of the nine core human rights conventions of the United Nations.

In his keynote address, Federal Secretary Nadeem Ashraf stressed the need for a practical strategy. He said since the 18th Amendment the federal government was working towards enhancing the capacity of the provinces to deal with legislative subjects devolved onto them. He said the provincial governments should address issues related to child labor, domestic violence, women’s rights, and the rights of transgender community on a priority.

Ashraf said several institutions had been established at the federal level for protection of rights. He said a law had been drafted making negligence shown in children’s upbringing a culpable offence. He said work was underway to prepare draft of a law against ‘honour’ killings and on juvenile justice and torture.

Published in The Express Tribune, August 18^th, 2016.