‘Media is vital in portrayal of human rights’

Speakers discuss rights of citizens at PMA's medical conference

KARACHI: Human rights must be judged on the basis of their universal nature, said former general secretary of the Pakistan Medical Association (PMA), Dr Shershah Syed. The 15 people who formulated the United States' Constitution some 240 years ago followed different religions, but they never included religion in it, he said.

He said this while addressing the 'Dr Rasheed Hasan Khan Memorial' session during the 32nd PMA Biennial Medical Conference on Saturday.

Classical dancer Sheema Kermani added that we must give dignity to people and for that we need to emphasise more on liberal and secular education. "Media has an important role in society but unfortunately it is not being played with responsibility."

She added that we need to promote arts and culture so that people can become more tolerant towards each other. However, she also said that we must keep a check on human rights violations happening on a daily basis.

She maintained that the health issues of women are related to poverty, ignorance, lack of education and lack of equal rights, adding that it is time to rethink the terminology, concept and values related to women.

The president of PMA, Punjab, Sahibzada Masoodus Syed, said, "The standards set in Islam for children's rights is far superior than the standard being agreed upon in the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child, 1989."  Former TV show host Sofia Jamal said that real issues are not being highlighted by the media, adding that. news must be informative rather than sensational.

Rights activist Tabinda Sarosh said our society was not as closed in the 1960s or 1970s as it is today. She added that the traces of violence in society are related to military dictator General Ziaul Haq. She added that women in our part of the world are the most vulnerable and have been made into objects and commodities. She stressed that women must be considered human beings before mothers, wives, sisters or daughters.

Published in The Express Tribune, November 13^th, 2016.