Pakistan review: Report on rights record awaits finishing touches

Report for UPR to be submitted by Nov 15

ISLAMABAD: The Ministry of Human Rights has given an October 15 deadline to relevant departments across the nation that have failed to provide input on rights-related developments that need to be incorporated in a key report before it is submitted to the United Nations.

A draft of the report has been prepared by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, in collaboration with the Ministry of Human Rights, and provides detailed insights into all human rights related developments in Pakistan from 2012 to 2017.

The report on human rights is to be submitted by November 15 for the third Universal Periodic Review (UPR) of Pakistan.

While talking to The Express Tribune, an official privy to the report, said that the deadline is approaching but the report has not been finalised since relevant information is still missing.



He said that the human rights ministry has given a reminder to all relevant departments, such as Ministry of interior, overseas Pakistanis and social welfare to name but a few. He added that the report is almost complete but requires finishing touches.

Ministry of Human Rights Secretary Rabiya Javeria Agha, while chairing a meeting on Tuesday, said that it was an honour for the government of Pakistan to present the UPR and “show the world the progress we have made in providing human rights to the people from 2012 to 2017”. This, she added, will set the tone for a dialogue and constructive engagement with the international community.

The report will include details of developments since the last review while also providing updates on the statuses of accepted recommendations and their implementations. Challenges, national priorities and the commitment to protect and provide human rights will also be included, she explained.

This is the third UPR - mandatory for all UN member states since 2006 - that Pakistan is a part of, the first being on May 8, 2008 and the second on October 30, 2012.



The report contains legal, institutional and policy related developments at both provincial and federal levels. It will also shed some light on the government’s institutional mechanisms that ensure the implementation of laws and policies, in relation to human rights.

The report, most importantly, contains the National Action Plan on Human Rights and how it was adopted. In addition, it discusses all the various rights that a human being is entitled to as a citizen of a country, which include but are not limited to civil, political, economic, social and cultural rights, while also talking about the rights to education, adequate housing, health, food, freedom of opinion, to choose religion and rights for women, children and minorities.

“The Ministry of Human Rights sees UPR as a unique mechanism that can be used to identify human rights challenges, with tangible solutions on a non-politicalised forum,” said Rabiya Javeria Agha.