The realm of human rights has been neglected by successive governments
HYDERABAD: The realm of human rights has been neglected by successive governments in Pakistan to the point where only massive killings or terrorist attacks have managed to grab the state’s attention. The responsibility for the protection of life of citizens has been left for the private sector organisations, commissions and NGOs.
Not just law and order, eliminating poverty, improved living standards through provision of basic facilities like health and education are basic human rights too, which the governments either fail to realise or blatantly choose to ignore. Moving onto other issues of abuse, rape, acid attacks, property or privacy theft, the masses mainly approach NGOs for swift and transparent resolution of matters. Unfortunately, in many cases pertaining to violation of human rights the governmental bodies are themselves the wrong-doers.
Human rights is one of the important aspects that count for good governance. As human rights in Pakistan fall under the domain of the ministry of human rights, it is important that the provincial commissions be given the discretionary power equivalent to that of the ministry, with subsidiary units of the same operating in far-flung areas where gender-based violence issues are most common. As protecting the victim or the oppressed is the very first step towards their empowerment.
Sumaira Imran
Published in The Express Tribune, October 13th, 2017.
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