Young rights experts to be developed

Programme will develop capacity and bring institutional reforms

ISLAMABAD:

The government on Monday launched a "Young Experts Programme" across all federal and provincial human rights departments of the country.

A statement issued by the Ministry of Human Rights (MoHR) on Monday said that the programme aims to allow passionate young professionals to gain human rights specific knowledge, skills and expertise, whilst working with state institutions and independent commissions in Pakistan. The programme has been launched under the Huqooq-e-Pakistan project - part of the European Union Promotion of Human Rights in Pakistan, for developing the capacity and institutional reform of human rights related state institutions in Pakistan.

Human Rights Minister Shireen Mazari said that they are working towards promoting a culture which recognises the importance of educating and training the youth of Pakistan as future leaders of our country.

Pakistan has one of the largest youth demographics in the world, it is crucial we recognise that therein lies our most valuable asset, she said.

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The minister added that while the immediate benefits of the programme will be evident in the form of the increased capacity of human rights institutions and independent commissions, the long-term impact of investing in our youth is beyond measure.

"The youth possesses the passion, commitment and talent to greatly alter and strengthen the landscape of human rights in Pakistan,” Federal MoHR Secretary Rabiya Javeri Agha during the inaugural session which was conducted online.

“By giving young graduates and professionals the opportunity to gain hands-on experience with human rights institutions, we are laying the groundwork for a cohort of trained and sensitized professionals and future leaders that can positively impact and shape the process of human rights reform in Pakistan," she said.

The first cohort will comprise 40 young experts (YEs) who will be engaged for 12 months. During this time, they will learn about Pakistan's legal system, domestic and international human rights obligations, and the processes and procedures of different state institutions and machinery.

Published in The Express Tribune, July 14^th, 2020.