Sindh to have annual human rights awards
The Sindh Human Rights Department has announced the launch of the Shaheed Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto Human Rights Awards. The annual awards ceremony will take place every December to recognise the efforts of human rights activists and other individuals who have contributed towards promoting and protecting the rights of citizens, including marginalised and underprivileged groups in the province.
The award honours the two-time former prime minister who was killed in a terrorist attack in 2007. The awards will be given in various categories such as women's rights, child rights, minority rights, labour rights, and transgender persons' rights with each winner being awarded Rs500,000.
A panel of five members will be formed each year to decide the award winners from among the nominations.
It will include the Sindh Human Rights Commission (SHRC) chairperson, a representative from the National Commission for Human Rights (NCHR), a representative of the Karachi Bar Association (KBA), a representative from the Sindh High Court Bar Association, a representative of the Karachi Press Club, and a representative from the Sindh Human Rights Department. The first award distribution ceremony is scheduled to take place in December.
Published in The Express Tribune, April 18th, 2023.