Project on human rights launched

ISLAMABAD:

A project focused on giving vent to the rights of vulnerable segments of society, has been progressed to the third phase. The Human Rights Fund (HRF) of the Asia Foundation that aims to promote freedom of thought and expression of the minorities, was launched here on Tuesday. The project will target the 10 most vulnerable districts of the country.

Initiated in 2008 with funding from the Netherlands Embassy, the project focuses on five areas: freedom from torture and other rights related to prisoners; freedom of speech and access to information; stemming gender-based violence and discrimination; rights of religious and ethnic minorities; and economic rights. “We have garnered a good response in our earlier two stages, which is incentive to go on with the project,” said the foundation’s senior programme officer Shahid Fiaz.

He shared that just like the earlier two phases, the current one is designed to engage Pakistani civil society groups, the government and media agencies to improve protection and promotion of minority rights in the country.

During the three-year phase, the foundation will also set up early warning systems in the vulnerable districts, for disaster-risk reduction and management.

Published in The Express Tribune, November 7^th, 2012.