Consultative session: Call for national policy on human rights

ISLAMABAD:

Experts have called for a national policy to promote human rights in the country and stem its serious and frequent violations.

Speakers at the concluding session of a two-day national consultation on Human Rights Policy Framework in Pakistan held at a local hotel on Wednesday expressed ‘grave concern’ over absence of a national-level policy on the subject.

Talking to The Express Tribune, Haroon Hussian, project manger at Strengthening Participatory Organization, said since April 2013, efforts were under way to formulate a national policy for safeguarding human rights.

He said several consultative sessions had been held with the provinces on the draft policy.

During consultation with the provinces, it was noted that each had pressing human rights issues such as missing persons in Balochistan, honour killings in Punjab and forced conversions of Hindu citizens in Sindh.

Hussain said low literacy rate, lack of awareness about existing laws, weak implementation of laws and social taboos were key challenges towards finalising the draft.

Pakistan had ratified various international conventions to promote and protect human rights but on the ground it was not working the way it was supposed to, he added.

Ministry of Law and Justice Director General Muhammad Arshad said after conclusion of the consultative process, recommendations would be sent to the ministry which would then table a policy before the cabinet for approval.

Published in The Express Tribune, February 26^th, 2015.