Skip to main content

International Human Rights Day in Pakistan





The theme of the 2011 International Human Rights Day, observed annually on December 10, is: Celebrate Human Rights. It marks the anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (1950) against abuse and violations of human values.

Human rights defenders, individually or in organizations, anonymous or celebrated, work within their communities, across their countries, or globally to end discrimination by campaigning for equitable and effective laws, reporting, and investigations into human rights violations – and to support victims of violations. They demand accountability for perpetrators and transparency in government action.

The Government of Pakistan has a Ministry of Human Rights. Its vision is: “In order to fulfil the dream of Shaheed Mohtama Benazir Bhutto, the Ministry of Human Rights is committed to creating a society where democracy would be the tradition, peace would be the culture, and protection of human rights would always be the top priority.” The Ministry of Human Rights is committed to promote the equality of genders, access to equal opportunities, services, goods and privileges, non-discrimination in work and ensuring social justice for all citizens of the country.

The government, in media announcements, lists some of their achievements toward human rights as: the Right to Information and Right to Education have been included as fundamental rights in the Constitution; unanimous approval of Anti-Women Practices Bill from the National Assembly; approval of Women in Distress and Detention Fund from the National Assembly; the National Commission on Women (NCW) Bill presented in the National Assembly; awareness material on several Human Rights issues have been extensively disseminated in different regions of the country; a number of advocacy events such as seminars, conferences, and symposia; and many international Human Rights treaties including the Convention Against Torture, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment, or Punishments (CAT) and the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICPR) have been ratified.

The government pledges to strengthen peace and democracy, and resist violation of human rights on all levels.

(http://www.mohr.gov.pk/)



MARTINA NICOLLS is an international aid and development consultant, and the author of:- The Shortness of Life: A Mongolian Lament (2015), Liberia’s Deadest Ends (2012), Bardot’s Comet (2011), Kashmir on a Knife-Edge (2010) and The Sudan Curse (2009).

Comments

Popular posts from this blog

2016 update on Rike Park, Tbilisi: from construction to busy park

From a flat patch of uninteresting dirt, Rike Park in Tbilisi, Georgia, has transformed in four years (from 2014-2016) into a busy park full of trees, flower beds, sculptures, fountains, and events. Rike (Rikhe) Park is on the left bank of the Mt’k’vari River (the Kura River) near the Old City of Tbilisi. The Peace Bridge links the right bank to Rike Park. Rike Park is below the hillside Presidential Palace and, via cable car, it is the starting point for the ride to Sololaki Ridge (with the Narikala Fortress and the Mother of Georgia statue). The glass box-shaped cable car terminus was opened on 23 June 2012, and since then the park has continually developed into a ‘people’s park’ where people can walk around, eat at the nearby restaurants, sit next to the statue of American president Ronald Reagan, climb the steps to Avlabari district, and access the sights of Meidan Square, the Peace Bridge, the Metekhi Church, the Old City, the waterfall, the sulphur baths, and t...

The acacia thorn trees of Kenya

There are nearly 800 species of acacia trees in the world, and most don’t have thorns. The famous "whistling thorn tree" and the Umbrella Thorn tree of Kenya are species of acacia that do have thorns, or spines. Giraffes and other herbivores normally eat thorny acacia foliage, but leave the whistling thorn alone. Usually spines are no deterrent to giraffes. Their long tongues are adapted to strip the leaves from the branches despite the thorns. The thorny acacia like dry and hot conditions. The thorns typically occur in pairs and are 5-8 centimetres (2-3 inches) long. Spines can be straight or curved depending on the species. MARTINA NICOLLS is an international aid and development consultant, and the author of:- Similar But Different in the Animal Kingdom (2017), The Shortness of Life: A Mongolian Lament (2015), Liberia’s Deadest Ends (2012), Bardot’s Comet (2011), Kashmir on a Knife-Edge (2010) and The Suda...

Hop on hop off bus tourism comes to Tbilisi, Georgia

City Sightseeing buses have arrived in Tbilisi. The iconic red double-decker buses, a feature of many cities around the world since the company was established in Seville, Spain in 1999, is now in six continents and almost 100 cities. The company established its Tbilisi business in November 2013, with its operations commencing in February 2014. The 90-minute tour stops at 11 major locations in Tbilisi (with 2 to 5 minute waiting times at each location): the Old City (where it commences), Freedom Square, Rose Revolution Square, Marjanishvili Square, the Dry Bridge, Konka, Avlabari, Metekhi, Akhundov Museum, the Sulfur Baths, and European Square. Passengers can hop off at any stop and see the sights, hopping back onto the next bus at any time. Alternatively, passengers can remain on the bus for the whole tour and take photographs when the bus stops at each location. There are one day (24-hour) passes (for 35 lari – about $20) and 48-hour passes for 55 lari, with family d...