Seminar on Human Rights Education and Sensitisation held

Islamabad
Centre for Policy Studies (CPS) in collaboration with the Ministry of Law, Justice and Human Rights organised a one-day seminar on ‘Human Rights Education and Sensitisation’, says a press release.
Senator Nuzhat Sadiq, Chairperson, Senate Standing Committee on Foreign Affairs and Commissioner Pakistan Girls Guide Association was the chief guest. In her welcome remarks Ambassador Fauzia Nasreen highlighted the importance of the subject. Faculty and students of Comsats attended the seminar.
Senator Nuzhat Sadiq underscored the vision of Quaid-i-Azam Mohammad Ali Jinnah which was based on the values of human rights, justice and freedom. Referring to the challenges confronted by Pakistan she expressed the resolve of the nation to overcome them. She emphasised the importance of education in developing a prosperous society.
On the question of human rights, she commended the government’s efforts in ensuring human rights at the societal level. In order to promote human rights values, she suggested that working groups comprising universities, law associations and civil society should be established. Mentioning about the work done by Girl Guides Association of Pakistan, she informed that over one hundred thousand girls were involved in community level programmes related to health and education.
For effective implementation of various programmes, data collection was important. While accepting the important role of the government, she also emphasised the responsibility at the individual and collective level of the society at large.
In his remarks, director, Human Rights outlined the objectives of the seminar underscoring the fundamental right of dignity of all human beings. He also informed that Human Rights Commission of Pakistan has recently been setup underscoring the fact that the head of this body will have the power of suo moto action in cases related to violation of human rights.
During the panellist session the three resource persons, Famran Ullah Khan of Asia Foundation, Arif Shameem of Capital Development Authority and Khaola Batool of the Ministry of Law spoke about various aspects of human rights. Their focus was on the role of civil society, measures taken by the government and the role of international organization in promotion and protection of Human Rights respectively.
Farman mentioned about the Asia Foundation’s “collaborative interventions that included the setting up of Civil Society Organisations in ten districts of Pakistan to promote and protect Human Rights.
Throughout the seminar, the students took active part in discussions and gave their own recommendations and opinions on the basis of their observation and experience on a daily basis.