Govt committed to protecting human rights: minister

Islamabad

Federal Minister for Human Rights Senator Kamran Michael on Thursday said the government was committed to protecting and promoting the rights of all citizens including women, minorities and children.

"Efforts are underway for implementations of core human rights conventions at the grassroots level with the collaboration of provisional, Gilgit-Baltistan and Azad Jammu and Kashmir governments," he told a seminar on “stand up for someone’s rights today: reaffirming Pakistan’s commitment to national and international human rights’ here.

The event was organised in collaboration with the Young Parliamentarians Forum and with support from the government of Denmark to commemorate the forthcoming International Human Rights Day.

Besides the minister, guests of honour Senator Farhatullah Babar and head of Commercial Section at the Embassy of Denmark Assar Qureshi, joint secretary of the human rights ministry Humaira Azam, parliamentarians, policymakers, members of civil society, academia and media, and young people also attended the event.

In her welcome note, Romina Khurshid Alam, Member of the National Assembly and Media Coordinator for Young Parliamentarians Forum, reflected on the government’s role in mainstreaming human rights development in Pakistan.

Addressing the gathering, Minister Kamran Michael said parliament made significant legislation for the protection of human right for women, children and minorities.

“Some important legislation to promote human rights including the rights of minorities is also under process," he said highlighting the steps taken by the government for adherence to international human rights commitments.

Participants appreciated the initiatives of the incumbent government for youth development, women rights legislation and policy reforms to address issues of inequality and injustice. Senator Farhatullah Babar stressed the importance of tolerance and inclusivity for progress as a nation. He also implored audience to end child rights violations by providing children and young people better opportunities to education.