Colourful festival at Lok Virsa marks the day

Islamabad:Joining the international community in commemoration of International Human Rights Day, Federal Ministry of Human Rights organised a colourful and activity filled Human Rights Festival on Sunday.

The festival was held in Lok Virsa which featured inauguration event, puppet show, competitions, live music and cultural performances and stalls displaying the work of various national and international organisations working for the protection and promotion of human rights. The whole venue was adorned by the posters and standees creating awareness on laws and services provided government and non-governmental organisations.

The International Human Rights Day is being celebrated globally on December 10, the day the United Nations General Assembly adopted, in 1948, the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.

Member National Implementation Committee on National Action Plan on Human Rights Senator Ghous Muhammad Khan Niazi inaugurated the festival in the presence of Ambassador of Netherland and Secretary, Ministry of Human Rights, Rabia Agha Javari and officials of various government departments.

Addressing the participants, Senator Ghous said provision of human rights to every citizen of the country without any discrimination is the top priority of the incumbent government. He stressed the need to go to the rural areas to provide services for human rights protection to the ignored sections of the society.

He also called for collaborative efforts to be ensured as only government or civil society could not achieve desired goals while working in isolation for the protection of human rights in the society.

Secretary Ministry of Human Rights, Rabia Agha talked about the initiatives taken by the government to protection human rights in the country. She said that various laws have been passed by the assembly and institutions have been developed.

She said that the toll-free help line 1099 of the ministry has received around 80,000 calls since its establishment. “The helpline is particularly working to give legal aid to the deprived segments of society while HR Action Plan is also promulgated to improve human rights situation in the country,” she said.

A national institute for Human Rights is also on cards, she said adding, National Commission for Human Rights and National Commission on Status of Women as well as National Commission on Child Rights has also been established for the protection of all segments of the society.

The federal secretary also briefed about the contributions of women crisis centre and child protection centre in this regards and urged every individual to raise voice against the violations of human rights around them.

Around 30 stalls were established in the festival whereas artists of Gilgit-Baltistan, Sindh, Balochistan, Punjab attired in their traditional dresses performed separate cultural performance. An instrumental performance on ‘rubab’ and ‘tabla’ by Lok Virsa artist Adnan was also largely applauded by the audience. Live musical show was also part of the festival.

People from different walks of life visited the festival throughout the day taking keen interest in the material and briefing presented by the stall organisers for their education on legal channels to protect their human rights.

Expressing their views on International Human Rights Day, representatives of different organisations and departments appreciated the effort of the government. “We appreciate the government for taking concrete steps for the protection of human rights. The next step is to work on the implementation of laws and proper functioning of the institutions developed for this purpose,” said Anum Bajwa at the stall of National Commission on Human Rights.

Usman Minhas at the stall of Pakistan Red Crescent Society (PRCS) said that it is the responsibility of every individual to ensure the rights of each other. “If we start focusing on our responsibilities, rights will automatically be ensured.