Charter of demands unveiled for respecting rights in 2018 polls

Civil society and human rights activists have called upon all major political parties of the country to respect minimum human rights standards and follow the recommendations set forth in the Civil Society’s Charter of Demands concerning human rights for the 2018 elections.

Addressing a joint news conference at the Karachi Press Club, representatives of civil society and human rights bodies, minority groups, trade unions and professional associations representing the interests and rights of the youth, women and minorities released the charter.

Speakers included Habibuddin Junaidi, Zulfiqar Shah, Saeed Baloch, Farhat Parveen, Saeed Baloch, Mangla Sharma, Nuzhat Shirin and Jamil Junejo.

They pointed out that the state of Pakistan was responsible for the well-being of its people to be achieved through and in regard to the promises made in the constitution of Pakistan as well as in respect of its international obligations, including UN treaties, GSP+ and Sustainable Development Goals.

“We are committed to addressing and upholding the supremacy of law, fundamental rights and dignity of all citizens,” they stated. The civil society groups reiterated their resolve to support the political processes and systems as a prerequisite for democratic, accountable and inclusive governance responsive towards recognising, respecting, protecting and fulfilling the universally acknowledged rights of the people of Pakistan.

The charter chalked out the demands of various groups of society for empowering women, ensuring protection and safety of children, dealing with the youth bulge, providing accessible and quality education, ensuring workers’ rights, ensuring the rights of religious minorities, ensuring the rights of transgender persons and enabling spaces for civic actions.

It asked the political parties to pledge that local laws would be amended according to the UN obligations, including the UN Declaration of Human Rights Pakistan, had agreed to, and implement measures to ensure the safety and security of rights defenders in the country.

The speakers underlined the need to ensure an active dialogue with the civil society and citizens at large to ensure policy formulation at all levels was participatory and governance was effective. They welcomed the process for Fata reforms, saying policy implementation should be based on the feedback of the people of the tribal region.

Given the increasing number of enforced disappearances and the lack of action by the existing commission, they demanded that either the commission should be revamped by including investigation experts or a new independent commission should be formed.

Political parties and the state at large should view civil society members as counterparts in the struggle to overcome the shared challenges faced by the country, they said, adding that the current policy of opposition towards civil society members and branding them as foreign agents was counterproductive.

The country had a large population having status of internally displaced persons (IDPs), and the government should have a national policy for IDPs and recognise UN Guiding Principles for IDPs, including the Pinheiro Principle, to ensure non-discrimination and resettlement of these people.

Civil society organisations that have endorsed the Charter of Demands concerning human rights for the 2018 elections include Women In Struggle for Empowerment, South Asia Partnership- Pakistan, Blue Veins, Pakistan Coalition for Education, Strengthening Participatory Organisation, Aurat Foundation, Centre for Social Justice, NOW Communities, Pakistan Fisherfolk Forum, Pakistan Institute of Labour Education and Research, Legal Aid & Awareness Services, Khwendo Kor, Noor Education Trust, SPARC, Takra Qabailee Khwendy, Human Rights Commission of Pakistan, National Council for Minority Rights and Human Rights Committee of Pakistan.

Among the political parties to which this charter has been submitted are the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz, Pakistan Muslim League-Quaid, Balochistan National Party, Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam-Fazl, Pakhtunkhwa Mali Awami Party, Pakistan Peoples Party, Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf , Muttahida Qaumi Movement, Jamaat-e-Islami, Qaumi Watan Party, Awami National Party and Pakistan Muslim League-Functional.