Pakistan yet to address key HR issues: HRCP

LAHORE: The government of Pakistan missed yet another opportunity to show its commitment to address key human rights issues during a United Nations (UN)-backed review on Thursday, FIDH and its member organisation, Human Rights Commission of Pakistan (HRCP) said Friday.

Pakistan’s human rights situation was assessed during its third Universal Periodic Review (UPR), which was held on 13th November, 2017 in Geneva, Switzerland. “Despite having accepted nearly 60% of the recommendations it received, it is apparent that the government of Pakistan lacks the political will to address the most serious human rights violations that plague the country, such as enforced disappearances, the persecution of religious minorities, the use of the death penalty, and the trials of civilians in military courts,” said FIDH Secretary-General Debbie Stothard. The government accepted 168 of the 289 recommendations it received from UN member states during the third UPR. Another 117 recommendations were ‘noted’ and four were rejected. “Pakistan’s response to the review of its human rights situation has been inadequate. The government’s blanket refusal to commit to ending the death penalty, including for juveniles and for offences that do not meet the threshold of the ‘most serious crimes’, is particularly disappointing because this practice is in clear violation of Pakistan’s international human rights obligations,” said HRCP Chairman Mehdi Hasan.