In an unprecedented move to protect the legitimate rights and fundamental freedoms of Human Rights Defenders (HRDs), a legislative bill has been introduced in the provincial assembly.
The bill is introduced in light of commitments made by the KP government in the "KP Human Rights Policy notified by the Law, Human Rights and Parliamentary Department in 2018" which calls for the enactment of the law to recognize and protect Human Right's Defenders (HRDs).
The bill is moved jointly by the two PTI affiliated women legislators, Asiya Saleh Khattak and Dr Asiya Asad. The draft of the bill has received unanimous support from the civil society organizations and networks across the province.
The bill aims to provide recognition, respect, protection, promotion, wellbeing and fulfillment of the rights and responsibilities of the human rights defenders in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and it will provide the assistance and protection, where needed and in any manner possible to all human rights defenders, working individually or an association with other human rights defenders in carrying out their core functions within the prescribed manner of provincial and national laws.
The draft of the bill describes Human Rights Defenders (HRD) any person who, whether paid or gratis individually or an association with others, acts or seeks to defend, promote, protect or strive for the defense, protection and realization of human rights and fundamental freedoms guaranteed to the individuals under the Constitution of Pakistan, Laws of Pakistan and other institutions international treaties and Instruments at the local, national, regional and international levels.
Asiya Saleh Khattak, one of the movers of the bill said that the draft is developed in consultation with civil society organizations, and is based on the model law for the Recognition and Protection of Human Rights Defenders that articulates the United Nations Declaration on Human Rights Defenders into national law.
The bill aims to institutionalize government of KP commitment to provide protection to human rights defenders and to establish legal remedies for violations of the rights of the human rights defenders.
Copyright Business Recorder, 2019
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