Civil Society has urged the government, judiciary and parliament to play their roles to ensure effective oversight and delivery of human rights safeguards in compliance with constitutional and international commitments.
Marking the significance of "Stand Up for someone's right today", this International Human Rights Day they urged the government, judiciary, parliamentarians and citizens to jointly pursue and work towards the fulfillment of "fundamental human rights" as guaranteed by the constitution of Pakistan and as per international commitments.
It is encouraging to see that Pakistan has in recent years taken steps towards meeting institutional, legislative and policy initiatives with respect to the fulfillment of rights of her citizens.
Formulation of the National Action Plan on Human Rights and the increasing operational capacity of an independent National Commission for Human Rights as well as submission of treaty body reports are positive indicators. However policy and legislative initiatives still remain unfulfilled with gaps in implementation remaining persistent.
The Human Rights Commission Pakistan (HRCP) in its Civil Society assessment report assessed that out of 69 accepted Universal Periodic Review recommendations, 45 were not implemented at all.
We call for collective action to ensure the implementation of accepted recommendations.
The European Union will review the next UPR report and the reports of other treaty bodies when it undertakes the next review of Pakistan's compliance with its GSP+ requirements in 2018.
Qamar Naseem, Focal Person of the Civil Society Working Group (CSWG-KP) in his message said that the prime responsibility and duty to promote and protect human rights and fundamental freedoms lie with the state.
The government of Pakistan has responsibility and duty to protect, promote and implement all human rights and fundamental freedoms.
Zar Ali Khan, another civil society activist said that everyone has the right, individually and in association with others to develop and discuss new human rights ideas and principles as promised in the constitution of Pakistan.
Rukhsnda Naz, a human rights activist said, "let us reflect for a moment on the principles to which our governments have agreed, such as the right to live and liberty, freedom from torture and equality before the law."
Taimur Kamal of Pakhtunkhwa Civil Society Network (PCSN) in his message on the day said that governments have a duty to protect their people against abuses by criminals and terrorists, but in doing so must ensure that fundamental rights are not violated.
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