Speakers at a seminar have stressed the need for moving beyond a traditional approach to human rights diplomacy that focuses narrowly on inter-state relations. Speaking at the seminar titled "Human Rights Diplomacy," organized by Ministry of Human Rights; the speakers underlined the need to have pro-active human rights diplomacy to project commitments to international obligations.
The event, besides others, was also attended by Federal Minister for Planning and Special Initiatives Asad Umar and Federal Minister for Human Rights Dr Shireen Mazari.
The chief guest of the event Federal Minister for Planning and Special Initiatives Asad Umar addressing the audience said that morality should be part of decision-making processes. He also emphasized that human rights should be central pillar of Pakistan's foreign relations. Pakistan should strive towards using international forums more effectively with this imperative.
Umar said that there are gross human rights violations in the Indian-occupied Kashmir at the hands of Indian occupational forces and this problem in IOK should be resolved on humanitarian grounds. He said the people of any area irrespective of cast, creed or religious shouldn't be pressed through curfew or other such cruel activities.
He said Pakistan's Constitution and religion both call for protecting human rights. "I believe that while formulating our diplomatic strategies, the issue of human rights must be a central pillar," he said adding, "It is our moral duty and obligation to stand up for protection of rights of every human being."
Speaking on the occasion Dr Mazari said that Pakistan has ratified most major international human rights conventions, adding that it is becoming increasingly incumbent to account for various international organizations and forums in terms of human rights diplomacy. She also highlighted that the changing human rights paradigm warrants accounting for non-state actors such as the civil society, business community and corporations, which are important stakeholders in terms of human rights diplomacy.
The Ministry of Human Rights has raised the issue of human rights violations by the Indian forces against the people of Indian-occupied Kashmir (IOK) at several international forums and has approached 18 human rights special mandate holders to take urgent action against the gross human rights atrocities in IOK.
She added that Pakistan has also requested to United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affair (UNOCHA) to establish a humanitarian corridor for the flow of relief and aid services into IOK. She maintained that Pakistan is considering seeking an advisory opinion in future from the International Court of Justice on this human rights crisis.
Ingrid Johnsoson, Swedish Ambassador to Pakistan, was also part of the panel discussion. She spoke about feminist foreign policy in Sweden which could serve as an example to promote and support gender equality.
Aizaz Ahmad Chaudhry, Director General of Institute of Strategic Studies, also mentioned that traditional ways of diplomacy have been changed now, saying the term 'human rights' can be used in positive and negative manner. The selective use of term is used to appreciate or bash countries.
Secretary of Ministry of Human Rights, Rabiya Javeri Agha while moderating the panel discussion mentioned that human rights diplomacy is the skill of dealing with people and managing international relations through the lens of a human rights perspective.
She further said, "Human rights diplomacy is steeped in our culture and in our religion. Our Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) talked about equality, rule of law, rights of women and the protection of property. The Ministry of Human Rights is mandated to address all such human rights concerns both domestically and globally."
The aim of the panel discussion was to create awareness among people on the importance of modern ideas of diplomacy in human rights. The audience included representatives of the government, diplomatic community, academia and media.
Copyright Business Recorder, 2019
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