Federal Minister for Religious Affairs, Ijaz-ul-Haq has said that Islam not only recognises the principle of absolute equality between men and women irrespective of colour, race or nationality, it also forbade the primitive practice of slavery. While addressing the "4th National Human Rights Conference" on the International Day of Human Rights, organised by "International Human Rights Observer" here on Thursday, he emphasised that constitution of the country also guarantees the basic human rights and the government is also working to safeguard them.
The conference was also addressed by Mehreen Ahmed Raja, MNA, Tariq Azim, Minister for State for Overseas Pakistani, Farzana Raja, MPA, Bishop Albert Javed, Syed Zafar Ali Shah, former secretary of religious affairs, Tayyeb Ali Siddiqui, ex-ambassador, Dr Z.U. Khan, Chairman of International Human Rights Observer (IHRO) and Dr Khalid Aftab Sulehri, president of IHRO.
The theme of the conference was 'human rights education to promote culture of human rights, security and peace.'
The minister said that Islam not only recognises the principle of absolute equality between men irrespective of colour, race or nationality, it make an important reality and Islam forbidden the primitive practices of capturing a free man to make him a salve or to sell him into slavery. He assured full support of the ministry of religious affairs for eradication of human rights violation in the country.
Mehreen Ahmed Raja, MNA said that it is the state's responsibility to promote social and economic justices for the wellbeing of the people.
She said that government should take steps in accordance with Islam and state is bound to discourage racial, tribal, sectarian prejudice among citizens to avoid human rights violations in the country.
Ex-ambassador Tayyab Ali Siddiqui said that the world is facing massive human rights violations especially in Iraq and Kashmir, so Muslim world must come forward to safeguard human rights.
Bishop Albert Javed urged the NGOs to play their role in developing strategies for the protection of human rights.
Z.H. Khan, Chairman of the IHRO said that policymaking is not necessary, implementation on the rules regarding human rights is more important for the provision of basic rights including freedom of expression, trade and freedom of fundamental rights to spend the life.
Kofi Annan, UN Secretary General, in a message on the occasion of human rights day said that "human rights education is a vital part of such efforts, designed to equip new generations with the knowledge of their inalienable rights, and the means to exercise and defend them."
He said that General Assembly meeting will devote a plenary session to mark the end of United Nations Decade for Human Rights (1995-2004), in which the recommendation to proclaim a world programme for human rights education will be considered.
United Nations High Commissioners for Human Rights, Louise Arbour in a written message said that human rights education is the fundamental tool for promoting equality and changing and enhancing people's participation in decision making process.
She considered human rights education as the investment in the prevention of human rights abuses and violent conflicts.