Ministry of Human Rights primarily focuses on the protection and promotion of human rights in compliance with the principles of fundamental rights enshrined in the Constitution of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan and the Human Rights Conventions ratified by Pakistan. The national and international commitments guarantee justice, equality, and fair play to all citizens. Ministry of Human Rights is committed to taking all necessary measures for the elimination of all forms of discrimination and the protection of the rights of all citizens with a special focus on vulnerable segments i.e. children, women, minorities, senior citizens, transgender persons, and persons with disabilities. Safeguarding human rights and fundamental freedoms is an essential and integral part of all democratic and progressive societies. As a party to the core international human rights conventions, Pakistan has undertaken commitments to uphold universal human rights standards and to implement them at the national level. Article 8-28 of the Constitution of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan lay down the primary legal obligation of the state to protect & preserve the fundamental rights of every citizen of Pakistan. Article 8 of the Constitution provides that “Any law, or any custom or usage having the force of law, in so far as it is inconsistent with the rights conferred by this Chapter [Fundamental Rights], shall, to the extent of such inconsistency, be void”. Recent initiatives by the Ministry of Human Rights, including the promulgation of the Zainab Alert, Response and Recovery Act, 2020, proscribing of child domestic labour through an amendment to the Employment of Children Act 1991, The Protection Against Harassment Of Women at the Workplace (Amendment) Act, 2022, The Protection Of Journalists And Media Professionals Act, 2021, ICT Rights of Persons with Disabilities Act, 2020, Islamabad Capital Territory Senior Citizens Act 2020, Torture and Custodial Death (Prevention and Punishment) Act, 2022 and the introduction of other important bills in the Parliament such as Domestic Violence (Prevention and Protection) bill communicate the commitment of the government of Pakistan towards the protection of rights of all citizens. Mindful of this fact, Ministry is working to translate these principles into legislation and institutional development and for raising awareness. However, despite all these provisions, there is still a long way to go towards achieving the universal goals of protecting the rights of citizens and ending any kind of social discrimination. Ministry of Human Rights is the focal point for ensuring the protection and promotion of human rights, besides our institutions such as the National Commission for Human Rights (NCHR), National Commission on the Status of Women (NCSW), and Regional Human Rights Directorates in all four provinces and Provincial Human Rights Departments. There are profound challenges on the ground along with numerous opportunities and the potential to improve the human rights situation in the country. In this context, the Government of Pakistan attaches high priority to the promotion and protection of human rights by using all available resources. On this occasion of International Human Rights Day, the Pakistani nation stands by Kashmiris and will continue to support them on all fora for their legitimate right of self-determination. We strongly condemned the Indian atrocities and human rights violations in Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir (IIOJK). The world community should immediately stop the genocide and HR violations in IIOJK by the Indian occupant forces. UN should implement the UN Security Council resolution on Kashmir and give Kashmiris the right to self-determination as it is their fundamental human right. *-**-* Embargoed: Not to be published/broadcast/telecast before 10th December 2022
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