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FM Asif asks international community to support Palestinians, Kashmiris in their struggle
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‘Our constitution serves as anchor, guarantor of fundamental freedoms, rights of all Pakistanis’
ISLAMABAD: Minister for Foreign Affairs Khawaja Muhammad Asif has said that it is important to recognise and demand full respect for the rights of people under continued illegal occupation – especially people of the Indian-held Kashmir and Palestine.
The International Human Rights Day should serve as a reminder for realisation of one of the fundamental rights – right to self-determination of Kashmiri people, he said in a message on the international day being observed across the globe on Sunday.
Foreign Minister Asif said that Pakistan wishes to reaffirm its full diplomatic, political and moral support to the Kashmiri people in the just cause for human dignity, respect and inalienable right to self-determination. “We call upon the international community to lend its voice and support to the people of Palestine who remain subjected to torture, killings, illegal occupation of their lands and gross violations of their rights and dignity,” he said.
“While we commemorate this day, we should not lose sight of the worrying trends such as xenophobia, Islamophobia, intolerance, discrimination, and hate crimes against migrant communities that have clouded the achievements in the field of human rights. Let us redouble our collective efforts in making sure that the true spirit of UDHR is fully adhered to by states across the world,” he said.
This year, the Human Rights Day assumes special significance as it coincides with the 70th anniversary of the adoption of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR). In the last seven decades, considerable progress has been made in advancing and safeguarding human rights across the world. This day is an occasion to celebrate collective successes and achievements in this important area.
“This day provides us an opportunity to reaffirm our resolve to promote, and respect human dignity, rights as well as needs,” the foreign minister said. On behalf of the people and the government of Pakistan, “I wish to reiterate our strong commitment to promote and protect human rights and fundamental freedoms, as well as needs,” he said.
He said that Pakistan has demonstrated its resolve by enacting wide-ranging legislation, establishing strong institutional machinery and putting in place robust policy measures in the field of human rights. “Our constitution serves as an anchor and guarantor of fundamental freedoms and human rights of all Pakistanis,” he said.
Foreign Minister Asif said that the government accords high priority to advancing mutually reinforcing objectives of development, human rights and democracy. He said that the government was laying special emphasis on creating an inclusive society as envisioned by Father of the Nation Quaid-e-Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah.
This year is also significant for Pakistan in the field of human rights. Pakistan actively engaged with the UN human rights institutions and partners through regular submission of national reports, participation in review processes and implementation of recommendations arising from such mechanisms. Pakistan filed reports and participated in the review mechanism of three international treaty bodies, namely CAT, ICESCR and ICCPR.
Pakistan also successfully presented its third national report on Universal Periodic Review (UPR) on November 13, 2017. “This level of engagement, participation and contribution demonstrates Pakistan’s commitment as well as actions to advance the cause of human rights,” the foreign minister said.
He said that Pakistan’s success as the newly-elected member of the Human Rights Council (HRC) this year was a testimony to the confidence reposed in Pakistan by the international community as a consensus builder within the international human rights policy framework.