National Commission for Human Rights Chairperson Justice (r) Ali Nawaz Chohan, Justice (r) Nasira Javed has lauded civil society efforts for the promotion and protection of minority rights in the country and urged all stakeholders to join hands with the Government for effective implementation of laws.
The chairperson was speaking at the Annual REAT Awards & Book Launch of the Rights of Expression, Assembly, Association and Thought (REAT) Network, at local hotel on Wednesday.
Justice (r) Ali Nawaz Chohan praised the network of 25 civil society organisations which has introduced Early Warning System to thwart communal violence through local conflict resolution committees and helplines. He said the Government was aware of the situation of minorities & human rights in the country and was undertaking legal and administrative reforms to cope with the challenges ahead.
He said the National Commission for Human Rights has been established and we are striving to uplift the situation of Human Rights in the Country. He focused on Jinnah’s vision where all citizens can freely practice their faiths and beliefs. He urged that society has to come up with new thoughts to bring back the original shape of the Society.
He also distributed the awards among the selected human rights defender and REAT Network Member organizations in recognition to their efforts in promoting and protecting the Rights of Minorities.
Justice Nasira Javed Iqbal also launched the book “Ripple Effect” compiled on Success Stories of Conflicts Resolution by REAT Network. She said that this ripple effect will lead to a tidal wave and wash away terrorism & religious intolerance from our country. She added that we need to work on curriculum which discriminate the minorities.
Nana Stolze, First Secretary Political Affairs in Embassy of Kingdom of the Netherlands to Pakistan, congratulated the selected HRDs on getting the REAT Awards. She expressed her concern about the many human rights challenges Pakistan faces, not least, the rising marginalization of religious communities.
She said religious minorities are not a concept, they are a fact. Minorities are not enjoying the same freedom and privileges or rule of Law as their fellow countrymen. She added that protecting freedom of religion and belief has been a priority within Dutch Human Rights Policy since 2007 and that is why they support the work of REAT Network.
