ISLAMABAD: Pakistan will present its 3rd Universal Periodic Review (UPR) before the United Nations (UN), on November 13, 2017.
The first UPR was presented by Pakistan on May 8, 2008, second on October 30, 2012 and it will be the third time that Pakistan will present its UPR before the UN.
Secretary Ministry of Human Rights Rabiya Javeria Agha expressed satisfaction that the Government of Pakistan was honoured to present its 3rd Universal Periodic Review to share the progress made by Pakistan for human rights, from 2012 to 2017, in the spirit of dialogue and constructive engagement with the international community.
The report covers developments since the previous review, updates on the status of implementation of accepted recommendations, challenges, as well as national priorities and commitments for the promotion and protection of human rights.
High level officials from Ministry of Human Rights, Interior Ministry, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Ministry of Information Broadcasting & National Heritage, social departments of all provinces, welfare departments of all Provinces, National Commission on the Status of Women, National Commission for Human Rights Pakistan, National Commission for Human Development and Overseas Department were present at the occasion to discuss the 3rd national UPR.
The report has been prepared in accordance with the general guidelines for the preparation of information under the Universal Periodic Review decision 17/119. The report has been prepared by Ministry of Foreign Affairs in collaboration with the Ministry of Human Rights.
The UPR is the outcome of a broad-based and inclusive process in which all the stakeholders were involved. The report contains a wide range of legal, policy and institutional developments that took place from 2012 to 2017, both at federal and provincial levels. The report also throws light on the government’s comprehensive institutional mechanisms to ensure implementation of laws and policies and to take concrete action for the promotion and protection of human rights and fundamental freedoms.
The report contains the adoption of National Action Plan on human rights. It discusses human rights education, training and awareness policies and their implementation on grassroots level. It also discusses civil, political, economic, social and cultural rights: having the right to education, right to adequate housing, right to work, right to health, right to food, right to freedom of opinion, freedom of religion, rights of women, rights of children, and rights of minorities.
Ministry of Human Rights stated that as a democratic and progressive state, Pakistan is firmly resolved to uphold, promote and safeguard universal human rights and fundamental freedoms for all. This report manifests the high-level political commitment and policies of the government on human rights, and Pakistan’s longstanding desire to work with the international community to strengthen multilateral cooperation and mechanisms for the promotion and protection of human rights, the ministry said.
Ministry of Human Rights considers the UPR as a unique cooperative mechanism to identify human rights challenges and to make tangible recommendations in a non-politicized and non-discriminatory manner; with strengthened democracy, independent judiciary, free media and active civil society, Pakistan is confident of continuing the path of further improvement, and promotion and protection of human rights of all its citizens, the ministry said.
Published in Daily Times, October 4th 2017.
