Islamabad (Web Desk): The International Human Rights Day is being observed today (Tuesday) across the globe including Pakistan.
This year the theme of the day is Our Rights, Our Future, Right Now.
President Asif Ali Zardari has reiterated the nation’s unwavering commitment to the protection and promotion of human rights at every level of the society.
In his message on the occasion of International Human Rights Day, the president said that the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, adopted by the United Nations (UN) in 1948, reflected the principles, enunciated by Islam.
President Zardari said that the Constitution of Pakistan also guaranteed fundamental rights to all its citizens and “we remain steadfast in advancing human rights to empower our people.”
“Pakistan is cognizant of the importance of protecting the rights of all segments of society, including women, children, senior citizens, persons with disabilities, and minorities,” the president said, expressing his firm belief that democracy, peace, freedom, and human rights were intertwined, and protecting people’s rights was indispensable to building a stable and prosperous country.
He said that despite challenges, the government was committed to implementing legal, economic, and social frameworks to safeguard human rights and minimise violations.
The president highlighted that Pakistan, in collaboration with provincial governments, UN agencies, and civil society organisations, was working to protect vulnerable communities.
“Initiatives like the National Commission for Human Rights, the Women Empowerment Package, the Action Plan for Human Rights, and the Toll-Free Human Rights Helpline (1099) reflect Pakistan’s commitment to protecting human rights”, President Zardari noted.
He added that Pakistan is also continuously undertaking legal and administrative reforms to fulfil its international obligations and safeguard the rights of people.
“On this International Human Rights Day, we should not forget our brothers and sisters in the Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir (IIOJK), who have been subjected to the worst forms of state terrorism and are being deprived of their social, political and economic rights,” President Zardari remarked.
“We also strongly condemn the ethnic cleansing and genocide of the Palestinian people by Israel in Gaza and other Occupied Palestinian territories. We urge the international community to take practical measures to end the barbarism of Israel in Palestine,” the president added.
President Zardari also pledged to fulfil the shared responsibility to protect and promote human rights to create a society based on equality, justice and human dignity.
In his message on International Human Rights Day, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has called upon all Pakistani citizens, including federal and provincial governments, media, the UN agencies, non-governmental organizations (NGOs), and civil society, to unite and contribute to building a more inclusive and equitable society.
He said said that since the adoption of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights by the United Nations in 1948, the commemoration of International Human Rights Day on 10th December every year, reminded all nations of the world to adhere to protecting inviolable human rights and preserve human values.
PM Shehbaz mentioned that much before the adoption of the Human Rights Declaration by the UN; the sacred religion Islam had exhorted human beings to follow tenets of human values.
The prime minister highlighted that this year’s theme “our rights, our future, right now” was a call to acknowledge the importance and relevance of human rights in our everyday lives.
“Pakistan is fully cognizant of its regional and international commitments in thus respect,” he said adding that it was a matter of great satisfaction for us that the legislative, policy and programmatic measures taken by Pakistan for promotion of human rights had been appreciated by the international community.
PM Shehbaz said that the government of Pakistan has undertaken a number of legislative measures to protect Human Rights, particularly the vulnerable population including women, children, senior citizens, transgender persons, minorities and persons with disabilities in line with the fundamental rights as enshrined in the Articles 8-28 of the Constitution of Pakistan.
Likewise, he pointed out that an autonomous National Commission for Human Rights, National Commission on the Status of Women, and National Commission on the Rights of Child had been established to address human rights issues.
“It is a matter of pride for us that in 2024, the National Commission for Human Rights has been accredited as an A-Status NHRI by the Global Alliance of National Human Rights Institutions, indicating its compliance with the Paris Principles which is reflective of the strengths of the Commission in upholding human rights in Pakistan,” the premier said.
Similarly, he said the statutory National Commission for Minorities has further strengthened our endeavours for protection of minority rights.
PM Shehbaz also mentioned the plight of the people of Palestine who are facing Israel’s brutal aggression in Gaza and the West Bank, urging that the world should not turn a blind eye to the gravest human tragedies of our time and play its role to ask Israel to immediately cease the ongoing genocide of the people of Palestine.
Likewise, he said the gross human rights violations in IIOJK also needed immediate attention from the global community including the UN.
“Pakistan shall continue to extend moral, political and diplomatic support to the people of IIOJK and the people of Palestine until they achieve their universal right to self-determination,” PM Shehbaz vowed.
