MINISTRY OF HUMAN RIGHTS

2019-04-16
MoHR Press Release Dated: 15-04-2019 Islamabad: Federal Minister for Human Rights Dr Shireen M Mazari with the Ambassador of Tunisia to Pakistan Mr. Adel Elarbi here in Islamabad on Monday. They discussed the various human rights related matters. Human Rights Minister Dr Mazari informed the Ambassador about the initiatives and steps which have been taken for the protection and promotion of human rights.

2019-04-12
MoHR Press Release Dated: 11-04-2019 Islamabad: Human Rights Minister Dr Shireen Mazari said that mind set of the society needs to be changed along with law enforcement and judiciary sensitization towards gender based violence. She said we are committed to ensure the equal environment for all and ending gender based violence. She said besides effective implementation of the existing laws, new legislation is on cards to protect the rights of every citizen especially women and children from domestic violence. She said prevailing human rights situation in Pakistan is far better than many other countries. She was addressing the seminar on “Striving to Protect and Uphold Equal Rights for All: A public-private drive to end gender based violence” organised by Islamabad Capital Territory police in collaboration with Rozan here in Islamabad on Thursday. Minister of State for Interior, Shehryar Afridi was also present on the occasion. The purpose of the seminar was to promote equal rights for all by ending gender based violence and generate discourse on actions required on ending gender based violence and share the steps taken by ICTP to deal with the issue. Addressing the seminar, Dr Mazari said that incumbent government was fully committed to provide all possible support to the survivors of violence. Besides implementing laws, there is a need to change the society’s mindset to end the gender based violence. Our ministry is working on creating awareness about the laws, especially for sensitization of public. She said gender based violence is central issue and we need to tackle the real issue on priority which women have been facing from society. She said we are committed to ending gender based violence by protecting human rights for all adding that increasing violence against marginalized groups requires a sensitised and professional police force. She also lauded the professionalism and performance of the Islamabad Police and said police officials perform their duties to ensure the safety and security of the public and urged the public to respect them. She said the minorities are being given their own personal laws and in this connection, Hindu Divorce and Marriage Law had already exists and Christian Divorce Bill would be presented in the parliament soon. Dr Mazari said steps have also been taken for the welfare of transgender community and ensure the implementation of the transgender law. She said we have one of the most comprehensive laws to protect the rights of transgender and we took ownership of this law and implementing it. She said a separate ward for transgender people have been established at PIMS hospital and they are getting treatment free of charge and without facing any inconvenience. She said domestic workers bill has already been approved by the cabinet and would soon be presented in Parliament. Other worthy panellists included, Chair of the Panel, Ms Rukhshanda Naz, Ombudsperson Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Aamir Zulfiqar Khan, IGP, Islamabad Police, Babar Bashir, MD, Rozan and senior journalists, Dr Maria Zulfiqar, Nadia Mirza and Babar Ghouri. The panalists unanimously stressed the dire need of actions required to handle the issue of Gender Based Violence on priority basis and with sensitivity. IG ICTP, Aamir Zulfiqar also highlighted the steps taken by Islamabad Police.

2019-04-11
MoHR Press Release Dated: 10-04-2019 Islamabad: Human Rights Minister Dr Shireen M Mazari said that peace of the entire region was linked with strategic stability adding that without strategic stability, there will always be fear of war in South Asia. She said World should push India to move towards stability, otherwise whole the region will face the consequences of the war. She was addressing the addressing the concluding session of the National Conference on "Strategic Stability in South Asia; Emerging Challenges" organized by Centre for International Strategic Studies here in Islamabad on Wednesday. The Conference was held to deliberate on the regional strategic environment in view of the factors straining deterrence stability. The conference was widely attended by representatives of diplomatic corps, academia, and think tank community. Addressing the session, Dr Shireen Mazari said India engaged in dangerous brinksmanship after Pulwama because of Pakistan’s defensive response to aggressive Indian actions in the past including LoC violations. Pakistan’s fir response to Indian aggression alongside de-escalatory moves, she contended, conveyed to India that if compelled, Pakistan “could prevail at any level of conflict”. She proposed seven steps for establishing strategic stability, which included, pre-crisis management mechanism possibly through raising the level of military hotlines; strategic dialogue on reduction in missile deployments; improving the advance missile test notification system; expanding the lists of nuclear installations exchanged annually; freezing deployment of ABM systems; conventional force reduction including offensive weapon system; and establishing a strategic dialogue structure. Besides Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi, Director General Arms Control and Disarmament Affairs Brig Zahir Kazmi, Pakistan’s former high commissioner to India Mr Abdul Basit, Former Foreign Secretary Riaz Khokhar, Former Defense Secretary Lt Gen (R) Asif Yasin Malik, Former Strategic Plans Division official Mr Khalid Banuri and Amb Naqvi Executive Director CISS also spoke at the conference. Executive Director CISS gave an overview of the current situation and proposed steps that could ease the tense situation.

2019-04-08
MoHR Press Release Dated: 04-04-2019 Islamabad: In a meeting with President of the European Parliament Antonio Tajani, Minister for Human Rights Dr. Shireen Mazari drew attention to the grave human rights situation in the Indian-occupied Kashmir and underlined the need for immediate action to stop the Indian atrocities. The Minister also called for steps to stem growing Islamophobia in Europe. She called on the EU to play its due role in this regard. During the meeting with the President European Parliament, she shared government of Pakistan’s commitment to protection & promotion of human rights in Pakistan and highlighted gross human rights violations by Indian forces in IOK. Dr Mazari also shared concerns over growing Islamophobia in Europe. President Tajani said that Pakistan was a large country with a very important role in the region. The EU, he conveyed, hoped to deepen and strengthen relations with Pakistan. He appreciated the present government’s efforts for improving human rights in Pakistan and further lauded the commitment of the Prime Minister to socio-economic development and human rights. He assured that the EU would be ready to play a constructive role in realizing this agenda. Dr. Mazari also met with Mr. Bruno van der Pluijm, Secretary General in the Belgian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and informed him about the priorities of the new government. She also conveyed the steps taken by the government to facilitate and encourage tourism to Pakistan and underscored the need for Belgium to revise its travel advisory on Pakistan. The Secretary General thanked the Minister for her visit and appreciated the people-focused agenda of the new government. In a meeting with Chair of the Asia Delegation in the European Parliament Jean Lambert, Minister for Human Rights Dr. Shireen Mazari said that protection and promotion of human rights was a major priority of the government. She pointed several initiatives taken by the government on ground and on the legislative side in the human rights domain. Later, while briefing the media after her meeting with President of the European Parliament, Antonio Tajani and other Parliamentarians, Dr Mazari said that incumbent government of Pakistan was committed to protect and promote human rights in the country without any prejudice adding that steps are being taken through comprehensive policy in this regard. She further said India has committed worst human rights violations in IOK and urged the international community to come forward and play its due role to not only end this violations but also for the peaceful solution of IOK. She also expressed concern over rising Islamophobia in Europe and stressed that immediate action was required to address this challenge.

2019-04-08
MoHR Press Release Dated 03-04-2019 Islamabad: In her extensive interaction with the European Parliamentarians today, Minister of Human Rights Dr. Shireen Mazari spoke about the gross human rights violations being committed by the Indian security forces in the Indian-occupied Kashmir. At a lunch hosted by Member of the European Parliament Mr. Wajid Khan, she thanked him and his colleagues for raising their voice in support of Kashmiri people in a recent exchange of views on Kashmir in the Parliament’s sub-committee on human rights. The gathered MEPs agreed with the Minister that there was a need for more concerted efforts by the EU to highlight the Kashmir issue. At the dinner hosted by the Ambassador of Pakistan Naghmana Hashmi, Dr. Mazari briefed the EU parliamentarians, the European Commission officials, members of think tanks and local media, on the mature response of Pakistan to unwarranted escalation by India. She highlighted that the priorities of the government were to focus on the socio-economic development of Pakistan and peaceful relations with its neighbours. She regretted that Indian domestic politics stood in the way of any meaningful engagement at this point despite Pakistan’s peace overtures, including opening of Kartarpour corridor. The Minister also held a detailed meeting with the EU’s Envoy for Protection of Freedom of Religion or Belief Jan Figel. She underscored Pakistan’s concerns over rising incidence of Islamophobia in Europe and urged that the EU should take a proactive role in addressing these concerns. She also briefed the Special Envoy on the steps being taken by the government in the Human Rights domain.