First human rights resource portal launched in Pakistan | The Express Tribune

The Ministry of Human Rights has launched Pakistan’s first Human Rights Resource Portal in partnership with the European Union.

The portal will serve as a central repository of up-to-date and cutting edge knowledge about human rights in Pakistan, enabling users to learn about the rights guaranteed to them through the constitution as well as federal and provincial legislation, the ministry announced in a tweet on Wednesday.

The Human Rights Resource Portal hopes to facilitate students, academics and practitioners working in this field, and as a result, also benefit all Pakistani citizens.

 

Shireen Mazari, the Federal Minister for Human Rights, in a statement said that the portal is a “first of its kind in Pakistan and is actually a comprehensive repository of updates on all information related to human rights, the laws in Pakistan, the international conventions that Pakistan has signed, and also, the human rights commitments and the training resources and programs that the Ministry is undertaking.”

She also added that the portal offers reports on the status of prisons and child abuse in the country.

The minister also encouraged everyone to access this portal so that more people can get to know about what is being done to improve human rights situation in the country.

“Ultimately we are hopeful that it will cultivate greater civic engagement and play a part in creating an enabling environment for citizens to exercise their rights in Pakistan,” Mazari said.

Ambassador of the European Union Androulla Kaminara also shared her appreciation of the initiative, which she said is in line with democracy.

She also added that, “access to information is crucial for citizens in an open democratic and transparent society. The comprehensive collection and digitalisation of key information about Human Rights in Pakistan and open access to all Pakistani citizens is an important step towards this goal.”