PESHAWAR: Speaking at a seminar here on Wednesday described the volatile security situation as an impediment in promotion of human rights in the society.

The seminar was arranged by Democracy Reporting International (DRI) at a local hotel that was attended by parliamentarians, lawyers, trade unionists, representatives of NGOs and businessmen.

The speakers said that people working for promotion of human rights were exposed to threats in the country. They stressed the need for providing proper protection to defenders of human rights so that they could continue raising voice against injustices in the society. Addressing the seminar, Provincial Minister for Labour and Mineral Development Anisa Zeb Tahirkheli talked about the provincial government’s commitment for human rights compliance. She said that a lot of efforts were required to promote human and labour rights. She urged civil society organisations to make use of the Right to Information and Right to Services Act and make the government more accountable and transparent.

Speaking on the occasion, Aid and Awareness Services executive director Rakhshanda Naz presented a detailed analysis of the government’s National Human Rights Action Plan and highlighted the plans strength in it being able to provide a timeframe as well as being divided into clear thematic and prioritised areas of focus.

Ms Naz termed specific allocation of resources by government as a welcome step. However, she also emphasised that the true test of the Action Plan remained in its implementation and for that coordination between human rights institutions and bodies needed to be scrutinised as it was the missing link.

Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Commission on the Status of Women chairperson Neelum Khan Toru said on the occasion that resource constraints was major hurdle in taking effective actions for the protection of women’s rights in the province. She, however, added that with lobbying, the provincial government was ready to make amendments to empower the commission.

Hassan Nasir Mirbahar, the team leader of DRI Pakistan, in his remarks stated that main purpose of the Generalised Scheme of Preferences (GSP+) was to support Pakistan in attainment of sustainable development and democratic reforms in line with international human rights law.

“While Pakistan is enjoying trade benefits under the scheme, there is need for increased efforts to comply GSP+ condition to fulfil obligations under 27 international law treaties,” he added.

Published in Dawn, April 28th, 2016