LARKANA: Social activists have urged the government to incorporate human rights as a subject in school, college and university curriculum so as to sensitise youth to their basic rights guaranteed under the constitution and law.

They were speaking at a seminar on “Basic human rights and our responsibilities” held at Indus School under the aegis of Knowledge Centre here on Thursday.

Iqbal Detho, chairman of Sindh Human Rights Commission, said that the constitution guaranteed equal rights for all sections of population without any discrimination based on creed, colour or caste.

“We have to formulate new policies or change the existing ones to ensure provision of rights to life, liberty, dignity, health, expression, water, food, pure air and shelter, which are fundamental rights and all people should get equally and easily,” he said.

He said that Islam is a religion of peace and it demanded justice for all. Other religions of the world also urged their believers to adopt the path of peace, he said.

He said that bullying at schools, streets and at any other place was illegal. The schools’ syllabus should include teaching of human rights so as to sensitise youth to the importance of their rights and empower them, he said.

He said the human rights emanated from religion, political struggles, philosophers and constitutional developments. Education in human rights was key component of the commission which would be incorporated in syllabus and curriculum of schools, colleges and universities, he said.

Ayoub Khoso, prominent TV, film actor and member of the commission, said that social media was a very important tool to make people aware of human rights. If used positively social media helped one have his or her rights respected by all, he said.

He said that everyone should know about his and others’ basic rights in society. Man and woman were equal before law which did not tolerate violation of rights of any section of the population, he said.

Prof Mukhtiar Ahmed Samo, founder of Knowledge Centre, said that the societies where violation of human rights was in practice did not attain peace and prosperity. It was the need of the hour that all policies formulated for providing human rights were implemented, he said.

Mr Detho along with MPA Ms Farhat Simin and Mr Khoso later visited district prison and correctional facility and conducted a detailed inspection of the state of living conditions of inmates and inquired about issues of their representation in courts.

Representatives of Legal Aid Society and Pakistan Legal United Society also accompanied the SHRC chairman and his team, who identified inmates in need of legal assistance.

The chairman expressed satisfaction at jail affairs and expressed surprise that 70 per cent of UTPs were indicted under narcotics laws. The commission would thoroughly probe the issue to learn why majority of the people were being charged with keeping illicit drugs, he said.

Published in Dawn, April 7th, 2023