LOWER DIR/KHYBER: Functions and walks were held in Lower Dir and Khyber districts to mark the Human Rights Day on Tuesday.

The administration in collaboration with the district youth affairs department, the Malakand youth assembly and the child protection unit organised a seminar at a government high school in Balambat. Later, a walk was also organised.

The district administration in collaboration with National Commission for Human Development (NCHD) arranged another function at government degree college, Gulabad.

Government officials, including additional deputy commissioner Basheer Khan, college principal Abdus Salim Khan, child protection officer Tayyab Khan and district youth officer Malik Shehzad Tariq were in attendance.

Functions, walks held to mark Human Rights Day

Akbar Khan, a human rights activist, emphasised that the purpose of the day was to raise awareness about individuals’ physical, social and cultural rights and to ensure their welfare. He also explained the rights of children enshrined in Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR).

ADC Basheer Khan shared his thoughts on the role of NCHD in fostering human rights in the country.

Principal Abdus Salim highlighted the global framework of human rights and the implementation status of international human rights treaties.

Mr Tayyab emphasised the importance of child protection and discussed the legal framework that supported it. He highlighted various laws and regulations designed to safeguard children’s rights and ensure their well-being. “This includes mechanisms for reporting abuse, providing support services for affected children and promoting awareness of children’s rights within the community.”

Meanwhile, a vibrant event bringing together people from various walks of life, including elders, youth, elected representatives and government officials, marked the Human Rights Day in Khyber.

The event, organised by district emergency operations centre, focused on the theme of health, polio eradication, essential immunisation and promotion of human rights.

Speaking on the occasion, Said Afzal Shinwari, communication officer, Khyber polio eradication programme, highlighted the critical intersection of health and human rights, emphasising that access to healthcare, including essential immunisation, was a fundamental human right.

With the upcoming polio campaign scheduled from Dec 16 to 22, he urged the community and other stakeholders to collectively work toward polio eradication. He said the practice of linking demands with polio vaccination should be discouraged.

Tehsil chairman Shah Khalid reflected on UDHR, noting that health was a cornerstone of human dignity, and promoting health and well-being of communities was a shared responsibility. He said they must ensure that no child was left unvaccinated.

Landi Kotal additional assistant commissioner Ramiz Ali Shah underscored the government’s commitment to upholding the rights of all citizens, particularly the right to health. “The fight against polio is a shared mission, requiring collective action and awareness at every level,” he added.

The session concluded with a call to action for community members, government bodies, and other stakeholders to champion the cause of polio eradication and uphold the rights and responsibilities enshrined in UDHR.

Published in Dawn, December 11th, 2024