Promotion of Human Rights through Human Rights Policy Framework
Status: Completed Start Date: May 2014 End Date: Apr 2015 Geographic Coverage: National Focus Area: Human rights SDG Goal: 16 Significantly reduce all forms of violence, and work with governments and communities to find lasting solutions to conflict and insecurity Implementing Partner: SPO Funding Partner: NED
Strengthening Participatory Organization (SPO) with the financial support of National Endowment Fund (NED) implemented this project in collaboration with Ministry of Human Rights, Pakistan.
The objectives of this collaboration were to;
To prepare a draft on ‘NHRPF’ for discussion and incorporation recommendations by stakeholders.
To consolidate stakeholder recommendations in the draft NHRPF.
To present a consolidated NHRPF to the government for adoption SPO held a National Consultation Conference to devise the National Human Rights Policy Framework and policy principles in collaboration with MoL, J&HR. The objective of the consultation was to devise National Human Rights Policy Framework and policy principles for the Government of Pakistan which would ensure that the State of Pakistan has a dignified and responsible image, ensuring the protection of the human rights provided in the constitution and pledged by the State through ratification of the international conventions.
However, the draft needs to be enriched further through Provincial/Regional Consultations to incorporate the ground realities of all the federating units. Keeping this in view the present intervention was proposed.
As a part of the series of provincial consultations the 1st consultation was held in Peshawar on 16th October 2014 with the relevant stakeholders. The consultation was inaugurated by the Director General, Ministry of Law, Justice & Human Rights, Mr. Muhammad Arshad, who explained the importance of NHRPF to the participants of the consultation and the commitment of the state towards implementation of the said draft, after which Mr. Arshad Haroon, Regional Head, SPO – Peshawar, explained the interventions of SPO related to Human Rights along with the back ground and importance of the project.
In continuation of the series of provincial consultations the 2nd consultation was held in Lahore on 13th November 2014 with the relevant stakeholders. The panelists of the event included Mr. Khalil Tahir Sindhu, Provincial Minister for Human Rights & Minority Affairs, Mr. I. A. Rehman, renowned human rights activist and Mr. Salman Abid, Regional Head SPO Lahore. In total 47 male and female people participated in the consultation, such as academia, human rights activists, civil society, government officials from aligned departments, lawyers, journalists, etc.
In continuation of the series of consultative dialogues across the country, a Consultation Meeting to develop National Human Rights Policy Framework was held on December 24, 2014 in Karachi. The meeting was jointly organized by Ministry of Law, Justice and Human Rights (Human Rights Wing) & Strengthening Participatory Organization (SPO) and was attended by a large number of human rights activists, philanthropists, environmentalists, academia, representatives from civil society organizations and officials from all the 13 provincial government departments.
In continuation of the series of consultative dialogues across the country, a Consultation Meeting to develop National Human Rights Policy Framework was held in January 07, 2015 in Quetta. The meeting was jointly organized by Ministry of Law, Justice and Human Rights (Human Rights Wing) & Strengthening Participatory Organization (SPO) and was attended by a large number of human rights activists, philanthropists, environmentalists, academia, representatives from civil society organizations and officials from all the 13 provincial government departments.
The National consultation was held on 24th & 25th February, Islamabad Hotel, Islamabad. A large number of human rights activists, philanthropists, environmentalists, academia, representatives from civil society organizations and officials provincial and federal government departments participated. Where the draft was finally reviewed and then presented to Ministry for review and adoption.
