RAWALPINDI - The three days international conference on ‘Implementing Human Rights: A Way Forward’ was organised by the department of Gender Studies at Fatima Jinnah Women University in collaboration with the Department of Human Rights & Minorities affairs, Government of Punjab.
The objectives of the conference were to review the human rights issues, challenges and practices around the world and to identify the issues of human rights in the marginalized groups of society as well as to provide a forum for the civil society organizations, policymakers, human rights activists and researchers to collectively analyse the constraints in provision of human rights to the citizens.
During the conference, 32 papers were presented by scholars affiliated with universities in and around the world. Out of it 8 were from international universities namely from India, USA, Australia, Spain and UK. The sessions were chaired by the eminent professors and human rights activists in their fields. Due to the current situation of Pakistan, only one speaker was able to mange to present her paper in person and other three presented their papers on line. Scholars within country were from Lahore School of Economics, University of Sindh, University of Peshawar, University of Wah, University of Kohat, University of Iqra, Peshawar, Azad Jammu & Kashmir University, Muzzafarabad, International Islamic University, Allama Iqbal Open University and Fatima Jinnah Women University and there were 200 registered participants who attended this conference from different universities of Punjab, Peshawar. The papers were presented in 12 different themes in three days. Justice (Retd) Nasira Javed Iqbal highlighted the situation of violence, justice and HR, Dr Mehtab Karim discussed the human rights with respect to women.
ucation and human rights particularly with reference to Srilanka.
Pakistan is one of the most violence facing countries today in the world in terms of cultural violence, domestic violence, criminal violence and religious sectarian violence and we ourselves are responsible for what is happening these days in Pakistan.
The parallel Legal System in the country is based on common law, Sharia law and jirga system that also is a problem. The way the issues of minorities are handled in Pakistan needs serious attention.
Pofessor Karim discussed that this situation is prevailing the world over and in a more intense way in Muslim countries, Pakistan ranking is very close to Afghanistan.
Professor Mitri discussed the serious gaps in practicing laws and written laws in Pakistan and Srilanka. She mentioned that gender violence and sexual violence has not happened in isolation, they are embedded in the structure of the society. Without critical understanding of education, it is difficult to understand change. Moreover advocating women rights does not mean to deprive the rights of another group in the society.
Then panel discussion concluded the overall conference. Justice (Retd) Ali Nawaz Chohan was the chief guest for the closing ceremony. The guests were presented souvenirs by the worthy Vice Chancellor and certificates were distributed among the participants.