Human Rights Federal Minister Shireen Mazari said on Sunday Pakistan was one of the earliest signatories to the Universal Declaration of Human Rights in 1948.
The minister said that Begum Shaista Ikramullah, member of the first parliament of the newly independent Pakistan, was one of the early female delegates to the UN from Pakistan.
Her work on the UDHR emphasized Pakistan’s strong commitment to gender equality which we continue to support today, she added.
The minister expressed these views in her message on the occasion of Human Rights Day.
She said, Pakistan has worked hard for the promotion and protection of human rights in the country.
The words of the Founding Father, Quaid-e-Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah, are the guiding principle of our policy, “We are equal citizens of one State”.
It is towards this commitment that the Ministry of Human Rights has, over the past three months, drafted nine Human Rights legislations relating to protection of children abuse, rights of minorities, protection against torture, improving legal aid and access to justice, she said.
In addition to these new legislative initiatives, the Ministry of Human Rights has also concluded three policies and research studies on crucial topics, she said.
She said that research studies have been carried out on women’s right to inheritance, street children, as well as the harmonization of domestic laws with international commitments. Policy against Gender Based Violence, Women Empowerment Policy and Policy on Child Abuse have also been concluded.
The ministry is also redressing human rights violations through its Helpline at 1099. Helpline calls have increased from 4000 per month to 15,500 per month after this Government started functioning, she added.