ISLAMABAD               -        Federal Minister for Human Rights on Monday stressed to have pro-active human rights diplomacy to project country’s commitments to international obligations.Federal Minister for Human Rights Dr. Shireen M. Mazari said this in a panel discussion on “Human Rights Diplomacy” organised here.While addressing the audience, Federal Minister for Human Rights Dr Shireen Mazari spoke about the need to move beyond a traditional approach to human rights diplomacy that focuses narrowly on inter-state relations. Statement issued said that Pakistan has ratified most major international human rights conventions including the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities
(UNCRPD); the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR); and the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights (ICESCR). It is becoming
increasingly incumbent to account for various international
organisations and forums in terms of human rights diplomacy. The minister highlighted that the changing human rights paradigm warrants accounting for non-state actors such as the civil society, business community and corporations,
which are important stakeholders in terms of human rights diplomacy. She emphasised the work that the Ministry of Human Rights is already doing in this regard
in terms of drafting procedures for an action plan on business and human rights in Pakistan. She said in lieu of the changing human rights paradigm, it may be beneficial to shift to a more thematic approach to Human Rights Diplomacy, one in which states identify
specific human rights issues such as women and child rights and develop policies on these issues. “Such an approach may also be pivotal in addressing issues such as the ongoing siege in by Indian Occupation Forces in IOK,” she addedThe Ministry of Human Rights has raised this issue at several international forums and has approached 18 Human
Rights Special Mandate Holders to take urgent action
against the gross human rights atrocities in IOK. Chief guest of the event Federal Minister for Planning and Special Initiatives Mr. Asad Umar addressed the audience and said that morality should be part of decision-
making processes. He also emphasised that human rights should be central pillar of Pakistan’s foreign relations.
Pakistan should strive towards using international forums more effectively with this imperative.Ms. Ingrid Johnsoson, Swedish Ambassador to Pakistan was also part of the panel discussion. She spoke about feminist foreign policy in Sweden which could serve as an example to promote and support gender equality. Mr. Aizaz Ahmad Chaudhary, Director General of Institute of Strategic Studies also mentioned that traditional ways of diplomacy have been changed now. The term human rights can be used in positive and negative manner. The selective use of term is used to appreciate or bash countries.The Secretary of Ministry of Human Rights Ms. Rabiya Javeri Agha while moderating the panel discussion mentioned
that Human rights Diplomacy is the skill