GENEVA: Minister of State for Foreign Affairs Hina Rabbani Khar said that with country’s human rights progress on an upward trajectory, Pakistan will continue to be leading voice of vulnerable and oppressed.

“From drafting Universal Declaration on Human Rights and International Convention on Racial Discrimination to establishing Human Rights Council, Pakistan has remained and will continue to be leading voice of vulnerable and oppressed,” she stated here at 4th Universal Periodic Review (UPR) of Pakistan. She said that as an ardent supporter of multilateralism, Pakistan has consistently advocated dialogue, consensus, cooperation and mutual respect as preferred vehicles to advance global human rights agenda.

“Today, I am pleased to report that my country’s human rights progress is overall on an upward trajectory. We continue to aspire for progressive and pluralistic society, which puts high premium on respect for human rights of everyone, in words of our founding father Muhammad Ali Jinnah and I quote “As equal citizens of one State”, she maintained. Minister said that Pakistan’s 4th national UPR report was prepared through an inclusive, consultative process involving all national stakeholders. Critically, this report was an outcome of their extensive efforts during last five years to implement the recommendations emanating from country’s 2017 UPR, she added.

To implement these recommendations, Khar said that government closely consulted with all provincial stakeholders, civil society and academia. “We also benefitted from international best practices in certain areas. I thank all those who contributed to this national endeavour,” she added. Country’s constitutional framework, Pakistan’s democratic governance structures as protectors of human rights have grown from strength to strength. Pakistan is proud of its vibrant civil society. “With our independent judiciary and legal community, civil society has played vital role in public awareness-raising and advocacy about inclusivity, accountability, and transparency,” she mentioned.

Published in The Daily National Courier, January, 31 2023

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