Manend Team 
ISLAMABAD, (MANEND NEWS): Minister for Human Rights Dr. Shireen
M. Mazari has said the government is focusing on implementation of
laws pertaining to the protection of human rights.
Addressing a ceremony in Islamabad on Monday, she said child
domestic labor has been proscribed through a piece of legislation. She
said the provincial governments will also be requested to follow the
suit.
The Minister for Human Rights said we have one of the most
progressive law regarding the rights of transgenders. She said
progress has been made to implement it. A transgender center is
being established to extend help to this community.
She said under Juvenile Justice System Act, juvenile courts have been
established in the federal capital, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Punjab.
The Minister said that other laws such as those relating to the senior
citizens, journalists, persons with disabilities and minorities are also on
the cards.
Shireen Mazari said campaigns have been launched to create
awareness amongst the people about child abuse and women
inheritance rights.
Shireen Mazari emphasized the progress the Ministry has been in
terms of strengthening grievance redressal mechanisms including the
establishment of the 1099 national helpline application as well as the
Zainab alert on the Pakistan Citizen’s Portal for missing children. Video
animations developed by the Ministry to raise awareness about these
initiatives as well as the recently launched Human Rights Resource
Portal were also showcased at the event.
Shireen Mazari also emphasized the progress of the Ministry of Human
Rights in terms of overcoming gaps in legislation to ensure that the
rights of citizens, particularly the vulnerable, are protected. Recently,
the Anti-Rape (Investigation and Trial) Ordinance 2020 was enacted to
protect the rights of women who have been victims of gender-based
violence. The amendment to include child domestic labour as a form of
hazardous activity under schedule I of the Employment of Children Act
1991 is also an important legislative milestone.
She further spoke about the Zainab Alert Response and Recovery Act
and the ICT Rights of Persons with Disability Act that were enacted in
- Finally, she spoke about special initiatives undertaken to
mitigate the impact of Covid-19. This included upgrading the 1099
helpline, an extensive awareness campaign targeting vulnerable social
groups, and special research undertaken including a policy brief on the
Gendered Impact and Implications of COVID-19 in Pakistan, and a
comprehensive report on “COVID-19 and Disaster Vulnerabilities in
Pakistan: A human rights-based analysis.”
Meanwhile the Ministry of Human Rights launched its annual
performance report 2020 at an interactive media engagement session
held in Islamabad today. The report highlights significant initiatives
undertaken to protect and promote rights of women, children, persons
with disabilities, transgenders, and other vulnerable population groups.
The report also includes chapters on the Ministry’s progress in projects
under the Public Sector Development Programme (PSDP); special
initiatives launched to mitigate the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic;
and well as the engagements of the Federal Minister for Human Rights,
Dr Shireen Mazari.
