Awareness campaign for human rights launched: Kamran Michael

ISLAMABAD: Federal Minister for Human Rights, Kamran Michael, on Thursday said that the awareness campaign regarding human and especially women rights has been launched with the support of provinces and a Help Line 1099 has started work in this regard.

He told the National Assembly (NA) in replying to a question that the government was strictly implementing on the law of human rights and necessary steps were also being taken with the passage of time.

The Ministry of Human Rights has initiated Public Awareness Campaign on Human Rights Education and Sensitization under the Action Plan for Human Rights approved by the Prime Minister of Pakistan on 13th February 2016. The campaign’s major activities include seminars and advertisements in print and electronic media.

Its target is general public civil society researcher’s academia student’s government functionaries and different segments of society.

The campaign focuses rights of women and children all over the country including backward and far flung areas, besides promotion of Human Rights values for creating a culture of tolerance and respect.

He said that an amount of Rs.750 million has been approved to put in place institutional mechanisms for realizing the rights proposed in the Action Plan which includes an amount of Rs.400.00 million for human rights education sensitization awareness raising research and Communication. He further said that Rs.250 million has been approved for establishment of National Institute of Human Rights for capacity building training research and development and Rs.100 million Endowment Fund for Free Legal Aid for Poor Victims of Human Rights Violations.

He said that we have put an application for membership in the United Nation adding that the members of the UN have appreciated the efforts of the Pakistani government for taking steps regarding human rights.

Kamran further told the National Assembly that the government has directed the police department and law enforcement agencies for taking action against those who were spreading rumors of children kidnapping.

The issue he said has also been discussed in the standing committees of parliament and added it was observed that media highlighted the issue more but in actual the cases were very rare.
Most of the children have left their houses with their own choices he said and added and most of them came back themselves.

He said that for the protection of human rights, especially the women right, the committee were being renewed and in each constituency a committee will be formulated with the support of local Deputy Commissioners Officers (DCOs) and it will be headed by the Member National Assembly of the same area.

The parliamentarians of their constituencies would take pivotal steps for the implementation of human rights laws.

Kamran further added that women parliamentarians were especially encouraged to head these committees adding that they will be prove more effective in this regard.