Wednesday, July 17, 2013

Restoration of Human Rights Ministry proposed

Staff Report

ISLAMABAD: The Senate Standing Committee on Human Rights sub-committee on Tuesday recommended restoring the Ministry of Human Rights as a full-fledged independent ministry and constituting Journalist Defence Fund to help journalists who fall victim to violence and terrorism.
The committee, which held its meeting in Parliament House, also recommended the creation of a Ministry of Disaster Management to respond to man-made and natural disasters. It also called for making human rights a compulsory subject in all the training centres of law enforcement agencies, including police, armed forces, intelligence and civil administration and paramilitary forces. The sub-committee was presided over by Senator Mushahid Hussain Sayed at the Parliament House on Tuesday. It has been tasked to summarise the Human Rights Commission of Pakistan’s 2012-13 report. It will finalise its recommendations and report within one month, by the first of August. Former Human Rights Secretary Shaigan Shah and human rights activist Naseem Azhar agreed with the proposals of the sub-committee.
Senator Mushahid Hussain Sayed proposed that the establishment of “Journalist Defence Fund” is the need of the hour to provide security to the working journalists. He urged formulation of life, health and accident insurance policies for the journalists. Mushahid further said that creation of a separate ministry of disaster management would provide security and relief to the people displaced due to disasters. The sub-committee also called for strict ban on the sale of spurious drugs which are life-threatening, and strengthening of the Drug Regulatory Authority. The committee also proposed creation of the post of director general (joint secretary) human rights in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs for better coordination, as human rights issue was pivotal for the country’s foreign policy, international image and interests of the people who suffered from abuses and violations of their rights. Mushahid said human rights must be given the priority they deserve. The committee also recommended that Pakistanis delegations should be sent abroad (Geneva and other places) purely on merit for attending workshops, seminars and other international forum to discuss human rights situation in Pakistan. It said competent people should be sent to create a good image of the country abroad. The committee said that the recommendation on the Report of the Human Rights Commission of Pakistan 2012-13 will be submitted to the full committee in next ten days for further deliberation.

Courtesy www.dailytimes.com.pk

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