Human Rights Council adopts Universal Periodic Review outcomes of Benin, Pakistan and Zambia
19 March 2018
Human Rights Council
MORNING
19 March 2018
...Farukh Amil, Permanent Representative of Pakistan to the United Nations Office at Geneva, acknowledged the importance of the Universal Periodic Review for its transparency and the level playing field it offered to all States. The Council had to continue to support and strengthen that mechanism, in line with its agreed rules and procedures. Democracy, the rule of law, and protecting human rights were cherished ideals for the people of Pakistan. The democratic Pakistan of today was marching toward these ideals with an elected and sovereign parliament, an independent judiciary, a free media, and a vibrant civil society.
In the discussion, speakers commended the commitment of Pakistan to promote and protect human rights, albeit constant threats to the country’s security and social fabric. They noted the establishment of the Ministry of Human Rights, provincial human rights departments, human rights committees at the district levels, and the launch of the national Action Plan for Human Rights. However, speakers remained concerned about the use of the death penalty, reports of extrajudicial killings and enforced disappearances, intimidation of journalists, and limitations on freedom of thought, conscience and religion.
Speaking were Ghana, Greece, Honduras, Iran, Iraq, Philippines, China, Saudi Arabia, Sierra Leone, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Tunisia, and the United Nations Population Fund.
Also taking the floor were the following non-governmental organizations: British Humanist Association, European Centre for Law and Justice, Article 19, Action Canada for Population and Development (in a joint statement with the Asian-Pacific Resource and Research Centre for Women ARROW), International Federation for Human Rights Leagues, Commission of the Churches on International Affairs of the World Council of Churches, Asian Forum for Human Rights and Development, Amnesty International, International Commission of Jurists, and World Environment and Resources Council.
The Vice President of the Human Rights Council informed that out of 289 recommendations received, Pakistan accepted 168 and noted 121. The Council then adopted the Universal Periodic Review outcome of Pakistan...
...Consideration of Outcome of Universal Periodic Review of Pakistan
FARUKH AMIL, Permanent Representative of Pakistan to the United Nations Office at Geneva, said Pakistan acknowledged the importance of the Universal Periodic Review mechanism for its transparency and the level playing field it offered to all States. The mechanism positively contributed toward improving human rights on the ground. The Council must continue to support and strengthen this mechanism, in line with its agreed rules and procedures. The people of Pakistan were committed to democratic ideals. Pakistan was a country born out of a democratic choice exercised in 1946 by 250 million Muslims of the Indo-Pak Subcontinent. Democracy, rule of law, and protecting human rights were cherished ideals for the people. The democratic Pakistan of today was marching toward these ideals with an elected and sovereign parliament, an independent judiciary, a free media, and a vibrant civil society. The strength of these institutions had gone a long way in promoting civil liberties, and ensuring fundamental freedoms. They had also helped in steady mainstreaming of human rights in overall policy priorities and national discourse. Out of 289 recommendations, 168 recommendations enjoyed the support of the Government and most were being implemented. Some 117 recommendations had been noted. These had not been rejected, but the due process of consultations had not been completed yet. The remaining four had been rejected for being factually incorrect and politically motivated.
Ghana commended the commitment of Pakistan to promote and protect human rights, albeit constant threats to the country’s security and social fabric. It noted the establishment of the Ministry of Human Rights, provincial human rights departments, human rights committees at the district levels, and the launch of the national Action Plan for Human Rights.
Greece remained concerned about the use of the death penalty and it urged Pakistan to reinstate a moratorium on its use as the first step towards its abolition. Greece also reiterated concern about the reports of extrajudicial killings and enforced disappearances, intimidation of journalists, and limitations on freedom of thought, conscience and religion.
Honduras expressed hope that Pakistan would consider the ratification of the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women in order to guarantee gender equality, as well as to consider the ratification of the Convention on the Protection of the Rights of Migrants and Their Families.
Iran encouraged Pakistan to accomplish the goals to promote the economic and social rights of the people, and to accelerate the efforts towards the full operationalization of the National Commission for Human Rights.
Iraq welcomed Pakistan’s spirit of cooperation and transparency during the Universal Periodic Review, and wished it success in the implementation of all the accepted recommendations.
Philippines appreciated Pakistan’s acceptance of its recommendation to strengthen the national and provincial commissions on the status of women through increased funding and support. It also acknowledged Pakistan’s continued efforts to mainstream human rights in the overall policy priorities and national discourse.
China commended Pakistan for continuously strengthening national human rights mechanisms. China thanked Pakistan for accepting its recommendations and urged the Government to continue assisting low-income citizens.
Saudi Arabia said it paid close attention to the position of Pakistan in relation to the recommendations in the report. Pakistan was lauded for its continued cooperation with human rights mechanisms. Saudi Arabia welcomed the accepted recommendations and noted that Pakistan was working to promote and protect human rights at all levels.
Sierra Leone noted with interest Pakistan’s efforts to improve access to health services. Sierra Leone was disappointed that none of the recommendations that it put forward had been accepted and urged Pakistan to consider acceding to the International Convention for the Protection of All Persons from Enforced Disappearance.
Sri Lanka noted that recommendations on improving maternal and neo-natal health services had been accepted by Pakistan for implementation. Pakistan was urged to expedite efforts to cooperate with treaty bodies and strengthen human rights institutions at all levels.
Sudan commended efforts in Pakistan to promote and protect human rights. Sudan noted with satisfaction that Pakistan had accepted the recommendations it put forth, namely on the mainstreaming of human rights and the promotion of the right to development.
Tunisia thanked Pakistan for accepting a majority of recommendations. Tunisia welcomed the creation of a national development plan aimed at consolidating the social rights of Pakistanis.
United Nations Population Fund commended the Government of Pakistan on its Universal Periodic Review report. It, however, drew attention to several challenges that remained. These included the harmonization of human rights standards and obligations at the federal and provincial levels, as well as the lack of standardized disaggregated data collection mechanisms on violence against women.
British Humanist Association drew the Council’s attention to the repeated recommendations of Member States to the Pakistani Government to abolish the country’s anti-blasphemy laws. The notion of ‘blasphemy’ had been repeatedly criticized as inconsistent with normative human rights standards.
European Centre for Law and Justice said in Pakistan discrimination against Christians and other minorities was commonplace and the Government had failed to bring the perpetrators to justice. Blasphemy laws were still a major concern, and police torture prevailed and remained unpunished.
Article 19-International Centre against Censorship said the review came at a time when freedom of expression was highly restricted in Pakistan. Journalists and human rights activists were being tried in courts, including under the Counter-Terrorism Act, and they endured assault, judicial harassment, and attacks which remained unpunished.
Action Canada for Population and Development in a joint statement with the Asian-Pacific Resource and Research Centre for Women (ARROW), said it was concerned about the insufficient attention paid to the sexual and reproductive health needs of young people, both in policy and in implementation. Pakistan had one of the highest maternal mortality rates, due to child, early and forced marriages.
International Federation for Human Rights Leagues said Pakistan’s Government had missed yet another opportunity to show its commitment to human rights, and this was apparent through enforced disappearances, the use of the death penalty, persecution of minorities, and extrajudicial killings. It urged the Government to immediately begin the implementation of the recommendations that it did not accept, including those to abolish the anti-blasphemy laws.
Commission of the Churches on International Affairs of the World Council of Churches expressed concern about discriminatory blasphemy laws in Pakistan. Lynching by mobs raised serious concern about the misuse of the blasphemy laws. The organization called on the Government of Pakistan to repeal all discriminatory legislation, namely blasphemy laws.
Asian Forum for Human Rights and Development Forum-Asia regretted that a recommendation to protect online freedom had been merely noted by Pakistan. The Prevention of Electronic Crimes Act of 2016 empowered telecommunication regulators to arbitrarily filter or censor “objectionable content” which had restricted online expression.
Amnesty International reminded that the United Nations Working Group on Enforced Disappearances had more than 700 pending cases from Pakistan, and Pakistan’s State Commission of Inquiry on Enforced Disappearances had received reports of hundreds more. No one had ever been held accountable for an enforced disappearance in Pakistan.
International Commission of Jurists regretted that Pakistan had not supported recommendations related to amending its blasphemy laws, which were frequently misused. They blatantly discriminated against minority religions and sects, infringed on freedom of expression and religion, and gave rise to serious fair trial concerns.
World Environment and Resources Council noted that the collapse of the criminal justice system, the culture of impunity, and the Government’s refusal and inability to act in accordance with international human rights laws had left millions vulnerable and suffering in Pakistan, particularly in the province of Sindh.
The Vice President of the Human Rights Council informed that out of 289 recommendations received, Pakistan accepted 168 and noted 121.
FARUKH AMIL, Permanent Representative of Pakistan to the United Nations Office at Geneva, said as a State party to seven core international and human rights instruments, Pakistan was already fulfilling its duties in the area of human rights. Some of the recommendations were currently being examined, however this process entailed alliance with national laws as well as practical implementation. Pakistan continued to implement and report to the main treaty bodies. The Foreign Minister had identified a series of steps in identifying and consolidating the national human rights institutions and in this respect, the Government had accepted almost all recommendations. A number of recommendations aimed at improving the socio-economic conditions of the people, and poverty alleviation had been accepted. The Government tackled these issues by improving the right to development, economic progress and anti-poverty measures, including through, inter alia, micro-credit schemes, strengthening the social safety nets on health and education, as well as ending child labour, improving vaccination, and other measures.
Mr. Amil said Pakistan’s progress had been realized despite the challenges of terrorism and extremism. As a result of targeted actions by security forces, all terrorist hideouts had been eliminated and this extraordinary fact had to be recognized. Minorities which were primary targets by these terrorist groups had enormously benefited from these actions. Minorities in Pakistan had the constitutional right to freely profess their religion – a case in point was the Christian Missionary Schools. A five per cent quota was ensured for minorities in employment, and deliberations on a Minority Protection Bill were in the pipeline. Blasphemy laws were instrumental in targeting discrimination issues. The death penalty was still in place due to the democratic will of the people. It was a consequence of the challenges related to terrorism, whereby public pressure to bring perpetrators to justice had pushed the moratorium back. The Government was committed to improving the status of women, who accounted for 25 per cent of all Members of Parliament. The Government was also working on trans-gender rights.
The outcome of the Universal Periodic Review of Pakistan was then adopted...
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