International Human Rights Day is being observed today, with the theme “Stand up for Human Rights”.
This year, the day has assumed special significance as it coincides with the 70th anniversary of the adoption of Universal Declaration of Human Rights.
In his message on the occasion, President Mamnoon Hussain said the government is committed to protect and promote human rights and will continue making efforts to safeguard freedom, liberty, dignity and self-esteem of every citizen of the state.
In his message, Prime Minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi reiterated the government’s resolve to uphold the values of fundamental rights, equality of all human beings, peaceful co-existence, respect for diversity and protection against discrimination in any form.
The Prime Minister said we must also understand that the apathetic denial and grim violations of even the very basic human rights to Palestinians, Kashmiris and Rohingyas continue to call in question the collective conscience of the international community.
Shahid Khaqan Abbasi called for building a fair and equitable world in which all communities, peoples and nations will have the same fundamental rights grounded in their being ‘human’, and not their ‘difference’.
And in his message, Foreign Minister Khawaja Muhammad Asif said Pakistan is actively engaged with the UN human rights institutions and partners through regular submission of national reports, participation in review processes and implementation of recommendations arising from such mechanism.
He said it is important to recognize and demand full respect for the rights of people under continued illegal occupation.
He said foremost among these are the people of occupied Jammu and Kashmir and Palestine.