Sindh government’s determination to make zero tolerance policy more effective on human rights violations

The Human Rights Department of the Government of Sindh has expressed its determination to implement the international conventions in the province and in collaboration with other relevant institutions to make its zero tolerance policy against human rights violations more efficient and effective. will make

Sindh Human Rights Department organized an awareness session on the topic of ‘Orientation Session on International Human Rights Responsibilities and Procedures for its Implementation at Federal and Provincial Level’ in a local hotel, in which Revenue, Police And officers and representatives of law departments as well as organizations working for the protection and rights of vulnerable sections of the society including women and children also participated.

Speaking on the occasion, Surendra Vilasai said that Sindh province is ahead of other provinces in terms of preventing human rights violations and providing protection and justice to the victims.

He pointed out that the fourth biennial GSP+ review of Pakistan was completed at the end of 2022 and the European Commission submitted the report to the European Parliament. He said that the GSP+ scheme is ending this year and the above review report will play an important role in determining the next GSP+ award to Pakistan by the European Union. He further said that under GSP+, Pakistan’s annual income is between 1.5 billion to 2 billion dollars.

Surendra Vilasai said that the groundwork for GSP+ was done during the government led by former President Asif Ali Zardari. He said that Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari has always had an unequivocal stand regarding human rights that no public party and democratic government can even imagine expediency over human rights.

He further said that the Provincial Human Rights Department is following the vision of Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari and the clear policy of the Government of Sindh.

Surendra Vilasai emphasized that only the federal and provincial level mechanism to prevent human rights violations is not enough, it needs to be taken to the district level. He said that the scope of the Human Rights Department is now being extended from the divisional level to the district level.

Sindh Human Rights Department Secretary Javed Sibghatullah Mehr gave a detailed briefing to the participants regarding the department’s scope, performance and future planning. He said that various measures are being taken by his department for immediate redressal of complaints of human rights violations and provision of justice.

He said that an automation mechanism is being created through technology, through which all the concerned institutions will come on one page after receiving the complaint of the affected person.

Javed Sibghatullah Mehr said that there is a need to create an immediate and effective mechanism between the police department and the human rights department to redress the complaints of the victims and provide justice. He said that district human rights committees will be formed on behalf of his department and Deputy Commissioners should pay attention to this.

During the session, Human Rights Commission Sindh Chairperson Iqbal Ditho highlighted the institutional mechanism at the official level regarding human rights.

DIG Javed Jaskani, former Secretary Sindh Abdul Rahim Soomro, Executive Two Coordinator of Treaty Implementation Cell of Sindh Human Rights Department Jameel Junejo and member of Human Rights Commission Sindh Zulfikar Shah also spoke.

Officers participating in the session and representatives of various departments appreciated the organization of the awareness session by the Human Rights Department and emphasized that such programs are very important for the promotion and protection of human rights.