UK in Pakistan
Islamabad 18:36, 16 May 2012
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Human Rights
Pakistan is a country facing enormous challenges with a difficult history. It remains a country of concern for the Foreign and Commonwealth Office based on its human rights record so far. But the picture is complex.
Its Government and civil society have made progress towards implementation of universal human rights over recent years. The quality of democracy is slowly improving.
Pakistan is signed up to many of the key international human rights treaties, and recently ratified the UN International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, and the UN Convention Against Torture. The Government has established Ministries to promote human rights, women and minority communities. Civil society is growing and strong.
The judiciary is more independent. Parliament is increasingly empowered and Pakistan had the first female Speaker of its Parliament, amongst the Muslim world.The media are increasingly free. But significant problems persist.
There is a particularly high rate of violence against women, and discrimination enshrined in law which prevents them from accessing many opportunities.
Millions of children work as bonded labour, according to UNICEF and Save the Children, and the rate of attendance and quality of education at primary school is very low. Minority communities and individuals, such as Christians, (religious and ethnic) suffer from discrimination and have been the target of many violent attacks, perpetrated by violent extremist groups, leaving dozens and sometimes hundreds dead. The criminal justice system is weak and many people feel they do not have adequate access to justice or an effective rule of law. Militant groups have made life very difficult and dangerous for many – especially communities in the north which border Afghanistan.
While we welcome progress made so far, we continue to call on the Government to do more to promote human rights, in line with its international obligations. We work with the Government and with other countries, the European Union and other international organisations, and local civil society to support Pakistan in tackling human rights abuse. We do this through project work, in alongside the work of DFID and the British Council, and through bilateral and multilateral interventions with Government and civil society, while ensuring we are acting in accordance with our own human rights responsibilities under UK and international law.
Inspirational women in Pakistan
Read the top submissions of inspirational stories about women who inspires you!
Protect the children of the UK and Pakistan
British High Commission, in collaboration with Federal Judicial Academy and Struggle for Change (SUCH), a local NGO, organised a workshop on ‘UK-Pakistan Child Abduction Protocol on Child Matters’
Launch of European Union Local Strategy for Human Rights Defenders in Pakistan
You will no doubt agree with me that the first duty of a government is to maintain law and order so that the life,
Human Rights in Pakistan
UK continued to engage with authorities in Pakistan to express the UK’s support for a democratic Pakistan.
Key facts
Pakistan scored 124 out of 128 countries in the World Economic Forum Gender Gap Report 2010 – but many women work in high profile positions in Government.
Statements
British Foreign Secretary's Statement
EU statement on Bhatti's Assassination
Useful links
- The FCO Human Rights Report 2010
- European Union Delegation to Pakistan Website
- DFID’s work on human rights in Pakistan
- Democracy Reporting International (an NGO working on human rights in Pakistan – their website has useful reports on recent developments)
- Human Rights Commission of Pakistan (a national and well-known NGO based in Pakistan)
