Human Rights & Minorities Affairs Department

. Human Rights & Minorities Affairs Department .

. ~ A Brief Introduction ~ .

Human Rights & Minorities Affairs (HR&MA) Department was created as separate Administrative Department by the

Government of the Punjab on 12th July 2008.

HR&MA Department has established a Human Rights Cell in 2011 to fill the gap of field formation in context of taking

required steps towards promotion and protection of human rights.

Following functions have been assigned to HR&MA Department in context of Human Rights:-

Awareness regarding human rights

Coordination with NGOs working for human rights

Seminar for awareness of civil society organizations regarding child protection & care

Visits of the prisons, borstal and juvenile institutions, police stations, brick kilns, factories, hospitals and other

institutions providing public services and report to the concerned authorities about any violation of human rights.

Harmonization of legislation and policies with international human rights treaties.

Referring & recommending investigation / inquiries into any incident of human rights violation.

Following functions have been assigned to HR&MA Department in context of Minorities Affairs:-

Administration of Christian Marriage Act, 1872

Safeguarding the rights & interests of minorities

Awareness drive for minority communities regarding prevention of Dengue fever

Promotion & welfare of minorities

Development schemes (identified by the minority Members of the Provincial Parliament and the Chief Minister)

Minority Advisory Council Punjab

Human Rights & Minorities Affairs Department has been assigned responsibility of reporting regarding following four

international human rights treaties:-

1. International Covenant on Civil & Political Rights (ICCPR)

2. International Covenant on Economic, Social & Cultural Rights (ICESCR)

3. International Convention on Elimination of all forms of Racial Discrimination (ICERD)

4. Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC)

Constitution of Islamic Republic of Pakistan provides all the major rights & liberties to the citizens of Pakistan. Besides

the constitutional protections and the existing framework for protection and promotion of human rights, Punjab

Government has taken following major initiatives during the year 2015 in consonance with international human rights

treaties:-

.International Covenant on Civil & Political Rights (ICCPR) .

Mechanism developed for surprise visits of the prisons in Punjab by the officers of Human Rights & Minorities Affairs

Department. (Multiple visits conducted since September 2015 and recommendations sent to concerned quarters for

improvements)

Automation of monitoring mechanism regarding criminal cases by the Public Prosecution Department.

Systematic deployment of Police at places of worship to provide security to citizens belonging to all faiths and

religion.

Deployment of Police at courts for protection of judges, lawyers & witnesses.

Legislation of the “Punjab Protection of Vulnerable Persons Rules, 2015” for protection of vulnerable persons

especially the lawyers, plaintiff, witnesses and the accused in the sensitive case.

Successful consultation with relevant government departments / agencies and the civil society organizations held

on 28th October 2015 to come up with suitable independent institutional mechanism for human rights in Punjab.

Punjab Local bodies elections held in three phases i.e. on 31st October 2015, 19th November 2015 & 5th December 2015.

Mass media campaign launched for awareness of human rights. (PKR 15 Million)

.International Covenant on Economic, Social, & Cultural Rights (ICESCR) .

Punjab Labour Policy formulated.

Initiation of a development project “Extension of Elimination of Bonded Labour in 4 Districts” by Labour & Human

Resource Department in Faisalabad, Gujrat, Bahawalpur & Sargodha.

Prosecution of 1660 brick kilns for less payments or deduction from wages (January to July 2015)

Distribution of more than 100,000 educational scholarships through Punjab Educational Endowment Fund.

Award of 774 educational scholarships (PKR 20 Million) to the students of deserving minority families in Punjab

during 2015.

Financial assistance PKR 5000 each to 400 poor Hindu families (PKR 2 Million) & 38 poor Sikh families (PKR 0.190

Million) granted on eve of Holi & Birthday of Baba Guru Nanak respectively.

Financial assistance on eve of Christmas 2015 expected to be given to 6000 Christian families (PKR 30 Million) like

previous practice.

PKR 463 Million reserved in financial year 2015-16 for infrastructure development of minority clusters in Punjab.

Policy of 5% minority employment quota refined on 9th February 2015 to carry forward the unfilled posts reserved for

minority quota in recruitment process.

.Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC) .

Initiation of a development project “Combating Worst form of Child Labour in 4 Districts of Punjab” by Labour &

Human Resource Department in Chakwal, Jhelum, Jhang & Layyah.

Child labour survey in Punjab planned with support of UNICEF. PKR 27 Million committed by UNICEF for this project.

Initiation of integrated project on elimination of child and bonded labour by Labour & Human Resource Department

(PKR 5,159 Million)

Protective custody of 414 children by the Child Protection & Welfare Bureau during financial year 2014-15.

Enrollment target in context of free & compulsory education was set by School Education Department as 4,400,000,

whereas, they have achieved more than the target as 4,408,425 in 2 phases.

Source: School Education Department

A seminar “Systematic Approach to Counter Child Abuse in Punjab” organized by the Human Rights & Minorities

Affairs Department on 11th November 2015 for concerned government officials and the representatives of civil society

organizations. The objective of seminar was to raise the awareness and sensitivity with respect to various aspects of

child psychology and practical challenges in child protection.

Seminar: Systematic Approach to Counter Child Abuse in Punjab

.International Convention on Elimination of all forms of Racial Discrimination (ICERD) .

Punjab Government addresses protection of and non-discrimination against religious minorities, with sensitivity and

care.

Although, ICERD does not encompass the issues of religious minorities but following efforts for protection of and non-

discrimination against religious minorities have been highlighted as questioned by various forums including EU’s GSP+

monitors:-

Minority Advisory Council, Punjab (MACP) re-organized on 30th January 2015 and this forum is effectively taking up

issues of religious minorities to recommend solutions to the Punjab Government. Mr. Khalil Tahir Sandhu, Minister

for HR&MA is leading the forum.

Issue of undue socio-economic stratification taken up by Human Rights & Minorities Affairs Department where the

eligibility criteria of sanitary workers was discriminatory.

4,380,000

4,400,000

4,420,000

Enrollment

Enrollment in Context of Free & Compulsory Education

Target Achievement

Punjab Sound Systems (Regulation) Act, 2015 enacted against hate speech through loud speakers etc. This law is

being implemented strictly.

In Joseph Colony Incident 2013, 116 defendants charged by the prosecution till now.

In Kot Radha Kishan incident 2014, 59 defendants charged by the prosecution till now.