Lahore: Pakistan’s third Universal Periodic Review (UPR) is scheduled to take place on Monday (today). International and national rights watchdogs have urged the government to ‘meaningfully engage with the process to improve the human rights situation in the country’. In its statement released on the occasion, International Commission of Jurists (ICJ) has noted that the seven recommendations rejected by Pakistan in 2012 were related to some of the most serious violations of human rights. The UPR was introduced by the United Nations General Assembly in 2006 and it involves a periodic review of human rights records of all UN member states. The process lets states quantify steps needed for improvement in human rights situation. In 2008, Pakistan received 51 recommendations, of which it accepted 43 and rejected eight. These eight pertained to decriminalisation of defamation and non-marital sexual relations; end to abuse of blasphemy laws; legal reforms to ensure punishments in ‘honour’ killings and abolition of death penalty. At its second UPR in 2012, Pakistan received 167 recommendations, out of which it accepted 126, ‘noted’ 34 and rejected seven. The recommendations rejected by Pakistan included proposals for repeal of laws related to blasphemy and criminalising non-marital sexual relations, abolition of the death penalty, and bringing an end to the ongoing military operation in Balochistan. Among those accepted by the country, 26 were about various domestic and international human rights laws and institutions; 20 about women and children rights; 21 about various forms of discrimination; social protections; 23 about MDGs and socio-economic development; six about religious minorities; five each about rights defenders and journalists, and religious hatred and violence; four each about enforced disappearances and domestic and sexual violence; three about freedom of expression; two each about early marriages, administrative reforms, and interfaith dialogue; and one each about terrorism and bonded labour. Of the 34 kept pending, 15 were about ratification of various international conventions; five about blasphemy laws; four each about UN HR bodies and gender-based and other forms of discrimination; two about children protection; and one each about rights defenders, Internet access, gender-based violence and IDPs -1. Recommendations on women’s rights and status In the second cycle of the UPR, Pakistan was issued 34 recommendations pertaining to the rights of women. Out of 34, Pakistan accepted 26, ‘noted’ seven, and rejected one that asked for decriminalisation of non-marital sexual relations. The recommendations accepted by the country primarily concerned addressing various forms of violence against women, such as domestic violence and trafficking; fulfillment of women’s right including access to education and healthcare; strengthening of national human rights mechanisms responsible for the advancement of women; and increasing gender sensitive training for law enforcement personnel. In 2015, the Human Rights Commission Pakistan (HRCP) issued an assessment report noting that incidents of violence against women had continued at the same rate as that before 2012. In 2014 alone, for example, the HRCP recorded 923 cases where women were killed in the name of ‘honour’; 82 cases relating to ‘honour’ killings; and over 100 cases where girls and women were killed in acid attacks. The HRCP report further noted that even though legislation criminalising various forms of violence against women had been enacted – like the Domestic Violence Acts in Sindh (2013) and Balochistan (2014), and the Sindh Child Marriage Restraint Act of 2013 – there remained a lack of will to implement these laws and to raise awareness amongst the public, law enforcement agencies and even the judiciary. The report noted that Pakistan had also consistently failed to provide victims of violence sufficient support mechanisms and rehabilitation services. Furthermore, the lack of awareness regarding standard operating procedures (SOPs) for gender-related crimes and the lack of gender sensitive training for judges and police had led to under-reporting of cases and widespread impunity for the perpetrators. Other related recommendations There has been no progress on recommendations asking for the adoption of a national plan on women’s rights. On the issue of violence against women, the recommendation about reporting and investigation of cases of violence against women, effective awareness campaign against violence and consolidation of measures to address sexual abuses and exploitation of children was not implemented. Other recommendations have only seen partial implementation. These include efforts to end trafficking of children and violence against women; setting up mechanisms for protection and support to victims of sexual violence and enactment of provincial legislation on domestic violence; and necessary measures sought to end harmful traditional practices against women, particularly those related to sexual harassment in public and work places. Published in Daily Times, November 13th 2017.