Daily Times

The state of human rights in Pakistan, particularly in Sindh, is pathetic. Every citizen of Pakistan is entitled to basic human rights through national and international bindings, laws and the Constitutions; the state is responsible for the protection of basic human rights through the implementation of the Constitution and international human rights laws. But, lack of interest on the part of the state has made people insecure due to the reckless violations of human rights all around them.

What does ‘right’ actually mean? Let me be very simple: rights can be defined as a legally recognised and protected interest. Any interest that the law recognises or enforces, whatever the nature or extent of that recognition or enforcement, is a legal right. It is not necessary that a legal right has been created by the state but it should be such that law courts recognise it and protect it in their decisions and that the state employ its machinery to enforce it.

The term ‘right’ in civil society is defined to mean that which a person is entitled to have, to do or to receive from others, within the limits prescribed by law. In its legal sense a right is an interest, which is created and enforced either by the Constitution or by ordinary law. However, being the robust stakeholder of Sindh’s progress and prosperity, rural areas are still in the clutches of an increasingly bad law and order situation, poverty, lack of basic amenities, safe drinking water, a poor sanitation system, moribund health facilities, food insecurity, agricultural backwardness and, most importantly, an uncompetitive education system. However, most importantly, access to justice for the common man has always remained an elusive goal. Similarly, dispensation of justice has also remained flawed, delayed and, in some cases, non-existent in Pakistan. All these crises and issues exergue rural and urban disparities, and increase their suspicion about the denial of their fundamental rights and more specifically human rights.

Recently, the Insaf Network Pakistan (INP), in collaboration with the Marvi Rural Development Organisation (MRDO), is currently implementing a project that is based on the access to justice component and awareness campaign in four districts of Sindh. The predominant approach of the programme is to enhance the knowledge base of marginalised communities and youth/humanitarian activists about basic human rights enshrined in national and international humanitarian instruments, the Constitution of Pakistan, various national and provincial policies and acts, and to develop pressure through mobilisation and awareness upon the state and public institutions to implement laws and policies, and enforce international bindings for the protection of basic rights. This project will also create massive awareness of legal rights, procedures and a grievance-redressed mechanism. The significant thing about this project is that over 160,000 poor and vulnerable citizens will gain awareness of legal rights and procedures in districts Ghotki and Sukkur, and over 40,000 communities will be aware of the Bar Free Legal Aid Committee in 13 districts.

While talking to Ghulam Sughra, the renowned social activist and CEO of MRDO, I found out that she had initiated working on education as we all know that it is the key factor towards sustainable development and a benchmark to reduce disparities among people. She told me that they have the firm believe that education is the first step towards democracy so they were giving more focus to the social sector, especially education and healthcare.

She further said the project they had initiated was an innovative means to raise awareness about human rights in Sindh by creating an interactive link between public leaders and victims of human rights’ violations by having such leaders directly interact with human rights’ victims in their communities to learn of their plight, concerns and issues. These leaders will then advocate the issue highlighted to strengthen human rights’ mechanisms in the country.

During this project awareness will be raised among the citizens regarding their legal rights guaranteed by the Constitution and laws, as well as improved legal literacy regarding procedures for availing justice services through mass and targeted awareness campaigns in districts Sukkur and Ghotki. Moreover, knowledge about the Right to Information Law will be spread in the targeted community because that can expose government offices and help citizens attain their rights. Citizens can exercise this right by filing a complaint if they are denied access to the information they seek.

Secondly, another aspect of this project is to ensure the provision of better free legal services to the disadvantaged. Legal aid desks will be established in two targeted districts inside court premises. These legal aid desks will provide friendly, accessible and free of cost assistance to poor and vulnerable community groups to claim their legal rights. The legal aid centres will be established in collaboration with the respective bar associations of lawyers, which will provide a venue to establish this centre. The legal aid centres (LAD) will be provided basic operating material/ equipment to make the centre functional.

I personally believe that voices from civil society have always come up with major reforms and innovative ideas but my suggestion to these civil society organisations is, since the influential are able to buy or manipulate justice, the only long-term way to reform state institutions is to decrease the inequality of financial, social and human development. Realisation of social justice is closely linked to the dispensation of justice and it can be realised through ensuring a more equitable socio-economic distribution of wealth and assets through land reforms, employment generation, education, economic growth and provision of opportunities to the poor and less influential sections of society.

The writer is a social and political activist. He can be reached at salmanali088@gmail.com