TDEA consultation focuses on fortifying minority rights in Pakistan

#TDEA #consultation #focuses #fortifying #minority #rights #Pakistan

ISLAMABAD: The Trust for Democratic Education and Accountability (TDEA) on Thursday held a national consultation on minority rights here, in which government ministers, parliamentarians, government officials, development partners, and civil society representatives were discussed to discuss religious minorities.

The consultation is around the results of the TDEA research study ‘Living on Margin’, which is conducted under its involvement for a diversity project. With financial support through the European Union, the three -year move began in January 2025.

The research study offers a comprehensive analysis of socio -economic and political facts through religious minorities in Pakistan.

Using the approach of mixed methods, this research was done in six districts: Gotki, Hyderabad, and Tharparkar in Sindh; And Lahore, Rahimiyar Khan, and Faisalabad in Punjab. The Minister of State for Religious Affairs and Interfaith Harmony, Kisu Mill Khel Das was the guest of honor.

Sebastian Loren, Team Leader, Governance and Human Capital EU Mission for Pakistan. Ms Anjum Iqbal, Secretary Human Rights and Minority Affairs Department, Sindh; Farid Ahmad Tarar, Secretary Human Rights and Minority Affairs Department, Punjab; Dr. Mohammad Arif Lagari, Director International Cooperation, Federal Ministry of Human Rights; Ms. Amy Leila Azhar, Acting Chairperson, National Commission on Women’s status; And minority member of the National Commission for Human Rights (NCHR); Peter Jacob from the Center for Social Justice (CSJ); Dr. Mohammad Wasim, Chairperson TDEA; And Mukhtar Jaeed, Chairperson Free and Fair Election Network (Fafin) spoke during a full and panel conversation.

The program was attended by civil society workers, human rights guards, media professionals, and educational scholars. In his address, Minister Kisu Mall said that Parliament and the government are taking steps to promote and protect the rights of religious minorities on a priority basis. He praised the TDEA for this study and said that its recommendations are in line with the government’s current priorities. He highlighted the recent steps, including the approval of the bill for the establishment of a National Commission for Minority Rights under the presidential consensus, the approval of the Federal Cabinet of National Strategy for Religious Tolerance last February, which aims to promote mutual respect and strengthen hate speech.

TDEA’s Ms. Kanwal Mahmood presented the key results of the investigative report highlighting concerns among religious minorities, recommending areas for obstruction and reforms, including obstacles to access to their rights in different walks of life. He said that a multi -faceted approach in which religious minorities in Pakistan need to be removed and discriminatory, in which strengthening legal security and their implementation against religious discrimination, especially in housing, education, employment and public religious expression.

He said that social level efforts should promote interfaith harmony, while civil society should be empowered to monitor rights violations and to help local human rights guards. European Union representative Sebastian Loren also made his comments on the occasion. He reaffirmed the EU’s support for Pakistan’s social and economic development.

This consultation included two panel debates – “current facts and obstacles: tackling the challenges of minority rights in Pakistan” and “government response and institutional accountability: evaluating minority protection procedures”. Experts from various human rights commissions, government departments and civil society organizations participated in these discussions.

TDEA Chairperson, Dr Muhammad Wasim, addressed the state of minority rights in Pakistan. Mukhtar Javed, chairperson of the Independent and fair election network (FAFN), thanked the closing remarks and thanks. The TDEA is implementing the consortium partners, namely the Sangat Development Foundation, Sadar Society and the Samaj Development Foundation in Punjab, Goth Sigger Foundation, Bannan Bailey and Sindh with a diversity plan through the Alumni Trust in Sindh.