HYDERABAD: Civil society organisations and nationalist parties in parts of Sindh held various programmes to mark the International Human Rights Day on Thursday.

In Hyderabad, rights activists took out a procession under the banner of the Human Rights Commission of Pakistan (HRCP) Hyderabad special task force.

Carrying banners and placards, and shouting slogans in favour of human rights (HR), they appealed to the government and international human rights organisations to play their role in controlling HR violations. This time the day is being celebrated under the title of “Human Rights for All”.

It was led by HRCP Hyderabad task force coordinator Dr Ashothama Lohana, Jawaid Sozhalai of the Sindh Community Foundation (SCF), Mustafa Baloch of the Strengthening Participatory Organisation and Punhal Sario of the Sindh Porhiyat Council. The federal and provincial governments must focus on implementation of human rights throughout the country, they said, pointing out that there were blatant violations of human rights, including enforced disappearance of nationalist and political parties’ activists, child abuse, acid attacks on women, attacks on religious places and polio vaccinators, killings of doctors and engineers in the name of sect, favouritism, nepotism and others.

In Sukkur, a human rights cell was inaugurated in collaboration with the Civil Society Support Programme (CSSP) at the SSP office Kandhkot-Kashmore district to address the issues of women, children and vulnerable segments of society. The human rights department Sindh in Dadu town held a rally from the DC office to the Dadu press club.

In connection with the opening, according to reports, an event was organised at the District Nazim Complex where a large number of police officials, government functionaries, lawyers, journalists and members of civil society were present.

Speaking on the occasion, HR activists highlighted the rights violations prevailing in society and urged the government to take practical steps to address the issues.

In Umerkot, the Sindh Rural Support Organisation in collaboration with the Enhanced Democratic Accountability and Civic Engagement (EDACE) programme celebrated the International Human Rights Day. Earlier, a rally was taken out from Ghousia nursery to the local press club to mark the day.

On the occasion, they also kicked off an awareness month on legal rights. Sessions were planned to be arranged at the union council level during the month to educate people regarding their rights and procedure to practice and attain them.

A drama Voice of right was staged that thrilled people and got a round of applause from the audience.

Published in Dawn, December 11th, 2015