PESHAWAR: Two women MPAs of the ruling Pakistan Tehreek Insaf have submitted the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Human Rights Defenders (Recognition, Protection) Bill, 2019, to the provincial assembly’s secretariat on Monday.

A statement issued here said the bill had been submitted in light of the commitments made by the provincial government in the human rights policy notified by the law, human rights and parliamentary department in 2018, which called for the enactment of the law to recognise and protect the human rights’ defenders (HRDs).

MPAs Asia Saleh Khattak and Dr Asia Assad submitted the bill.

The statement said the proposed law was meant to provide recognition, respect, protection, promotion and wellbeing to human rights defenders in the province and ensure the fulfilment of their rights and responsibilities.

PTI’s two women MPAs submit bill to assembly secretariat

It added that the bill would ensure provision of assistance and protection, where needed and in any manner possible, to all human rights defenders working individually or an association with others in carrying out their core functions within the prescribed manner of provincial and national laws.

The bill describes the HRDs as those who whether paid or working payment acts or seeks to defend, promote, protect or strive for the defence, protection and realisation of human rights and fundamental freedoms guaranteed to the individuals under the Constitution and laws and other institutions and international treaties and instruments at the local, national, regional and international levels.

Both lawmakers said the bill was prepared in consultation with civil society organisations, and was based on the model law for the recognition and protection of human rights defenders that articulated the United Nations Declaration on Human Rights Defenders into national law.

The bill suggests that the provincial government institutionalise its commitment to providing protection to human rights defenders and to establish legal remedies for violations of the rights of the human rights defenders.

Coordinator of the Pakhtunkhwa Civil Society Network Taimur Kamal said the bill would contribute to the recognition of HRDs.

He said despite an international declaration and clear standards protecting the work of human rights defenders, a huge gap between principles and reality existed and the passage of the bill would improve the situation.

Published in Dawn, October 22nd, 2019