QUETTA: A seminar held to observe International Human Rights Day emphasised the need for a joint struggle to ensure people’s rights, raise awareness about child marriages, and promote the responsible use of social media.

The event was jointly organised by the EYES organisation with financial support from GIZ and aimed to shed light on human rights issues in Balochistan.

Participants included stakeholders from various human rights institutions, civil society and human rights defenders who discussed challenges and strategies for promoting human rights in the province.

The seminar featured two panel discussions with notable speakers from journalism, law, human rights and civil society. The speakers expressed grave concerns about human rights violations and emphasised the need for collective efforts to protect citizens’ rights.

Manzoor Ahmed, a senior journalist, highlighted the pivotal role of the media in raising awareness about human rights, emphasising the responsible use of social media.

Saeeda Manan, director of Social Welfare, addressed child marriages, attributing the issue to weak law enforcement and advocating for second-generation legal reforms.

Fauzia Shaheen, Chairperson of the National Commission on the Status of Women, emphasised the availability of institutions supporting women in Balochistan, but lamented the lack of public awareness about accessing these services.

Asfandyar, Director of Human Rights, called for collaborative awareness campaigns to ensure the effective implementation of laws.

Dr Faiza Mufadi urged individuals to prioritise their health and not neglect prenatal care and other health concerns.

Mir Behram Lehri, social activist, spoke about legislative progress post-18th Amendment and stressed the need for their proper implementation.

Naseer Ahmed Channa highlighted the social impact of climate change, linking it to child marriages and advocating for a multi-level response to address environmental challenges.

Professor Faiza Mir emphasised the vital role of educators in fostering respect for human rights and compliance with laws.

Retired Justice Tahira Baloch called for a societal shift in attitudes toward women’s inheritance rights, which continue to be denied despite being enshrined in law and religion.

Qadir Nayal, a former provincial assembly member, highlighted progress made in welfare legislation such as the Right to Information Act, but expressed concern over its poor implementation.

Dr Ishaq Baloch, Central Vice President of the National Party, criticised the federal government for neglecting Balochistan’s fundamental rights. He highlighted that the federal government owes Rs700 billion in gas revenues to the province and criticised decision-makers in Islamabad, which further marginalises Balochistan.

He called for a stronger federal commitment to addressing these grievances and criticised administrative failures to enforce welfare laws passed by the provincial assembly.

The seminar concluded with Sami Sharq, Executive Direc­tor of EYES, expressing gratitude to participants. The event underscored the urgency of addressing human rights challenges in Balochistan through collaboration, effective legislation, and increased awareness at all societal levels.

Published in Dawn, December 12th, 2024