ISLAMABAD, November, 2023: To promote interfaith harmony in the country, the National Commission for Human Rights (NCHR) has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Legal Aid Society (LAS). As per this MoU, both sides will collaborate in implementing “Protecting and Promoting Religious Freedom in Pakistan,” a comprehensive two-year program for Sindh and South Punjab that aims at fostering an environment of interfaith harmony and bolster the minority rights.
Over the next two years, the project is dedicated to safeguarding the rights of religious minority communities through empowerment and knowledge, enhancing the capacity of the criminal justice sector, and fostering inclusive dialogues that shape positive legal, political, and social narratives. Other key partners of the project include Aahung and the Roshni Welfare Organization.
While speaking at the project orientation workshop Chairperson of NCHR RabiyaJaveri Agha briefed the participants about the researches and efforts done by the Commission to protect and promote the minority rights in Pakistan. She also detailed the commission’s mandate and its efforts in advocating for women’s rights, minority rights, transgender rights, mental health, child labor, and the plight of Afghan refugees. She said that NCHR’s expertise would be pivotal in leading the advocacy component of this project alongside LAS.
Chief Executive Officer LAS Haya Eman Zahid articulated the vision and mission of LAS and set the tone for the program’s approach towards inclusive and effective implementation. Associate Director of LAS Maliha Zia Lari briefed the participants about project’s origins, evolution, and strategic design. She shed light on the significant challenges in defining and effectively addressing the issues faced by religious minority communities, underlining the crucial need for improved understanding, data accuracy, and socio-economic support.
