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Date: 19, Feb 2007
Press Release
PCHR Steering Committee Meeting held on Feb 19, 2007 in PCHR Secretariat Islamabad.
PCHR’s Steering Committee meeting was held today in PCHR secretariat Islamabad. Meeting was chaired by Chairman PCHR Mr. Riaz Fatyana MNA, Senator Mir Naseer Khan Mengal, Federal State Minister for Petroleum and Natural Resources, Dr. Farid Ahmed Paracha MNA, Ms. Mehnaz Raffi MNA, Ms. Fouzia Wahab MNA, Khawaja Saad Rafique MNA, Mujeeb Peerzada MNA and Chief Coordinator PCHR Shafique Chaudhry participated in this meeting.
Various Human Rights issues and current activities of PCHR were discussed in the meeting. Chief Coordinator gave detailed presentation on current activities, particularly WEC-PK (Women Employment Concerns and working Conditions) project.
Honorable members showed their deep concern on the lack of supportive environment for working women in country. They observed that without active participation of women no country can make socio-economic progress. They appreciated ILO for taking up this very important issue of national importance.
Steering Committee expressed its satisfaction over the activities, taken place in collaboration with ILO on WEC-PK. It was also resolved in the meeting that PCHR will soon introduce new bill in Parliament for ensuring the protection of rights of working women in Pakistan.
The proposed bill will address different issues of working women like discrimination in wages, harrassment at workplace, uncomfortable working environment etc. The proposed bill will be drafted in the light of the provisions of ILO conventions C-100 (regarding unequal wages), C III (abolish all forms of discrimination at work place) and recommendation of consultative seminars which have been organized on this issue by PCHR with ILO.
Members of PCHR steering committee also gave approval to the PCHR work plan of new projects. During this year PCHR will also start a nation wide consultative activity on “THE STATUS OF MINORITIES IN PAKISTAN< ISSUES, CHALLENGESS AND WAY FORWARD”
The main objective of this activity will be to analyze and evaluate institutional responses to minority issues and prepared policy guide lines for different Government agencies for socio economic uplift of minorities in Pakistan. Leading Minority rights organizations, Human rights group; judicial institutions, Law enforcement agencies and other stakeholders will be involved in this process.
During discussion, PCHR showed great concern for deteriorating situation of Human Rights in the country. Deep concern was expressed over the poor working of law enforcement agencies particularly increasing number of police torture reports. PCHR members desired that Government Officers should improve their behaviors with the people and all citizens should be treated equally with out any sort of discrimination. Other matters regarding organization and legislation were also discussed in steering committee meeting.
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