Pakistani minorities mark Human Rights Day with appeal
Bishop Rehmat of Faisalabad: "Intolerance against any group harms the whole society." Renewed call for legislative measures to stop the scourge of forced conversions of minor girls for marriage.
Sahiwal (AsiaNews) - "Intolerance against any social group or community harms all of society and undermines the universal values of equality and human dignity," said by the Bishop of Faisalabad, Msgr. Joseph Indrias Rehmat.
He was speaking yesterday in Sahiwal at the conference "Dignity, Freedom and Justice for All," organized by the NGO Voice for Justice on the occasion of today's International Human Rights Day, which marks the anniversary of the UN's adoption of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.
The event was an opportunity to urge the Pakistani government to take legal and administrative measures to strengthen the rule of law to address human rights violations and counter impunity, and ensure fundamental freedoms for all, without distinction.
In addition, there was a renewed request to introduce a change in the law to end the scourge of child marriages by introducing a minimum age of 18 and bring forced conversions in accordance with human rights standards as a crime.
Finally, the authorities in Pakistan were asked to investigate cases of intimidation and killings of journalists, lawyers and human rights defenders, bringing those responsible to justice and intensifying efforts to ensure a safe environment that protects them from repression and violence so they can effectively carry out their work.
Speaking at the conference, along with the prelate, were Peer M. Hassan Chishti, Ashiknaz Khokar and Professor Jalil Butt. Human rights awards were also presented on the occasion to several local personalities including journalists Asif Munawar and Sadiya Mazhar, social activist Aqsa Kanwal, peace activist Alweera Rashid, and to Shazia George, former member of the Punjab Commission on the Status of Women (PCSW).
Bishop Rehmat also emphasized the need for policy that promotes religious tolerance and social cohesion, while opinion makers, including religious leaders and teachers, need to adopt positive narratives to counter intolerance, hate speech and violence and promote respect for diversity within and among their respective communities.
He also called for pursuing the inclusion of marginalized groups in policies and decision-making processes that affect them, as well as in all stages of conflict prevention and resolution processes.
In a statement, Voice for Justice (VFJ) President Joseph Jansen reported that data compiled by the PCSW shows an increase in violence against women, with 9734 cases reported in 2021 in Punjab province, including cases of rape (4598), domestic violence (1415), acid burnings (34), killings in the name of honor (197) and other crimes.
He also said that sexual violence under the pretext of religious conversions and marriages of underage girls belonging to minority communities is uncontrolled and poses a serious threat to the rights of minorities to religious freedom. Therefore," he concluded, "the government must enact a law to stop the practice of forced religious conversions and effectively implement pro-women laws.
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