the efectiveness of udhr and iccpr

7/28/2019 The Efectiveness of UDHR and ICCPR

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Since the general assembly of United Nations proclaimed the universal declaration of

human rights UDHR on December 10th 1948, the concept of human rights has become one

of the most potent in contemporary politics??

Critically evaluate the effectiveness of UDHR and ICCPR in terms of their promotion andprotection of human rights in Pakistan?

The right of access to official information is protected by the Constitutions of fifty countries in the

world.

Pakistan is signatory to both the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (1948) and International

Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR). Pakistan inked the ICCPR on April 18, 2008. These

global instruments explicitly acknowledge the citizens Right to Know.

Everyone has the right to freedom of opinion and expression; this right includes freedom to hold

opinions without interference and to seek, receive and impart information and ideas through any

media and regardless of frontiers.

(Article 19, the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR) 1948)

Everyone shall have the right to freedom of opinion. Everyone shall have the right to freedom of

expression; this right shall include freedom to seek, receive and impart information of all kinds,

regardless of frontiers, either orally, in writing or in print, in the form of art or through any media of

his choice.

(Article 19, the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights 1966)

The Universal Declaration of Human Rights, which was embraced by the UN General Assembly on

10 December 1948, was the consequence of the encounter of the Second World War. With the close

of that war and the formation of the United Nations, the global neighborhood promised never again

to permit monstrosities like those of that clash happen once more. It comprises of 30 articles which

have been expounded in consequent universal arrangements, local human rights instruments,

national constitutions and laws. The International Bill of Human Rights comprises of the Universal

Declaration of Human Rights, the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights,

and the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights and its two Optional Protocols. In 1966

the General Assembly embraced the two itemized Covenants, which finish the International Bill of


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Human Rights; and in 1976, after the Covenants had been confirmed by a sufficient number of

distinct countries, the Bill assumed the power of universal law.

Pakistans human rights situation is a complex one, as a result of the country's diversity, large

population, its status as a developing country and a sovereign,Islamic republic as well as an Islamic

democracy with a mixture of both Islamic and colonial secular laws. The Constitution of Pakistan

provides for fundamental rights, which include freedom of speech, freedom of thought, freedom of

information, freedom of religion, freedom of association, freedom of the press, freedom of assembly

and the right to bear arms. These clauses are generally respected in practice. Clauses also provide for

an independent Supreme Court, separation of executive and judiciary, an independent judiciary,

independent Human Rights commission and freedom of movement within the country and abroad.

Pakistan was recommended by the U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF)

in May to be designated as a Country of Particular Concern (CPC) by the Department of State

because of its governments engagement or toleration of systematic, ongoing, and egregious

violations of religious freedom.In Pakistan, 1.5% of the population are Christian. Pakistani law

mandates that any "blasphemies" of the Quran are to be met with punishment. On July 28, 1994,

Amnesty International urged Pakistan's Prime Minister, Benazir Bhutto to change the law because it

was being used to terrorize religious minorities. She tried, but was unsuccessful. However, she

modified the laws to make them more moderate. Her changes were reversed by the Nawaz Sharif

administration which was backed by Religious/Political parties.

Ayub Masih, a Christian, was convicted of blasphemy and sentenced to death in 1998. He was

accused by a neighbor of stating that he supported British writer, Salman Rushdie, author of The

Satanic Verses. Lower appeals courts upheld the conviction. However, before the Pakistan Supreme

Court, his lawyer was able to prove that the accuser had used the conviction to force Mashi's family

off their land and then acquired control of the property. Masih has been released.Based, in part, on

such incidents, Pakistan was recommended by the U.S. Commission on International Religious

Freedom (USCIRF) in May 2006 to be designated as a "Country of Particular Concern" (CPC) by

the Department of State

As of April 2012, Pakistan did not provide a legal system for registration of marriages for certain

minorities including Hindus, Sikhs, Buddhists, Jains and Bahai Denial of recognition of Hindu

marriages is often used to intimidate and harass Hindus. Married Hindu women have been forcibly

kidnapped and married to Muslims, and are left without legal recourse due to inability to prove their

previous marriage. It also makes it difficult for Hindus to obtain the Computerized National Identity

Card.


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the efectiveness of udhr and iccpr

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