Left: Baptists joining other Pakistanis protesting religious discrimination
the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR). Thirty eight organizations submitted reports on Pakistan. The
BWA was one of them. Besides preparing its own report, the BWA also participated in a number of efforts to create momentum for the UPR on Pakistan, to help put the country in the international spotlight and have other countries demand a response to the numerous human rights abuses taking place in Pakistan, particularly against religious minorities. Forty seven cases of such violations in the past two years were highlighted in the BWA report. The BWA contacted 26 different state governments, including
the US, Canada, Norway and Sweden, sharing its report with them, and asking them to raise issues of religious freedom violation during their brief oral statements at Pakistan’s UPR session. The BWA also participated in meetings with other civil society organizations in Geneva and in Washington, DC, to articulate the contributions of the civil society organizations in the process, and also to influence the participation of the states in the review of Pakistan, by pointing out priorities that should not be left out in their oral statements. An attempt was made to meet with the Pakistani state mission. Although that meeting did not take place in time for the UPR, contact was established with the Pakistani ambassador, which will be followed up. During Pakistan’s UPR in 2012, 17 countries raised concerns
related to religious freedom violations in their oral statements. In 2008, religious freedom issues were not highlighted by those countries. This shows that the participation of civil society organizations, including the BWA, through their reports and advocacy initiatives, contributed to those countries paying greater attention to issues of religious freedom violation in the 2012 Pakistan UPR. Preparatory meetings among civil society organizations, including the BWA, led to a consensus about the many issues of
She defended Pakistan’s historical com- mitment to human rights, and reminded the Working Group that Pakistan was a founding member of the UN Human Rights Council. Between 2006-2011, she said Pakistan played an active role in the council’s work and in building convergences between the West and the Islamic world on the most contentious and challenging issues in the Human Rights Council. She asserted that the UPR gave
Pakistan an opportunity to bring about positive changes in legislation, policy and practice and said that following the restoration of democracy in 2008, Pakistan has taken a number of steps to restore democratic state institutions. The minister indicated that an independent judiciary and legal community have taken wide ranging steps for upholding the rule of law and ensuring the protection of the constitutional rights of all citizens. Khar claimed that during the last four years, there have been transformational changes in Pakistan’s constitutional and legislative framework. The right to education, information and a fair trial are now recognized as fundamental rights, which cannot be suspended, she said.
concern. Three were raised as common priorities: discriminatory legislation, especially the effect of anti-blasphemy and anti- Ahmadi laws; citizenship issues as they relate to Hindu women and the disfranchisement of Ahmadis; and violence against minorities, especially the specific targeting of Shias, Christians, Hindus, and Ahmadis, and impunity shown by perpetrators of such violence. In spite of all the bad things that continue to happen to
religious minorities in Pakistan, the country has made significant progress since its first UPR in 2008. The fact that it has signed and ratified the ICCPR (International Covenant on Political Rights) is in itself worthy of note, since it commits the country to international treaties that needs to be honored. The BWA will continue to follow up on the 2012 UPR session, until it is reflected in the lives of the Pakistani people, particularly religious minorities, which are among the most vulnerable in that society. The UPR is a valid mechanism that offers a good platform for
human rights advocacy on the part of civil society organizations. The BWA will continue to use the UPR to address situations of concern in other countries. There needs to be more explicit mechanisms of accountability, which follows closely and step- by-step the commitments made by the reviewed country in response to the recommendations received. The absence of such mechanisms makes it more important for civil society organizations like the BWA to continue to monitor the situation on the ground, and to constantly remind each country reviewed in the UPR process of the commitments they have made. The BWA is already preparing reports on other countries that will undergo review in 2013.
Raimundo Barreto is the Baptist World Alliance Director of Freedom and Justice
A number of the 85 states represented
at the UPR gave their response, with several commending progress that has been made, while others shared their concerns. The Vatican welcomed steps taken to promote and protect human rights, but it remained concerned about the cases of Asia Bibi and Rimsha Masih, accused under the Blasphemy Law. Switzerland urged that Pakistan
ensure that blasphemy laws and their implementation are in line with international law. Austria called for the enactment of legistaltion to ensure freedom of religion and belief for all religious groups and that Pakistan consider abolishing the blasphemy laws. The Netherlands urged Paskistan to repeal or reform thoroughly the blasphemy laws. Lebanon encouraged Pakistan to
adopt measures to ensure freedom of expression. The United States insisted that Pakistan hold accountable
those
who commit religiously motivated acts of violence. And Argentina asked that Pakistan adopt the necessary additional measures to combat and prevent discrimination against religious minorities. The Advisor on National Harmony in Pakistan said that there was a misunder-
standing that Pakistan’s blaspehmy laws are used to target only minorities. The ma- jority of cases registered under this sec- tion have been against Muslims, he told the meeting. He claimed that the govern- ment has taken measures to prevent pos- sible misuse or abuse of the blasphemy laws. An independent judiciary, free media and vibrant civil society also provide an effective safeguard against any misuse of the blasphemy laws, he said. A report by 38 stakeholders, including
the BWA, indicates strong reservations. The report noted that Pakistan has done very little to incorporate the Human Rights treaties into its domestic laws. Discriminating provisions against religious minorities and restrictions on freedom of religion and belief are embedded in several laws and in Pakistan’s constitution. Some groups recommend that the blasphemy laws be replaced by a section in the Penal Code that makes advocacy of religious hatred or incitement to discrimination or violence a punishable offense.
Christer Daelander is the BWA UN Representative in Geneva, Switzerland
JANUARY/MARCH 2013 11
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