Rights and responsibilities

The Universal Declaration of Human Rights was adopted on 10 December 1948. The UN Charter and the ICJ Statute are of 1945, and the Convention on the Rights of the Child is of 1989.

Article 1 of the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child defines a child as any person under the age of 18.

ILO Convention No. 182 (Article 3) lists the worst forms of child labour. Do not confuse it with Recommendation No. 190, which lists hazardous work.

Article 3 of ILO Recommendation No. 190 lists harmful activities such as work underground, with dangerous machinery or for long hours.

Article 25 says all citizens are equal before law and there shall be no discrimination on the basis of sex. Religious freedom is Article 20, expression Article 19 and movement Article 15.

The Protection against Harassment of Women at the Workplace Act was passed in 2010 to give women a safe working environment.

The Transgender Persons (Protection of Rights) Act was passed in 2018. The 17th Amendment is of 2003 and the 18th Amendment of 2010.

The stem already names the article: religious freedom is Article 20. Article 16 is freedom of assembly, Article 24 protection of property and Article 28 language and culture.

The question is misprinted in the book (the article number appears in the stem); it is meant to ask which article gives this right.

The 2030 Agenda has 17 Sustainable Development Goals; the book notes that COVID-19 affected all 17 goals.

Arfa Karim became the youngest Microsoft Certified Professional in 2004. The cricketer is Sana Mir and the mountaineer is Samina Baig.

The Universal Declaration of Human Rights was adopted by the UN General Assembly on 10 December 1948 and has 30 Articles. Three of them are:

1. Article 3: right to life, liberty and security. Everyone has the right to live, to be free and to be safe. No state may take a life or liberty arbitrarily.
2. Article 4: freedom from slavery. No one shall be held in slavery or servitude, and the slave trade is prohibited in all its forms.
3. Article 26: right to education. Everyone has the right to education, and it shall be free at least in the elementary and fundamental stages, so that every person can develop fully.

Other articles that can be written: Article 1 (all are born free and equal), Article 7 (equality before law), Article 19 (freedom of opinion and expression).

Child labour is work that deprives children of their childhood, their dignity and their potential, and is dangerous for their mental and physical development.

Examples of harmful effects:

• Loss of education: children working in homes, fields, brick kilns and factories miss school, so they remain poor as adults.
• Damage to health: heavy loads, dangerous machinery, harmful substances and long hours injure their bodies (hazardous work under ILO Recommendation No. 190).
• Exploitation and abuse: bonded labour, trafficking and use in crime or prostitution (worst forms under ILO Convention No. 182), as in the case of Iqbal Masih in a carpet factory.

Basic rights: the UDHR gives every individual, including transgender persons, the right to life, liberty and security and freedom from discrimination; UN bodies such as OHCHR and UN Women support their rights. In Pakistan, transgender persons were legally recognized as a third gender in 2009 after the Supreme Court's ruling in Petition No. 43/2009 (Muhammad Aslam Khaki versus S.S.P. Operation Rawalpindi), and the Transgender Persons (Protection of Rights) Act 2018 was passed.

Challenges: social stigma and discrimination in families and society; difficulty in getting education, jobs and health care; harassment and violence; and weak implementation of laws and lack of awareness of their rights.

UN Women, established in 2010, is the United Nations entity dedicated to gender equality and the empowerment of women.

Mission and goals: to end discrimination against women and girls, empower them and achieve equality between women and men in all fields of life.

Role: it works with UN member states to set global standards for gender equality, and it helps governments design laws and policies needed to put these standards into practice. It also supports the rights of transgender people along with OHCHR. In this way it turns international commitments into real protection for women.

Social justice: women are half of society. A society can call itself just and fair only when it recognizes and protects women's rights: equal opportunities, freedom and the right to live free from violence, oppression and discrimination. Gender equality is achieved through these rights.

Development: when women's rights are upheld, women take part in economic, social and political fields. Educated and healthy women improve family health, earn income and raise educated children. So women's rights have positive effects on their health and well-being and on the economic development of the country.

Animals are Allah's creatures and must be treated humanely. Two key issues are:

1. Use in scientific research and testing: a large number of animals are used in experiments and product testing. This badly affects their bodies and sometimes causes death. Alternatives such as computer modelling and synthetic biology can reduce it.
2. Cruelty and exploitation: animals face physical violence, neglect and exploitation in industries such as factory farming; they are often given inadequate food and water, and animals in zoos and circuses suffer bad conditions.

Stronger laws, awareness and more shelters are needed to address these issues.

UNICEF (United Nations Children's Fund), established in 1946, is one of the leading organizations devoted to the rights and well-being of children. It works in over 190 countries to protect children's lives.

Main functions and goals: it focuses on nutrition, water and sanitation, health, education and child protection. It runs vaccination and nutrition programmes, supports schooling (especially for girls), protects children from violence, abuse, trafficking and child labour, and helps governments implement the Convention on the Rights of the Child.

Introduction

A state provides facilities such as security, justice, education and health to its citizens, and in return expects them to perform their duties. Rights and duties go together. Five essential duties are:

1. Payment of taxes

Every state imposes taxes to meet its expenses and provide social services. Citizens must understand the importance of taxes and pay them honestly. A welfare state is possible only when citizens do not hesitate to pay taxes.

2. Loyalty to the state

Citizens must be loyal to their state, give top priority to its interests and subordinate their own. They should not hesitate to sacrifice their lives and property. Patriotism is a great virtue, and the state must create an environment in which citizens feel honoured to serve it.

3. Obedience to laws

Every state makes laws to regulate the lives of its citizens. It is the duty of citizens to abide by these laws. This creates a healthy atmosphere and helps the state advance. The state must also ensure rule of law and equality without discrimination.

4. Sanctity of vote

In a democracy elections are held at regular intervals. Citizens must compare the manifestos of political parties and vote on merit, so that capable and honest candidates are elected.

5. Say no to corruption

Corruption is a cancer for society. Good citizens refuse it, because personal benefit gained through corruption causes irreversible damage to the state.

Other duties

Keeping an eye on social criminals and informing law-enforcement agencies, and helping government institutions during floods, earthquakes and terrorist attacks (for example by donating blood).

Conclusion

Citizens who perform their duties wholeheartedly and put state interests above personal interests play a positive role in the development of the country.

Introduction

The Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR) was adopted by the UN General Assembly on 10 December 1948. It has 30 Articles and lists the basic rights and freedoms to which all human beings are entitled. Ten important articles are:

Ten articles

1. Article 1: all human beings are born free and equal in dignity and rights.
2. Article 2: everyone is entitled to all rights and freedoms without any discrimination (race, colour, sex, language, religion or other status).
3. Article 3: everyone has the right to life, liberty and security of person.
4. Article 4: no one shall be held in slavery or servitude.
5. Article 5: no one shall be subjected to torture or cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment.
6. Article 7: all are equal before the law and entitled to equal protection of law.
7. Article 9: no one shall be subjected to arbitrary arrest, detention or exile.
8. Article 18: everyone has the right to freedom of thought, conscience and religion.
9. Article 19: everyone has the right to freedom of opinion and expression.
10. Article 26: everyone has the right to education, which shall be free at least in the elementary stages.

Significance

The UDHR is the foundation of many international treaties, state constitutions and legal systems. Pakistan's 1973 Constitution contains matching rights in Articles 8 to 28. It is a powerful tool against injustice and oppression and has inspired many human rights movements. Its rights are similar to those given by Hazrat Muhammad (PBUH) in the Last Sermon about 1400 years ago.

Introduction

Fundamental rights are given in Articles 8 to 28 (Chapter 1 of Part II) of the 1973 Constitution. Any law inconsistent with them is void, and citizens can go to the High Courts and Supreme Court to enforce them.

Personal rights

• Security of person: no one deprived of life or liberty except according to law (Article 9).
• Safeguards against illegal arrest and the right to a fair trial (Articles 10 and 10-A).
• Slavery, forced labour and torture prohibited (Article 11); no double punishment (Article 13).
• Dignity of man and privacy of home (Article 14).

Freedoms

• Freedom of movement (15), assembly (16), association and unions (17), trade, business or profession (18).
• Freedom of speech and expression (19) and right to information (19-A).
• Freedom to profess, practise and propagate religion (20); no compulsory religious taxes or religious instruction of another faith (21, 22).

Equality and social rights

• Right to property (23); all citizens equal before law, no discrimination on the basis of sex (25).
• Free and compulsory education for children aged 5 to 16 (25-A).
• Equal access to public places (26) and equal opportunities in services (27).
• Right to preserve language, script and culture (28).

Evaluation

The list is comprehensive and matches the UN Declaration of 1948; it is also inspired by Islamic values and adds socio-economic rights such as education. The courts can enforce these rights. However, implementation is weak: the HRCP's 2023 report showed severe concern; women, minorities and children in rural areas often cannot enjoy their rights; and there are gaps in health and education. The rights must be implemented in letter and spirit through rule of law, strong judicial enforcement and public awareness.

Introduction

The main UN charter for children is the Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC), passed by the UN General Assembly in 1989 and in force from September 1990. It sets out the social, economic and political rights of children.

Specific provisions

1. A child is any person under 18, and all rights apply to all children without discrimination.
2. Every child has the right to life from birth, and to a name and nationality.
3. The right to education: primary education free and compulsory.
4. The right to health services.
5. Children should not be separated from parents unless it is in their interest; both parents share responsibility for upbringing.
6. Children may express their views freely and have freedom of thought and religion.
7. Governments must protect children from violence, injury and abuse, stop child trafficking and ban child labour.
8. Governments must do all they can to implement these rights.

Effectiveness

• Strengths: the CRC is ratified by almost every country (Pakistan in 1990) and is one of the most accepted human rights treaties. It has shaped national laws, for example Article 25-A (free education 5 to 16) in Pakistan, and guides organizations such as UNICEF, Save the Children and SPARC.
• Weaknesses: it depends on governments for enforcement. Millions of children in Pakistan still work in homes, fields, brick kilns and factories; poverty, lack of schools and weak monitoring limit its effect.

Conclusion

The CRC is an effective framework and a tool to combat violations of children's rights, but its success depends on strict enforcement of laws, poverty reduction and quality education.

(a) Arfa Karim: a symbol of talent

• Born in 1995, Arfa Karim showed extraordinary intelligence and computer skills from a young age.
• In 2004, at about nine, she became the youngest Microsoft Certified Professional (MCP) in the world, and her name was entered in the Guinness Book of World Records.
• At the age of 10 she was invited by Bill Gates to Microsoft's headquarters in the United States, and she represented Pakistan at various international forums.
• In 2005 she received the Presidential Pride of Performance.
• She died of cardiac arrest on 14 January 2012. The Arfa Software Technology Park in Lahore is named in her honour.

Role: she proved that Pakistani children, and especially girls, can compete with the best in the world in science and technology. She inspired young people to take up information technology and improved Pakistan's image abroad.

(b) Aitzaz Hasan: a symbol of courage

• Born in 1998 in Hangu, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, he was a student of Government High School, Ibrahimzai.
• On the morning of 6 January 2014 he saw a suspicious man near the school gate and questioned him. The man walked quickly towards the school.
• Aitzaz ran after the suicide bomber and confronted him, preventing him from entering the school. The bomber detonated his vest; Aitzaz was martyred but saved the lives of his classmates.
• He was posthumously awarded the Sitara-e-Shujaat, and the school was renamed Aitzaz Hasan Shaheed High School.

Role: he became a national symbol of courage in the face of terrorism and showed that ordinary citizens, even children, can defend society.

Conclusion

Arfa Karim represents the intellectual potential and Aitzaz Hasan the bravery and sacrifice of Pakistan's children. Both are role models who show why children's rights to education and safety must be protected.

Harmful or hazardous work is work which, by its nature or the circumstances in which it is carried out, is likely to harm the health, safety or morals of children. Under Article 3 of ILO Recommendation No. 190 it includes:

• work underground, under water or at dangerous heights;
• work with dangerous machinery, equipment and tools, or manual handling or transport of heavy loads;
• work in an unhealthy environment, with dangerous substances or damaging temperatures;
• work under difficult conditions such as long hours.

Iqbal Masih was born in 1983 in Muridke near Lahore to a poor family. At the age of 4 he was sold into bonded labour and worked in a carpet factory under extremely hard conditions. At 10 he escaped and became an activist against child labour, speaking out against the exploitation of children in the carpet industry, and gained worldwide fame.

Despite threats he remained steadfast. He was assassinated on 16 April 1995. The government of Pakistan awarded him the Tamgha-e-Shujaat posthumously in 2000. He inspired many child rights activists.

Education is the most effective way to reduce poverty:

• qualified individuals secure jobs and earn a regular income;
• a skilled workforce attracts foreign investment and increases economic growth;
• educated people start their own businesses and create jobs for others;
• vocational education supplies skilled workers to society;
• educated farmers use modern techniques and increase the quantity and quality of crops;
• research increases the overall national income.

So spending on education is an investment that breaks the cycle of poverty.

Access to sufficient and nutritious food is a fundamental human right; Article 25 of the UDHR gives everyone the right to a standard of living adequate for health and well-being.

Importance: healthy people work energetically and contribute to development; proper nutrition is essential for the physical development of children; food security leads to social cohesion while food insecurity can cause social unrest; and a self-sufficient country saves foreign exchange. The FAO works for food security, and SDG 2 aims at a world free of hunger by 2030.

Religious freedom creates social harmony and is the foundation of human dignity (Article 18 of the UDHR). The 1973 Constitution protects it as follows:

• Article 20: every citizen has the right to profess, practise and propagate his religion, and every religious group can manage its religious institutions.
• Article 21: no one can be forced to pay a special tax for the propagation of a religion other than his own.
• Article 22: no student can be forced to receive religious instruction or take part in worship of a religion other than his own; no discrimination in admission to publicly funded institutions.

1. Disabled Persons (Employment and Rehabilitation) Ordinance 1981: job opportunities and rehabilitation services.
2. National Policy for Persons with Disabilities 2002: inclusion, rehabilitation and empowerment in social, economic, personal and political life.
3. ICT Rights of Persons with Disabilities Act 2020: no discrimination, equal opportunities in education and jobs, job quotas, healthcare, social protection, legal aid and penalties for violations.
4. Organizations such as STEP, Special Olympics Pakistan, the Pakistan Disabled Foundation and the National Forum of Women with Disabilities work for their welfare and inclusion.

The need is to implement these in letter and spirit.

Samina Baig is a mountaineer from Gilgit-Baltistan. She faced criticism and opposition from her community, but it did not weaken her passion.

In 2013 she became the first Pakistani woman to climb Mount Everest, the highest peak in the world, and gained worldwide fame. Her achievement inspired many girls across the country. She works for gender equality and outdoor sports, encouraging women to explore their abilities. In 2018 the UNDP named her Pakistan's national goodwill ambassador.

The Human Rights Commission of Pakistan (HRCP) is an organization that works for the protection of human rights in Pakistan. It closely monitors human rights violations across the country and publishes annual and special reports on different issues, such as the rights of women, children, minorities and prisoners. In its 2023 report it showed severe concern about the state of human rights. Its reports inform the public, press the government to act, and remind the state that the rights in Articles 8 to 28 must be implemented in letter and spirit.

Although the 1973 Constitution makes all persons equal before the law, gender discrimination affects individuals, families, communities and the country:

• unequal access to healthcare causes high maternal death rates;
• it leads to gender-based violence, honour killings, acid attacks and forced marriages;
• it limits women's participation in politics and decision-making and in the economy.

Comprehensive policies and awareness by religious scholars, journalists, educational institutions, NGOs and civil society are needed to end it.

Meaning

Child labour is work that deprives children of their childhood, dignity and potential and harms their mental and physical development. The worst forms (ILO Convention No. 182) include slavery, trafficking, forced labour, prostitution and criminal activities.

State of child labour in Pakistan

Millions of children work in Pakistan, mostly in domestic work, agriculture, brick kilns and manufacturing (for example carpet weaving, as in the case of Iqbal Masih). Causes are poverty, large families, lack of schools, weak enforcement of laws and cultural acceptance. Child labour deprives children of education and severely affects their health.

Ways of improvement

1. Enforce laws: strictly enforce existing child labour laws and make them match international standards.
2. Education for all: ensure access to quality education (Article 25-A, ages 5 to 16).
3. Incentives: free meals, uniforms and stipends to families who send children to school.
4. Social protection: poverty alleviation programmes to reduce dependence on children's income.
5. Awareness: public campaigns on children's rights and the harm of child labour.
6. Punish employers who force children into labour.
7. Monitoring system to track and report cases.
8. Role of organizations: UNICEF, Save the Children, SPARC, Sahil and the Edhi Foundation support education, protection and legal aid.

Why it matters

Education, health and safety are the rights of every child under the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child and Article 25-A of the constitution. A child who works instead of studying stays unskilled and poor, so child labour passes poverty from one generation to the next. Removing it is therefore necessary for both human rights and economic development.

Conclusion

Ending child labour also helps Pakistan meet SDG target 8.7 and its duties under the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child.

Meaning

Animals are Allah's creatures and must be treated humanely. Animal rights include protection from harm, abuse and exploitation.

Key issues

• Use of animals in scientific research and testing.
• Cruelty, neglect and exploitation in factory farming.
• Inadequate food and water and inhumane treatment.
• Bad conditions in zoos and circuses.

Present state in Pakistan

The Animal Welfare Society, PAWS and VSAWB create awareness; animal rights are now in the curriculum through a book by the National Curriculum Council. But laws and enforcement are weak, working horses and donkeys are mistreated and illegal wildlife trade continues. International frameworks include UDAW, CITES, CBD and OIE standards.

Solutions to activists' challenges

1. Awareness campaigns by NGOs, educational institutions and media.
2. Stronger animal welfare laws and punishment of violators.
3. Coordination of activists with government agencies on policy and enforcement.
4. Training for law-enforcement officials and shelter staff.
5. More veterinary clinics, shelters and sanctuaries.
6. Involving local communities and religious scholars.
7. Collaboration with international organizations (World Animal Protection, HSI, PETA) for funds and expertise.
8. Humane and organic farming, and alternative testing such as computer modelling.

Sustainable solutions

Long-term protection needs global agreements and cooperation, inclusion of animal rights in curriculums, plant-based diets to reduce reliance on animal agriculture, stronger laws against illegal wildlife trade, and volunteer programmes that involve citizens and local communities in animal welfare.

Conclusion

Kind treatment of animals is both a religious duty and a sign of a civilized society; law, awareness and cooperation together can protect them.

Introduction

Cultural, social and legal factors shape women's rights in Pakistan. The constitution (Articles 25, 25-A and 34) and laws such as the Workplace Harassment Act 2010 give women strong rights, and clear improvement can be seen, but a gap remains between theory and practice.

1. Right to education

Article 25-A gives free education to children aged 5 to 16. Girls' enrolment has increased, especially in cities, but in rural and conservative areas poverty, cultural norms, early marriage and lack of schools keep girls out.

2. Right to work

Women work in agriculture, healthcare, education and factories, but face low wages, limited jobs and discrimination; the expectation that their main role is at home limits careers.

3. Right to health

Women have the right to health care, but access depends on location, culture and income. Rural women lack facilities, transport and trained staff, which raises maternal deaths.

4. Right to marriage and family

The legal marriage age is 18, but forced and early marriages, dowry, watta satta and vani continue in some areas, and women face problems in getting inheritance.

5. Right to legal protection

The constitution protects women against discrimination, violence and harassment, but enforcement is weak, many women do not know their rights, and jirgas and panchayats undermine formal law.

Conclusion

Better enforcement, education, awareness and the role of media, scholars and civil society can close the gap and let women use the rights they already have.

Introduction

The UN 2030 Agenda has 17 Sustainable Development Goals. Pakistan adopted them as its national development agenda in 2016. Goals most linked to women and children are SDG 2 (zero hunger), 3 (health), 4 (education), 5 (gender equality) and 8 (decent work, including ending child labour).

Measures taken

• Education: Article 25-A (free and compulsory education 5 to 16); higher enrolment, scholarships and safe schools for girls; curriculum reform and teacher training.
• Health: mobile health units and community health programmes; maternal and infant mortality have fallen; polio eradicated from most areas.
• Gender equality: Articles 25 and 34; Protection against Harassment of Women at the Workplace Act 2010; acid crime law 2011; recognition of transgender persons (2009) and the 2018 Act.
• Children: ratification of the CRC; laws and awareness against child labour; organizations such as UNICEF, SPARC and Sahil.
• Food: focus on food self-sufficiency with FAO support (SDG 2).

Remaining gaps

• Urban-rural disparities in schools and hospitals, and shortage of funds and staff.
• Millions of children still in domestic work, agriculture, brick kilns and factories.
• Early and forced marriages, honour killings and weak enforcement of laws.
• Rising inequality, climate change and the COVID-19 pandemic (2020 to 2023) set back progress.

Conclusion

Pakistan has made real progress on paper and in some indicators, but it is behind on most 2030 targets; strict implementation, more funds for health and education, and poverty reduction are needed.