Abstract

Using the 4th UPR cycle as a contextual inquiry, this pilot project seeks to investigate Pakistan's approach to addressing global commitments on women's rights. The purpose of this study is to examine Pakistan's efforts to promote gender equality and inclusion of women and to assess how the nation has implemented the recommendations of the fourth UPR cycle. The researcher thoroughly reviewed the exercises and efforts undertaken by Pakistan to improve women's liberties, especially due to the recommendations made by the fourth UPR cycle. Its experts likely understood what these plans meant for women in Pakistan based on the specific strategies and projections that were formulated. The finding helped to determine the main components that hindered or affected the fruitful implementation of these commitments during the fourth UPR cycle. Furthermore, this study explored the manners through which grassroots developments and general society groups have fought for women's emancipation in Pakistan.

Key Words

Fourth UPR Cycle, Women's Rights, Gender Equality, International Commitments, Grassroots Developments

Introduction

The Universal Periodic Review (UPR) is a unique mechanism that was established through a resolution of the United Nations General Assembly in 2006. This special procedure is meant to urge state parties to improve their compliance with human rights treaties. It involves a periodic review of the human rights standards and norms in all member states. This is an innovative tool of the Human Rights Council (HRC), based on equal treatment of all member states. It provides an opportunity for UN Member states to highlight the measures of each state to improve the human rights context in their respective countries. The UPR further provides an opportunity for all the member countries to share their best practices around the globe. 

The primary motive for establishing UPR is to improve the plight of the rights in every country with considerable consequences for the general masses around the world. In order to achieve the goal of improved human rights context, this special procedure assesses the human rights reports of the member countries and addresses [gross] human rights violations wherever they occur. At the same time, this mechanism also facilitates the state parties to enhance their capacities to counter human rights challenges. 

Women's rights have become one of the hot-button issues that is often discussed in cities and rural areas of Pakistan. This issue is very sensitive and dates back even from cultural, religious, and socio-political perspectives of the country in question. On one hand, Pakistan has formally come a long way in women's rights throughout the decades; however, the fight for being an egalitarian society that treats women with dignity is far from over. This research is focused on analyzing Pakistan's discharge of its obligations with regard to women's rights with a reference to the Fourth Universal Periodic Review Cycle, which is a part of the United Nations Human Rights Council.

Thus, to comprehend Pakistan's process of interaction with international norms and standards for the protection of women's rights, it is necessary to comprehend the complex environment of rights promotion. In Pakistan, plenty of measures have been taken by the government for the betterment of women described in the Pakistani constitution that women have rights to equality in the law and sex discrimination is prohibited. Nevertheless, trying to turn these constitutional provisions into realities has not been easy owing to social, economic, and cultural differences, traditions, and even regions (Malik, 2020).

In addition, urbanization and consequent mobility of populations have brought women to the workforce, education, and public space in large Urban areas such as Karachi and Lahore. These programs include the Benazir Income Support Program – Bisp has empowered millions of women by providing them with monetary assistance. On the other hand, in many other rural settings, women's rights remain confined within the bounds of tradition and dominance of patriarchal culture, resulting in low literacy rates, and little access to health care and employment. These dichotomies are reflective of the larger tension in terms of liberalization of policies and maintaining cultural norms.

On the one hand, the promotion of international human rights has been given a political endorsement in Pakistan and has resulted in many legislative initiatives; on the other hand, the full realization of such human rights remains unaccomplished due to the effective non-implementation of these measures. The latter has also ratified many international conventions, including the CEDAW, meant to uphold and protect the rights of women and girls. The commitments made in the international human rights system are reviewed and reaffirmed through the Universal Periodic Review (UPR) process in particular.

The UPR as a Universal Peer-Review was created in 2006 as a part of the UN Human Rights Council which is designed to enhance the human rights standards of the United Nations Member States. It is the process of scrutinizing the records of human rights violations in all the Member states every four and half years. Four years later, based on the assessment of the fourth UPR cycle of 2017, it is possible to clearly identify the trends that have taken place in Pakistan, the achievements, and problems that have arisen in the process of consistently raising the status of women's rights.

This paper aims to analyze the criticisms that have been made by various scholars in the current period literature. It became the focus of the 4th UPR cycle regarding the improvement of the status of women because the international community questioned Pakistan on it. This review revealed some successes and failures in gender equality policy. Some of the achievements that have been noted include suggestions put forward by various countries, asking Pakistan to implement policies and measures in sectors, including addressing the prevalence of violence against women, increasing female literacy and health rates, and integrating women into political and economic processes.

The reaction of the Pakistani government to these recommendations is a testament to the willingness of this government to protect women's rights as enshrined in Islamic law; however, it is true that there are still some barriers to the implementation of these measures. There have been legislations and policies enacted to fight some of the catastrophes such as; domestic violence, sexual harassment in the workplace, and female Genital mutilation also known as honor killings. Nonetheless, these measures may lack enforcement; they meet cultural opposition; or, the organizations implementing them have inadequate resources to execute them properly.

Reviewing the external actors or partners, an important part of Pakistan's approach to implementing UPR commitment has involved civil society organizations (CSOs). CSOs have played a crucial role in championing women's rights, sensitization, and also facilitating necessary humanitarian assistance for the victims of gender-based violence cases. They have strategized and worked effectively with government agencies which has resulted in progressive policy modifications which however has not changed its operational challenges as far as implementation is concerned.




Statement of the Problem

In Pakistan, notwithstanding approving center common liberties deals, like ICCPR, ICESCR, ICERD, and CEDAW, human rights violations persist. Gender equality and the consideration of underestimated bunches stay key worries. This examination task will look at strategy holes, lawful deficiencies, and execution challenges, while additionally breaking down the freedoms of underestimated networks in relation to UPR Cycle 4.




Research Questions

1. What key human rights commitments have Pakistan ratified and what has been done to ensure the nation meets these commitments?

2. To what extent did progress achieved on the Pakistan 4th UPR cycle manifest and address the country’s obligations with respect to women’s rights?




Objectives

Examine the historical progression of Pakistan's response to international commitments on women's rights during the 4th UPR cycle. Identify the key challenges faced by Pakistan in implementing international commitments on women's rights during the 4th UPR cycle. Evaluate the successes and achievements of Pakistan in implementing international commitments on women's rights during the 4th UPR cycle. Analyze the recommendations given to Pakistan during the 4th UPR cycle regarding women's rights and assess the progress made in their implementation. Investigate the specific human rights commitments made by Pakistan and assess the measures taken to fulfill these commitments.

Research Methodology

The researcher adopted the secondary methods concerning the different research articles and books that clear the political point of view.  The report has been arranged as per the overall principles for the planning of data under the widespread occasional survey, as contained in Common Liberties Committee choice 17/119, and thus, is a result of an expansive, comprehensive, and participatory meeting process including all partners, including CSOs. The MoHR had spread the acknowledged proposals exuding from the third UPR cycle among all pertinent Government and Common partners to consider essential regulative, approaches and managerial measures. Likewise, a precise and organized process was continued in requesting data about the execution status of these proposals.




Theoretical Framework

While inspecting Pakistan's reaction to worldwide responsibilities on women's privileges, a pertinent hypothetical way to deal with this is the feminist hypothetical structure. Women's rights center around understanding and testing orientation imbalances and supporting ladies' freedoms and strengthening. Applying a feminist hypothetical way to deal with the exploration point would include breaking down the gendered power elements and social designs that shape women's encounters in Pakistan. It would investigate what male-centric standards and practices mean for women's privileges and open doors, and survey the endeavors made by the public authority and common society to resolve these issues.

By utilizing a feminist hypothetical focal point, the researcher can dig into the particular difficulties faced by women in Pakistan, for example, orientation-based brutality, restricted admittance to training and medical services, and oppressive regulations and practices. It can likewise assist with assessing the viability of strategies and drives pointed toward advancing orientation correspondence and enabling ladies. At the point when one takes a gander at the feminist methodology comparable to Pakistan's reaction to worldwide responsibilities for women's freedoms, specialists can acquire important bits of knowledge. Women's liberation, at its center, looks to challenge and destroy the foundational boundaries that frustrate orientation uniformity. People have their own experience and culture, the local area has isolated the thoughts of the two sexes. A large portion of the world's local area expects men as predominant and ladies as sub-par. In this way, feminism is a device for ladies to battle for their privileges for opportunities in the realm of governmental issues, social, monetary, and writing. Women's rights are conceived in light of the fact that ladies are fed up with being subjected to everything, through women's rights ladies can show themselves. Ladies are presently not risky animals and animals that have been in the personalities of men. In any case, ladies are additionally ready to work and be useful to men (Serez, 2017).

By taking a feminist focal point, the researcher can dive into the particular issues faced by ladies in Pakistan. For example, orientation-based brutality, restricted admittance to schooling and medical care, and biased regulations and practices. This approach permits us to fundamentally look at the endeavors made by the public authority and common society to address these difficulties and advance orientation balance. It likewise features the significance of diversity, perceiving that ladies' encounters are formed by orientation as well as by other social characters like class, race, and identity. All in all, by applying a feminist methodology, scientists can acquire a more profound comprehension of the orientation imbalances present in Pakistan and work towards making a more comprehensive and impartial society. It urges to challenge existing power structures, advocate for women's freedoms, and enhance the voices of minimized ladies (Irshad & Yasmin, 2022).

Literature Review

The study “Human Rights and the UN Universal Periodic Review Mechanism: A Research Companion” written by Damian Etone, Amna Nazir, and Alice Storey (2024) examined that the Universal Periodic Review (UPR) is a companion survey component, checking on every one of the 193 UN Part States' insurance and advancement of basic liberties. Following a decade of the presence of the UPR component, this assortment inspected the adequacy of the UPR, hypothetical and applied banters about its business as usual, and the examples that can be drawn across various locales/states to recognize potential enhancements. The book contended that notwithstanding its restrictions, the UPR system with its comprehensive, helpful, and cooperative structure, is a significant basic freedoms component with the possibility to advance over the long run into a compelling agreeable device for observing common liberties execution. Separated into three sections, the initial segment centered around investigating various hypothetical ways to deal with grasping the UPR system. The subsequent part analyzed explicit basic liberties subjects and the connection between the UPR instrument and other worldwide systems. At last, the third part questioned execution and the manners by which states/local groupings have drawn in with the UPR component and what examples can be realized for the future (Etone, Nazir, & Storey, Human Rights and the UN Universal Periodic Review Mechanism: A Research Companion, 2024).

This work "Analytical Study of Human Rights and Its Values in the World" written by Usman Asghar, Dr. Shaukat Hussain Bhatti, and Sehrish Neik (2022) inspected that an individual's basic freedoms can't be removed. No State, gathering, or person "has any choice to take part in any activity or to play out any dissent fixated on the obliteration of any of the honors and open doors set out subsequently," as per the UDHR's last article. It is not necessarily the case that maltreatment and infringement of key freedoms don't happen. Specialists habitually hear terrible accounts of crime, viciousness, fanaticism, hunger, vagrancy, dejection, misuse, vagrancy, and isolation on television and in the news. Notwithstanding, the all-inclusive announcement and other common liberties arrangements go past what is generally anticipated of them. They are central legitimate necessities. Numerous countries have integrated these rules into their own regulations to maintain their responsibilities to widespread essential opportunities. This opens the opportunities for individuals to have a question settled by a court in their own country. Individuals from a nation may likewise have the decision to fight the infringement of their essential freedoms before the United Nations, which would then give its viewpoint. At the point when individuals know about the presence of center freedoms and standards, genuine long-term progress can be understood (Asghar, Bhatti, & Ch, 2022).

The study “Women and International Human Rights Law: Universal Periodic Review in Practice” written by Gayatri Patel (2019) presented the discoveries of the main thorough concentrate on the latest and most special and inventive strategy for checking worldwide basic freedoms regulation at the United Nations. Since its presence, there still can't seem to be a finished and far-reaching book exclusively committed to investigating the UPR process. Ladies and Worldwide Common Liberties Regulation gives a truly necessary knowledge of what the cycle is, the means by which it works practically speaking, and whether it meets its key point of advancing the all-inclusiveness of every basic freedom. The book tended to the points as to global basic liberties regulation and will hold any importance with scientists, scholastics, and understudies intrigued by the observing and execution of worldwide common freedoms regulation at the UN. What's more, it will frame strengthening perusing for those understudies concentrating on worldwide basic freedoms regulation on undergrad projects and will likewise speak to scholastics and understudies with interests in political theories and global relations (Patel, 2019).

This Part of the study "The Universal Periodic Review and Transitional Justice" written by Damian Etone (2023)  broke down that when the UPR Component was laid out in 2006, one of the reactions was that it would subvert crafted by other common freedoms systems. The connection between the UPR and other common liberties components (arrangement bodies and exceptional methods) has drawn in some scholastic talk, particularly taking into account that the UPR was laid out to supplement and not copy crafted by the settlement bodies. Researchers have drawn in with the capacity of the UPR to affect homegrown common liberties security on a scope of issues including the right to well-being, native freedoms, privileges of sexual minorities, and the nullification of capital punishment. One region that has gotten no significant consideration so far is the capacity of the UPR system to advance the temporary equity process in post-struggle states. This part fostered a system for evaluating the connection between the UPR and momentary equity and embraced the primary experimental examination of that relationship with an emphasis on Burundi and South Sudan. The creator contended that the UPR can assume a huge part in advancing temporary equity gauges, supporting, and expanding the permeability of proposals from other worldwide systems, and advancing responsibility for common liberties outrages (Etone, The Universal Periodic Review and Transitional Justice, 2024).

This article "Assessing Women's Rights in Pakistan: An Analysis of Legal & Social Challenges with Potential Solutions" written by Muhammad Fakhir Aftab Ahmad, and Shaukat Hussain Bhatti (2023) expected to lead an implicative examination of ladies' freedoms according to a legitimate viewpoint in Pakistan, saw according to a global viewpoint. The review broke down the regulations and guidelines set up in Pakistan connected with ladies' freedoms and assessed their adequacy in maintaining these privileges. The concentrate likewise contrasted Pakistan's regulations on ladies' privileges and worldwide common liberties principles and shows. Furthermore, the present status of ladies' freedoms in Pakistan is dissected, including the difficulties and obstructions ladies face and the endeavors to resolve these issues. Notwithstanding a few homegrown and global regulations, defects that jeopardize ladies keep on existing in this cutting-edge period. At the point when the Pakistani people group is thought of, the circumstances are more terrible, particularly in ancestral and organizational regions, Baluchistan, and southern Punjab. In spite of the fact that Pakistan has confirmed every one of the global shows and deals, other than the ramifications of the lessons and proclaiming of Islam, the circumstance actually requires development. This article saw ladies' freedoms in Pakistan according to a worldwide point of view by looking at Islamic and Western thoughts utilizing an expressive methodology. The paper presumed that an implicative examination of ladies' privileges according to a lawful viewpoint is essential for understanding and working on ladies' freedoms in a given nation (Ahmad & Bhatti, 2023).




Background of Pakistan's Commitments to Women's Rights

Women's privileges mean honors and opportunities equivalent to those of men. Women's privileges allude to the basic freedoms in the political, financial, common, social, and social circles.




Constitutional Provisions Regarding Fundamental Rights

The Constitution of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan gives equivalent privileges and the part on Standards of Strategy underlines the rule of equivalent freedoms and equivalent treatment to all residents/people, with practically no differentiation remembering for the premise of sex (Aust, 2015). The following articles of Sacred of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan comprehensively cover the lady's privileges 

Article 3 demands that the State stop engaging in any kind of deceit. Article 4 guarantees everyone's right to be treated fairly and to participate in the assurance of regulations. Without limitation, this applies "to each and every individual until further notice inside Pakistan" in addition to the residents. This article also states quite clearly that some freedoms cannot be restricted. There shall be no separation based solely on sex, according to Article 25, which also ensures correspondence under the constant observation of the law and equal security of the law. The state may create exceptional measures for women's and children's security under Articles 25(3) and 26(2). Equal access to public areas and correspondence between employment in the general public and private sectors are provided under Articles 26 and 27. Prostitution and dealing with individuals are prohibited by Articles 11 and 37(g). Article 32 provides exceptional provisions for the representation of women in local government. Article 34 directs the state to take appropriate measures to enable women to participate in all spheres of life and social activities. Article 35 asks the state to protect the family, the mother, the child, and the marriage. Article 37(e) directs the state to establish policies for maternity benefits for women in business as well as for obtaining simply and socially conscious states of work that ensure that children and women are not employed in that manner due to their age or sex. Provisions 51 and 106 permit women to reserve seats in councils (Women's Development Department, Government of Punjab, 2024).




Pakistan's International Promises Regarding Gender Equality and Women's Rights

Pakistan has in like manner expected an essential part being created of overall fundamental freedoms parts and has been really participating in completing and giving insights about them. Since its independence in 1947, Pakistani tasks have successfully pushed for a complement on a potential open door, consistency, and choice at various stages, including the UDHR, and have been tended to by very few gifted women in these.

Begum Shaista Ikramullah was an exceptional woman who played a crucial role in Pakistan's Constituent Social Affairs. She also served as Pakistan's Delegate to Morocco and raised her voice at several UN meetings, recalling the Third Board of the General Party for Social, Care, and Humanitarian Affairs, which drafted the UDHR through a series of meetings in 1948. She argued in favor of Article 16's equal opportunities in marriage. She was one of the women who composed the Boundless Proclamation of Normal Opportunities at a UN event marking its 70th anniversary, and Secretary-General António Guterres acknowledged her contributions in his speech about the fundamental capacity (Anjum, Aziz, Chilton, & Chilton, 2017).

By and by, Pakistan is associated with seven worldwide fundamental opportunity arrangements of which four broadly cover direction value, to be explicit UDHR, CEDAW, CRC, and SDGs. These overall instruments put risk on the part of states to safeguard the honor of women and recommend guiding principles for practical development. Pakistan has gotten to and embraced different shows on women's opportunities and direction reasonableness; a couple of huge Worldwide Obligations are as under:

Millennium Development Goals (MDGs)

The organization of Punjab beats direction isolation and misleading of fundamental normal freedoms down. It makes arrangements to take out lamentable standard practices by growing regard for women about their focal opportunities simultaneous with the course of action of sincerely steady organization for working with their induction to guideline and value. Ensuring convincing execution of existing authentic frameworks and showing lawful changes for killing direction uniqueness are the fundamentals of the methodology of the Organization of Punjab which is rested to consolidate its dedication to legitimate reinforcing of women with worldwide women honors, arrangements, and obligations to come in transformation with various nations (Kumar, Kumar, & Vivekadhish, 2016).




Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR)

Pakistan submitted its most recent Fourth Cycle UPR to the Normal Freedoms Board on January 30, 2023, and its most critical report to the United Nations Fundamental Opportunities Chamber in 2008. The foundation of public institutional growth was valued by the High Justice for Normal Freedoms in order to advance the honors arrangement. Pakistan was requested to establish a thorough cycle for itemizing and returning to regular freedoms course of action obligations in order for its undertakings to be completed. Regarding women's reinforcement, efforts should be made and guidelines should be followed to safeguard women against a broad spectrum of harshness (?ener, 2021).




Beijing Platform for Action (BPfA)

Under the leadership of President Benazir Bhutto, Pakistan provided significant support for the enhancement of the Beijing Declaration and Stage for Action during the Fourth World Conference on Women (FWCW), which was held in Beijing in 1995. At about the same time, the nation announced the Beijing Declaration, focusing on the accomplishments of the 12 locations highlighted in the BPfA. In its Public Technique of 1998, the comprehensive plan for GEWE in Pakistan, the nation highlighted these areas. The following sectors were highlighted for progress in Pakistan's 2019 review: extensive development; shared achievement and fair work; destruction of destitution; social affirmation and organizations; autonomy from violence, shame, and rumors; establishments that provide support, obligation, and direction; and serene and complete social orders (Declaration, 1995).




Convention on the Elimination of all Forms of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW)

Pakistan embraced CEDAW on 12 April 1996, 17 years after it was taken on by the UN General Party in 1979. The state introduced its United Start, 2nd and 3rd periodic report in 2005 that declared headway on direction consistency, women's comparable access and obligation to public and political life, including the choice to project a voting form and to challenge races, as well as any entryways for preparing, prosperity and work among others. The fifth periodic report, which was the most recent CEDAW report that Pakistan established in 2018, detailed the progress made on approach modifications that were accepted in accordance with the obligations for the course of action. The CEDAW Board offered its wrapping-up viewpoints on the report in Walk 2020, referencing the Public power of Pakistan to introduce an ensuing report on the picked shutting discernments in two years or less; 

Take on the guidelines to ensure a wide range of Gender-Based Violence (GBV) against women without prohibitions; Take on a public system to fight a wide range of GBV against women, with a particular focus on harmful ways of behaving at home; Ensure the strong execution of the Aversion of Managing Individuals Act and of the Neutralization of Pilfering of Explorers Act; Endorse guideline and take all fundamental measures to increase school enrolment among young women and abatement their dropout rate (Cedaw, 1979).




Gender Equality, SDG No. 5

Pakistan's dedication to the 2030 Arrangement for Acceptable New Development has been impressive. It was one of the leading nations to adopt it in 2015, and in 2016 the Parliament firmly maintained the SDGs as the public improvement agenda. Under the auspices of the Help of Orchestrating, the public authority established a Parliamentary SDGs Secretariat headquartered at the Public Social event and arranged a Public SDGs Construction in 2018. The first and most fundamental step in mainstreaming and limiting the 17 interrelated SDGs was this set of guidelines.

Nevertheless, Pakistan lags far short in achieving the objectives; according to the Legitimate Improvement Data doorway, it is ranked 125th out of 163 nations. In any case, fundamental progress towards fulfilling the nation's duties has been made every day. Regarding the lawful front, during the last two decades, several guidelines have been announced to erode the lawful framework safeguarding the rights of the marginalized, such as minorities, women, and children (PAVESI, 2022).

The Public Authority has also established unusual establishments to finalize and review the action guidelines at the sub-public and government levels at the pioneer level. These associations include both official organizations such as National Human Rights Institutions (NHRIs) and administrative organizations such as Arrangement Execution Cells. Pakistan also enjoys GSP+ status, which allows the GSP+ office to continue to benefit from the country's implementation of 32 UN Shows. Although the markers present a favorable trajectory for Pakistan's efforts to achieve and advance regular freedoms, there is still much work to be done, particularly to guarantee the robust implementation of the legal and technical frameworks and the efficient operation of the institutional systems (Punjab Commission on the Status of Women, 2024).

Pakistan’s Progress to ensure compliance

Recommendations Accepted by Pakistan

Pakistan acknowledged 253 out of 340 proposals, showing a 70% acknowledgment rate. These proposals cover many basic liberties issues, including:

Canceling capital punishment and reestablishing a ban on executions; Changing disrespect regulations to line up with worldwide basic freedoms norms; Guaranteeing viable security of the freedoms of strict minorities, common liberties safeguards, columnists, and weak gatherings; Directing brief, fair-minded, and powerful examinations of basic freedoms infringement, including upheld vanishings; Setting 18 as the base lawful age for marriage; Fighting orientation based viciousness and finishing constrained transformations; Wiping out oppression underestimated networks, including in view of sexual direction and orientation personality (Magazzeni, 2023).

Pakistan recognized the difficulties confronted, including the outcome of Coronavirus, worldwide monetary crunch, and environmental catastrophes that impacted lives and livelihoods. Progress has been made through institutional, lawful, and strategy measures, for example, further developing basic liberties organizations, laying out grumbling cells, revealing instruments, kid security establishments, and a committee for senior residents. Steps have been taken to engage women's privileges, including revising the Assurance Against Badgering of Ladies at Work Environment Act. Notwithstanding, taking part states featured the requirement for Pakistan to approve exceptional basic freedoms deals, logically annual capital punishment, ensure established privileges for all, and embrace exhaustive regulation to maintain the privileges of ladies, kids, more seasoned people, and minimized gatherings. The execution of UPR proposals intends to reinforce public common liberties insurance frameworks through the more prominent commitment of partners, including common society. 

Out of all 847 UPR suggestions made to Pakistan across the four UPR cycles, 37 (4.37%) straightforwardly address work issues and laborers. This demonstrates a requirement for Pakistan to zero in on further developing work freedoms and working circumstances (Global Institute for Civil Society and Justice, 2024). (Universal Periodic Review (UPR) - 4th Cycle: Human Rights in Pakistan - Progress Amid Challenges, 2024).




Pakistan's Commitments and Actions

Pakistan has recognized the requirement for progress in different regions and has done whatever it may take to address these suggestions. The public authority has underlined it encouraging the basic liberties, referring to enhancements in common freedoms foundations, the foundation of grumbling cells, kid assurance establishments, and strengthening of women's privileges through regulative changes. These activities show Pakistan's obligation to tend to common freedoms challenges and line up with global basic liberties norms.

On the 30th of January 2023, the 42nd meeting of the UPR of the Assembled Countries occurred, during which an Intuitive Discourse was held concerning the fourth pattern of the UPR for Pakistan. The nation presented its report on the tenth of November 2022, integrating proposals made by Exceptional Rapporteurs, settlement body specialists, common society associations, and the Basic Freedoms Committee. These reports introduced a large number of changes and enhancements in the basic freedoms circumstance of Pakistan.

During the intelligent exchange, taking part in designations featured various issues, which Pakistan endeavored to address in their reactions. The central points of interest examined were the privileges of ladies, kids, older people, and different minorities; the right to well-being, instruction, and neediness end, and the approval of deals. While Pakistan has shown progress in a few circles of basic liberties improvement, including the freedoms of women and kids, the financial and political circumstance of the nation actually requests changes, particularly since progress was debilitated by the Coronavirus pandemic and environmental disasters.

Geneva International Center for Justice (GICJ) urges Pakistan to go to all fundamental lengths to reinforce the country's basic freedoms condition. Further, the State ought to take on extensive and comprehensive regulation to maintain, advance, and progress the freedoms of ladies, youngsters, more established people, and other minimized gatherings.




Implications for Human Rights in Pakistan

By tolerating these suggestions, Pakistan is flagging an eagerness to address common liberties infringement and further develop the basic freedoms circumstance in the country. The responsibilities to nullify capital punishment, revise obscenity regulations, safeguard minorities, research infringement, battle orientation-based savagery, and end separation are essential strides toward improving common liberties assurances in Pakistan. These activities line up with worldwide common freedoms norms as well as mirror a proactive way to deal with tending to longstanding basic liberties issues inside the country.

As per Common Freedoms Board goals 5/1 and 16/21 and in view of the aftereffects of the extensive criticism, Pakistan presented its national report for the fourth pattern of the UPR in December 2022. They recognized their common freedoms progress inside the nation, introduced difficulties during the time spent on basic liberties advancement, and perceived the ideas made in past cycles. The Pastor of State for International Concerns of Pakistan, H.E. Ms. Hina Rabbani Khar, likewise recognized the agreeable endeavors of the carriage comprising of Argentina, Nepal, and Gambia.

Pakistan's public report was drafted thinking about the gathering of UN data and the rundown of partners' data - both arranged by the OHCHR. At the public level, a comprehensive and consultative cycle including all public and commonplace partners, common society associations, and the scholarly community was held.

In the reports ready by the OHCHR, concerns were raised in regards to the country's collaboration with global common liberties components and bodies, the public basic freedoms structure, as well as its counter-psychological warfare strategies and the privileges of minorities, political, social, and social liberties. Consideration was additionally given to the privileges of weak gatherings, like kids, women, people with inabilities, native individuals, travelers, and uprooted people (Pakistan's 4th UPR: Labour issues & implementation of recommendations).




Engagement with International Human Rights Standards

Pakistan's reaction to the UPR proposals highlights its commitment to worldwide common freedoms guidelines and systems. By tolerating countless proposals and resolving to carry out them, Pakistan is exhibiting its readiness to maintain basic liberties standards and work towards a more comprehensive and privileged society. This commitment to worldwide basic liberties guidelines is fundamental for cultivating a culture of regard for common freedoms and guaranteeing responsibility for infringement (National Commission for Human Rights Pakistan. (n.d.)).




Ratification of Outstanding HR Treaties

Numerous part states like Italy, Japan, and Niger noticed that Pakistan is yet to confirm the Global Show for Security of People from Implemented Vanishing. Liechtenstein and Luxembourg additionally prescribed that means be taken to agree to the Rome Resolution in its 2010 rendition and the Discretionary Convention for the Show Against Torment. As numerous culprits are presently waiting for capital punishment, Italy, Mexico, and Norway encouraged Pakistan to approve the second Discretionary Convention of the Worldwide Agreement on Common and Political Privileges, pointing toward abrogating capital punishment and guaranteeing the right to life. 

Mauritius requested that Pakistan consider approving the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) Show Against Separation in Schooling. Moreover, Montenegro proposed the sanction of the Discretionary Convention to CEDAW to ensure admittance to present-day and preventative strategies and decriminalize fetus removal. As Pakistan gets a flood of transients from its adjoining nations, many states including Niger suggested the endorsement of the Global Show on the Security of every Traveler Specialist and their Relatives. To guarantee the freedoms of these specialists, the Philippines proposed the sanction of the Homegrown Laborers Show (A Joint Submission by: Submitted to: Pakistan's Universal Periodic Review., 2022). 




Rights of Women, Children, Minorities, and Other Vulnerable Groups

In spite of the fact that Pakistan has found a way multiple ways to guarantee the privileges of ladies, its Public Bonus for Basic Liberties is as yet not consistent with the standards connecting with the situation with public establishments for the advancement and security of common freedoms (the Paris Standards). Pakistan was recognized by many states, including Lebanon, Lao's Kin Republic, and Mali for taking on the torment and custodial demise demonstrations of 2022. Notwithstanding, many worries were raised in regard to the privileges of ladies, kids, and other weak gatherings. In that capacity, many states, including the Netherlands and Norway encouraged Pakistan to forestall all types of victimization of strict minorities, with specific respect to ladies, young ladies, and kids. Mexico, alongside numerous different states, suggested that Pakistan take on all fundamental means to kill a constrained transformation to Islam of ladies naturally introduced to strict minorities and to embrace a complete regulation to forestall and wipe out all types of segregation.

The representative for the Philippines added that it was indispensable that the nation do whatever it takes to upgrade the execution of regulations and strategies to the end oppression of women and fight orientation-based brutality, including aggressive behavior at home and honor killings. To guarantee the freedoms of youngsters, Israel requested that Pakistan shut down the boundless utilization of state punishment, particularly against kids and people with handicaps, and take on the extensive enemy of segregation regulation. As the environmental catastrophes of summer 2022 impacted many, particularly the weak networks, Malaysia prescribed that Pakistan reinforce its endeavors to improve the strength of the underestimated networks to the effect of environmental change, including environment-instigated debacles. Liechtenstein, alongside different states, recommended taking on thorough arrangements to forestall sexual double-dealing and maltreatment of youngsters, as well as all types of bondage and dealing. By and large, Jordan and Lebanon urged Pakistan to keep drafting regulations to advance and maintain the freedoms of weak gatherings, ladies, kids, and more seasoned people (Pakistan ratifies key UN human rights treaty, 2008).




Right to Health, Education, and Elimination of Poverty

Mauritania invited Pakistan's obligation to safeguard common liberties encapsulated as endeavors to propel common liberties and principal opportunities of all to address fundamental issues, including setting up social nets for the most helpless. Mauritius valued Pakistan's commitment to the willful trust store supporting the government assistance of least-developed countries (LDC) and little island-creating states at the level of the basic liberties board. Morocco, alongside different states, complimented Pakistan on setting up the leader projects to work on common liberties in the social field, which demonstrates free, essential well-being administrations to all as well as the strategy rules on least principles for quality schooling in Pakistan. Notwithstanding, many delegates additionally raised concerns and prescribed answers for increment admittance to training, medical services, and take-out destitution in the country.

Lithuania, Malaysia, and Mauritius urged Pakistan to proceed with endeavors to expand admittance to schooling for all, incorporating young ladies in country regions. Luxembourg recommended fortifying the school system, particularly in country regions, and executing regulations and approaches to guarantee widespread admittance to training including by increasing determination to guarantee that kids stay in the schooling system past the essential level. Kyrgyzstan proposed that Pakistan battle neediness through additional execution of the Benazir Pay Backing System fully intent on night-out utilization, lessening destitution, and engaging ladies (Government of Pakistan, Ministry of Human Rights, n.d.).

Conclusion

This research article has analyzed the UPR mechanism in order to contribute to human rights protection; the approach has been used with a particular focus on women's rights in Pakistan. UPR is an innovative system created by the UN General Assembly in 2006 to increase requests to state parties regarding their human rights conformities. UPR is a process that entails a periodic examination of the state of human rights standards and norms in all the member states, offering the UN Member states an occasion to present the steps that each nation takes to enhance the human rights picture in their nations.

In the context of the article, the focus was on the Pakistani government's reaction to the mentioned UPR recommendations concerning women's rights. It recounted the achievements made and the issues encountered by Pakistan to foster these recommendations. The government has also made some efforts to address the issue of VAW, empower women, improve their literacy and health standards; and enhance women's participation in political and economic activities. But even in these regions, there remain important obstacles to the adoption of these measures: cultural, and, again, material.

The article also analyzed the engagement of CSOs in advocating for women's rights and also in ensuring that there is a provision of services to the affected survivors of this vice. CSOs have been key players in bringing progressive social change by raising awareness and demanding policy shifts.

The study established that the UPR has the potential to promote women's rights and human rights more generally; nonetheless, it is only attainable if governments and non-governmental actors continue to engage and deploy the process. The UPR can also help in transferring the best practices and can also be an opportunity through which states to focus on violations. However one cannot overlook cultural and socio-political realities that require an understanding so as to enable the implementation of these recommendations.

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