HUMAN RIGHTS COMMISSION OF PAKISTAN (HRCP)
http://www.hrcp-web.org/
Mission/Mandate:
“HRCP is an independent, voluntary, non-political, non-profit making, non-governmental organisation, registered under the Societies Registration Act (XXI of 1860), with its Secretariat office in Lahore.” (HRCP Website, http://www.hrcp-web.org/about.cfm, accessed on 17 July 2007)
HRCP’s mission includes
- “to work for the ratification and implementation by Pakistan of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and of other related Charters, Covenants, Protocols, Resolutions, Recommendations and internationally adopted norms;
- to promote studies in the field of human rights and mobilise public opinion […];
- to cooperate with and aid national and international groups, organisations and individuals engaged in the promotion of human rights and to participate in meetings and congresses on human rights at home and abroad;
- to take appropriate action to prevent violations of human rights and to provide legal aid and other assistance to victims of those.” (HRCP Website, http://www.hrcp-web.org/about.cfm, accessed on 25 February 2008).
HRCP is affiliated with the International Commission of Jurists (ICJ), with the French-based International Federation of Human Rights (FIDH) and a coalition of Asian NGOs, Forum Asia (HRCP Website, http://www.hrcp-web.org/organization.cfm, accessed on 24 July 2007).
Target group:
Researchers, students, public officials, journalists, activists and other interested individuals.
Objective:
Among its main aims are spreading awareness of human rights among the people, mobilising public opinion and public action, collecting information and disseminating knowledge about human rights abuses, intervening, networking and lobbying, as well as providing legal assistance in individual cases of particular need (HRCP Website, http://www.hrcp-web.org/objectives.cfm, accessed on 27 July 2007).
Funding:
“The main sources for funding mainly come from local sources through subscriptions and donations. A third source has been developed on an ad hoc project-by-project basis […]. HRCP took a decision early on that it would accept no aid that may be interpreted as compromising its independence. So superpower sources were foreclosed.”
Project partners include the Norwegian Agency for Development Cooperation, the Friedrich-Naumann-Stiftung (Germany), the Interchurch Organisation for Development Co-operation (the Netherlands), the Canadian International Development Agency, the Information Center for Human Rights and Democracy (Canada) and the Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency (HRCP Website, http://www.hrcp-web.org/organization.cfm, accessed on 17 July 2007).
Scope of reporting:
Geographic focus: Pakistan.
Thematic focus: “Democracy, constitution, judiciary, legal profession, human rights awareness and mobilisation of activists, rights of women, children and labour; minorities, ethnic groups, tribal people, death in custody, torture and crime.” (HRCP Website, http://www.hrcp-web.org/area_work.cfm, accessed on 17 July 2007)
Reporting methodology:
HRCP collects information on a day-to-day basis; the organisation conducts fact-finding missions for an independent, objective inquiry into an event or development of concern. Surveys and studies are undertaken in areas of concern where new formulations or findings are required to be made (HRCP Website, http://www.hrcp-web.org/objectives.cfm, accessed on 24 July 2007).
Publication cycle:
Annual publication of “State of Human Rights”, irregular publication of specific topics (women and children rights, education, prison, elections, democracy and human rights violations). Current news and press releases (HRCP Website, http://www.hrcp-web.org/pirce_list.cfm, accessed on 24 July 2007).
Languages:
English, some publications are also available in Urdu.
Navigation of website:
Annual reports and other publications are accessible via the link “Reports” on the left-hand menu bar, statistics on a broad spectrum of human rights related topics under “Current stats”; news and press releases are to be found under the respective links.
Additional references:
