The Norwegian Humans Rights Fund

Pakistan has been a priority country for the NHRF since 2002.The "war on terrorism", its border to Afghanistan and the conflict with India about Kashmir are all destabilising factors in a country that held democratic elections in 2008 following 9 years of military rule. State institutions are assessed as weak and the military is still seen as a strong and dominant force in Pakistani politics. Human rights violations are rampant in Pakistan. The country is negatively affected by armed conflict and suffers from a deeply rooted feudal system with structural discrimination and lack of protection for workers, minorities, women and children. Hence the NHRF’s funding has been to support organisations working for the rights of these vulnerable groups in the three provinces of Punjab, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Sindh.

Conventions

State is a party

• International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights

• International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination

• Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women

• Convention on the Rights of the Child

• International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights

• Convention against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment

Signed but not ratified

• Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities