Registered in 1987, the Human Rights Commission of Pakistan (HRCP) is an independent, democratic, nonpartisan organisation committed to supporting human rights in the country. Over the last three decades, HRCP has worked for women’s empowerment and gender equality, the rights of religious minorities, rule of law and access to justice, democratic development, the elimination of forced labour, children’s rights, prisoners’ rights, labour rights, the rights of internally displaced persons and refugees, the abolition of the death penalty, the elimination of torture, and an end to enforced disappearances, among other areas. HRCP’s flagship annual report, State of Human Rights, is widely considered the most comprehensive document available on this subject.
HRCP is a membership-based organisation, with over 5,000 members across Pakistan. It is governed by an executive council elected every three years by the general membership body. HRCP’s head office is in Lahore, with regional chapter and taskforce offices in Karachi, Hyderabad, Quetta, Turbat, Multan, Islamabad, Gilgit and Peshawar.
Mission
HRCP’s goal is to realise the entire body of human rights, as defined in international instruments, by all citizens of Pakistan as well as all persons present otherwise in the country. HRCP believes that this goal must be realised without any distinction or discrimination on grounds of gender, race, religion, sect or belief, ethnicity, area of origin, disability, sexual orientation, or socioeconomic status.
What we do
HRCP’s scope of work includes collating and digitising data on human rights issues for evidence-based advocacy, public campaigns to raise public awareness of human rights; special fact-finding missions to probe more serious violations of rights; lobbying with the appropriate authorities to introduce and implement measures designed to check human rights abuse and promote respect for human rights by offering concrete alternatives; providing redress to victims of human rights abuse by referring complaints and grievances to the authorities concerned; training and mobilising activists to promote awareness, advocacy and intervention; and networking and cooperation with similar organisations, both domestic and international, on broad human rights themes as well as specific issues.
