Pakistan And Australia Reaffirm Commitment To Human Rights Cooperation

The Australian High Commissioner to Pakistan, Mr. Neil Hawkins, met with the Federal Minister for Human Rights, Senator Azam Nazeer Tarar, to discuss ongoing collaboration in the promotion and protection of human rights in Pakistan. The Secretary of the Ministry of Human Rights, Mr. Abdul Khalique Shaikh, was also present during the meeting.

The meeting focused on strengthening bilateral cooperation and sharing best practices for inclusive rights-based governance

ISLAMABAD, (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 30th Jul, 2025) The Australian High Commissioner to Pakistan, Mr. Neil Hawkins, met with the Federal Minister for Human Rights, Senator Azam Nazeer Tarar, to discuss ongoing collaboration in the promotion and protection of human rights in Pakistan. The Secretary of the Ministry of Human Rights, Mr. Abdul Khalique Shaikh, was also present during the meeting.

The meeting focused on strengthening bilateral cooperation and sharing best practices for inclusive rights-based governance.

During the meeting, the High Commissioner appreciated Pakistan’s recent advancements in human rights laws, policies, and institutional reforms. He acknowledged the Government’s continued efforts to strengthen legal and administrative frameworks for the protection of vulnerable and marginalized communities.

The Minister welcomed the High Commissioner and reaffirmed Pakistan’s commitment to promoting inclusive human rights protections across all communities. He briefed the High Commissioner on some key initiatives, including the implementation of the National Action Plan on Human Rights, which focuses on six strategic areas such as legal reforms, access to justice, institutional strengthening, and treaty compliance.

He also apprised the High Commissioner of recent legislative developments and structural reforms. These include progressive amendments related to the death penalty, including those recently passed by the Senate to abolish capital punishment for certain offenses and introduce enhanced legal safeguards. Other developments include enhanced protections against child marriage through the Islamabad Capital Territory Child Marriage Restraint Act, 2025 and the passage of the National Commission for Minorities Rights Bill, 2025. The Minister further outlined the State’s response to concerns surrounding the misuse of blasphemy laws, emphasizing efforts to ensure legal safeguards and institutional accountability.

Both sides expressed a mutual commitment to deepening bilateral cooperation in the field of human rights and agreed to continue working closely to promote shared values of dignity, inclusivity, and equality.