Pakistan calls for depoliticised human rights discourse

NEW YORK (Dunya News) – While arguing that the Human Rights Council (HRC) must remain a forum for dialogue and cooperation rather than confrontation or politicisation, Pakistan has linked the establishment of durable peace and the protection of the respect for human rights to addressing all situations of foreign occupation and denial of self-determination.

In a national statement during the presentation of the Report of the Human Rights Council in the General Assembly, Ambassador Asim Iftikhar Ahmad, Pakistan's Permanent Representative to the UN, mentioned Palestine and Jammu and Kashmir, where peoples continue to face oppression and dispossession. He urged the Council to employ its prevention mandate proactively to uphold international law and protect the rights of all occupied and oppressed peoples without discrimination.

Ambassador Asim advanced several suggestions to effectively advance the human rights agenda. He said that adequate, predictable, and sustainable financing is vital for the Council's credibility and functionality.

"Without addressing the funding crisis hampering technical cooperation and capacity-building, the Council's ability to deliver will remain constrained," he added.

Arguing that the proliferation of the mandates has widened gaps between the Council's responsibilities and limited resources, he said that Pakistan has always underscored the need to streamline mandates, avoid duplication, and strengthen coordination across mechanisms. The focus, he said, must be on quality over quantity — ensuring each mandate adds value and contributes meaningfully to the promotion of all rights.

The Pakistan UN Ambassador further stated that there should be a balanced focus across all categories of rights. He noted that too often, attention and resources are disproportionately directed toward civil and political rights, while economic, social, and cultural rights — including the right to development — receive less priority.

He said that the Universal Periodic Review (UPR), one of the Council's most effective mechanisms, embodies universality, objectivity, and cooperation. He said that Pakistan underscores the importance of preserving its universality and integrity.

Referring to Pakistan's recent election as member of the Human Rights Council for 2026-2028, Ambassador Asim Iftikhar Ahmad reaffirmed Pakistan's commitment to play a balanced, principled, and constructive role.

"We will continue to promote consensus-building, amplify the voice of the Global South, and uphold promotion of all human rights. As Coordinator of the OIC Group on Human Rights and Humanitarian Issues, Pakistan will continue to highlight human rights violations, including denial of right to self-determination and the alarming rise of Islamophobia," he emphasized.