State of Human Rights in 2018

The report on the state of human rights in Pakistan focuses on certain key issues including laws and lawmaking, administration of justice, international human rights mechanisms, law and order, jail and prisoners, freedom of movement, freedom of thought, conscience, and religion, freedom of expression, freedom of assembly, freedom of association, political participation, women, children, labor, the elderly, people living with disabilities, refugees and IDPs, education, health, housing, and environment. On lawmaking, it highlighted the passage of the Transgender Persons (Protection and Rights) Act and the Juvenile Justice System Act. On administration of justice, one of the cases the report highlights is the acquittal of Aasia Bibi, a Christian woman accused of blasphemy after an argument with co-workers on her religion. It also mentions the enactment of the Elections Act 2017 which encourages the participation of women as candidates and voters. In 2018, there were more women candidates for general seats in the 2018 general elections than in any past election. On children, the National Commission on the Rights of the Child Act was likewise passed in 2018