CSJ Conference Urges Government Action on Religious Intolerance

The Centre for Social Justice (CSJ) recently held a conference in Peshawar, urging the government to take decisive action against religious intolerance and enhance measures to promote equality and citizenship rights. The event, titled 'Strengthening Democracy: Delivering on Pledges regarding human rights,' saw the participation of various human rights defenders and political representatives.

Speakers at the conference highlighted the pressing need to address discrimination based on religion, which often leads to violence against minority groups. They emphasized the importance of establishing an inquiry commission to identify and hold accountable those responsible for inciting violence and misusing blasphemy laws.

Issues such as disparities in citizenship status, unequal resource allocation, poor governance, terrorism, and religious intolerance were discussed as systemic barriers hindering the equality of human rights for all citizens. The speakers stressed the significance of political parties fulfilling their promises to the electorate and taking concrete steps to tackle human rights challenges faced by religious minorities.

Recommendations put forward included the enactment of laws to end child marriage and forced faith conversions, the establishment of a National Commission for minorities' Rights, and the implementation of measures to improve the rights of minority prisoners. The speakers also called for increased political influence of minorities to ensure their inclusion in decision-making processes and to combat narratives promoting intolerance.

In conclusion, the conference underscored the collective responsibility to uphold principles of equality, justice, and inclusion for all citizens. It emphasized the role of active citizenship in promoting inclusive governance and holding political parties accountable for their electoral pledges to address human rights issues effectively.