With the appointment of Rabiya Javeri Agha as Chairperson National Commission for Human Rights (NCHR), human rights mechanisms in Pakistan are now headed by four strong passionate women leading the efforts to change and improve human rights situation in the country.
Besides Rabiya, the Ministry of Human Rights is currently led by Federal Minister Shireen Mazari, Nilofar Bakhtiar is the new Chairperson of National Commission on the Status of Women (NCSW) and Afshan Tehseen Bajwa heads the National Commission on the Rights of Children (NCRC).
The tweet of the new Chairperson Rabiya Javeri Agha celebrates this fact and says that “4 women are heading the human rights machinery in Pakistan. Women working together to make a positive impact on human rights ecosystem in Pakistan.”
The announcement of the appointment of Rabiya Javeri Agha as NCHR Chairperson and six members of the Commission was made on Thursday by the President Dr Arif Alvi’s office after approvals from leader and opposition leader of the house and appointment from the Parliamentary Committee in which all three political parties unanimously selected Rabiya Javeri Agha as Chairperson NCHR.
Other members of the Commission include Zafarullah Khan as member from ICT, Nadeem Ashraf (member from Punjab), Anis Haroon (member from Sindh), Tariq Javed (member from KP) and Prof Farkhanda Aurangzeb (member from Balochistan). The president also approved the appointment of Manzoor Masih as minority member.
Under the National Commission for Human Rights Act, 2012, the NCHR was created as a board for promotion, protection and fulfillment of human rights as provided in the Constitution of Pakistan and the international treaties. The post of NCHR Chairperson was vacant since July 19, 2019.
