ISLAMABAD: The human rights ministry`s commitment towards ensuring protection of basic rights particularly for women, children and transgender persons is in line with Pakistan`s international and constitutional obligations.

These views were expressed by Ministry of Human Rights Directer General Mohammad Hassan Mangi while speaking at an awareness workshop organised for police of ficials that highlighted laws related to child domestic workers, child abuse and transgender persons.

As many as 36 male and female police officers from the city participatedin the session.

He said it was intolerable that in 2021, children and transgender persons had to live in an unsafe and exploitative environment, and frequently face abuse.

Speaking during the session, joint secretary, Ministry of Human Rights, Dr Akhtar Abbas said: `Ministry of Human Rights has taken several legis-lative and institutional measures to ensure the protection of human rights in the country.

`Last year, the Zainab Alert Response and Recovery Act, 2020, was passed by the parliament and through an amendment, child domestic labour was categorised as a hazardous occupation under Schedule 1 of the Employment of Children Act 1991.

He reiterated his ministry`s commitment towards preventing human rights violations in the country.

`Earlier in June, Shaheed Aitzaz Hasan Child Protection Institute was inaugurated in Islamabad to protect vulnerable and at-risk children from all forms of physical or mental violence, injury, neglect, maltreatment, exploitation and abuse under the ICT Child Protection Act 2018,` he said.

As police is one of the significant institutions that works for protection of the people,itisnecessary toengage them in awareness-raising and sensitisation programmes where they are informed about legislation that protects human rights.The workshop focused on three main legislations: Zainab Alert Response and Recovery Act 2020, the Transgender Persons (Protection of Rights) Act 2018, and the Employment of Children Act 1991. Participants were also informed about the ministry`s mechanism to address complaints, which is in place to provide legal advice and support to survivors of human rights violations.

Participants of the workshop were informed about the Family Protection and Rehabilitation Centre for Women (FPRCW) in Islamabad that provides shelter to vulnerable women and children, the Child Protection Institute, MoHR`s Toll-Free Helpline 1099 and the soon to be inaugurated Transgender Protection Centre under the Transgender Persons (Protection of Rights) Act 2018.

`Apart from introducing landmark legislation, the ministry is also playing its role in capacity building and awareness-raising of relevant stakeholders with respect to these laws so that human rights violations can be prevented,` Mr Mangi further added.