United Nations Human Rights Council – as part of the Universal Periodic Review – has published the the information provided by 43 stakeholders, including CLAAS-UK. (Centre for legal Aid Assistance UK) www.claas.org.uk
The three recommendations of CLAAS (paragraphs 5, 39 and 62) were considered during the review and have been brought to the attention of the State concerned – Pakistan.
Their recommendations are as follows:
National human rights framework 1. Constitutional and legislative framework
5. Centre for Legal Aid Assistance and Settlement (CLAAS) recommended to repeal and replace current blasphemy laws (Sections 295 to 298 of the Pakistan Penal Code) with provisions in conformity with Pakistan’s Constitution and the international human rights law instruments to which Pakistan is a party.
Right to marriage and family life
39. CLAAS recommended to revise the Child Marriage Restraint Act to set the minimum age of marriage regardless of sex at 18 years across Pakistan and make the protection offered by the law more robust so tribunals cannot use Sharia Laws to allow child and forced marriages to happen.
Rights of specific persons or groups
62. CLAAS advised to implement legislation to halt the practice of forced conversion to Islam of women and girls from religious minorities. including with respect to the right to freedom of religion or belief and the principle of legality.
