DATE=4/21/2000
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
TITLE=PAKISTAN - HUMAN RIGHTS (L-ONLY)
NUMBER=2-261590
BYLINE=AYAZ GUL
DATELINE=ISLAMABAD
CONTENT=
VOICED AT:
INTRO: Pakistan's military leader, General Pervez
Musharraf, has announced major steps to improve the
country's human rights record. Practices such as
child labor, domestic violence, and general abuse of
women are widespread in Pakistan. From Islamabad,
Ayaz Gul reports.
TEXT: Opening a two-day government-sponsored human
rights convention in Islamabad Friday, General
Musharraf said he wants to ensure that the rights and
freedoms of every Pakistani are safeguarded and
guaranteed by the state. He vows to take particularly
tough action to curb the practice of killing women in
the name of family honor.
/// MUSHARRAF ACT ///
The government of Pakistan vigorously condemns
the practice of so-called honor killings. Such
actions do not find any place in our religion or
law. Under Pakistan's penal law, killing in the
name of honor is murder, and will be treated as
such.
/// END ACT ///
The honor killings are common in rural parts of
Pakistan, where woman can be killed by close relatives
for reasons such as demanding divorce or having sex
outside of marriage.
Human rights groups have been demanding the government
take legal steps to curb the practice. According to
an independent Human Rights Commission of Pakistan,
hundreds of women are killed in the Muslim country
every year. Those who commit such crimes generally
escape punishment. Human rights activists blame
police for turning what they call a "blind eye" to the
honor killings.
/// OPT ///General Musharraf blames lack of knowledge
among the people, women in particular, for violations
of their rights. He says the majority of people do
not know their rights under existing laws.
/// MUSHARRAF ACT TWO - OPT ///
Human rights and fundamental freedom can only be
observed when their knowledge is common place.
Therefore, mass awareness and education are of
prime importance. The United Nations has
declared this decade as the U-N Decade of Human
Rights Education. We in Pakistan have also
decided to declare the year 2000 as the Year of
Human Rights and Human Dignity.
/// END ACT - END OPT ///
General Musharraf says a permanent commission on
status of women will be established next month to - as
he puts it - ensure that interests of women are
protected and promoted in the country.
A second commission will be formed to undertake police
reform to combat corruption and inefficiencies.
The general says his government will also take steps
to restrict the application of Pakistan's
controversial blasphemy laws. The Muslim country has
been under fire for introducing these laws, which
mandate the death penalty for anyone found guilty of
insulting the religion Islam. Critics say the laws
are generally used against minorities and to settle
personal vendettas. (SIGNED)
NEB/AG/JO
21-Apr-2000 08:48 AM EDT (21-Apr-2000 1248 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
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