The Human Rights Digital Library
The Human Rights Digital Library is an open-access, bilingual platform developed by UNDP Pakistan to strengthen access to Human Rights Knowledge in the country. It brings together diverse resources, including publications, legal frameworks, tools, and learning materials, into a centralized, user-friendly space designed to support learning, research, and Human Rights advocacy.
The platform is part of UNDP's efforts to promote rights-based governance and expand access to knowledge for students, educators, practitioners, civil society, and policymakers. By connecting fragmented information and making it accessible, practical, and relevant, the library enables users to engage with cross-cutting Human Rights issues and translate knowledge into informed action.
HeP II Project
Huqooq-E-Pakistan II
The Digital Library is developed under the Huqooq-e-Pakistan II (HeP II) project, an initiative funded by the European Union (EU) and implemented by UNDP. The project aims to strengthen Pakistan’s human rights ecosystem at the federal and provincial level.
HeP II focuses on four key areas:
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Strengthening National Human Rights Institutions
HeP II aims to strengthen the monitoring, protection, and coordination capacities of Pakistan’s NHRI and other statutory bodies, including the NCHR, NCSW, and NCRC as well as relevant provincial commissions.
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Supporting Government Human Rights Systems
HeP II aims to strengthen the technical capacities of the Ministry of Human Rights and provincial human rights line departments for implementation of their respective mandates. This includes policy development and implementation assistance.
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Advancing Human Rights Education
HeP II is helping the development of a rights-based ‘model curriculum’, while ensuring the provision of adequate human rights related learning opportunities for students across Pakistan. This includes surveying the existing curriculum in Pakistan, providing recommendations regarding the development of courses and modules that align with Pakistan’s human rights obligations and international best practices, through the formation and operationalization of an academic task force. Additionally, the Shaista Ikramullah Human Rights Education Centre (SIHREC) has also been established under this pillar.
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Promoting Responsible Business Practices
HeP II aims to institutionalize the UN Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights (UNGPs) across key public and private sector organizations. Interventions include policy development and implementation support, and capacity building on Human Rights Due Diligence (HRDD), including on the role of NHRIs and statutory bodies, along with other grievance redressal mechanisms on monitoring gender equality and child labor in business activities.
The Centre
Shaista Ikramullah Human Rights Education Centre (SIHREC)
The Digital Library is hosted and curated by the Shaista Ikramullah Human Rights Education Centre (SIHREC), which serves as the custodian of the platform. Supported by UNDP Pakistan and the European Union, the centre aims to provide resources and a space to students, researchers, academics and civil society to conduct cutting-edge research to address key Human Rights challenges. It strives to provide learning opportunities to a diverse set of stakeholders to develop their capacities to integrate Human Rights sensitivities into their work and research.
