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Policy Briefs and Reports

Gender Parity Report- ICT

Gender Parity Report-ICT examines the status of gender equality in Islamabad Capital Territory (ICT). It assesses women’s participation and representation in areas such as education, employment, health, political participation, and decision-making. The report identifies disparities between women and men and highlights barriers that limit women’s opportunities. It recommends stronger policies, institutional reforms, and gender-responsive measures to improve women’s participation and achieve greater gender parity in ICT.

2025 English Policy Briefs and Reports Gender Equality

Policy Briefs and Reports

Illegal Construction and Environmental Degradation in the Margalla Hills National Park

This HRCP fact-finding report examines illegal construction and environmental degradation in Margalla Hills National Park (MHNP), Islamabad. It highlights deforestation, habitat destruction, commercial encroachments, and conflicts between the Islamabad Wildlife Management Board (IWMB) and the Capital Development Authority (CDA). The report recommends clearer park boundaries, stronger enforcement, institutional coordination, environmental assessments, and greater protection of local communities and biodiversity.

2025 English Policy Briefs and Reports Environment and Climate Justice

Policy Briefs and Reports

Hidden in Plain Sight: A study of online child sexual exploitation in Pakistan

The report examines online child sexual exploitation and abuse (OCSEA) in Pakistan, using the Muzaffargarh case as a key example. It highlights how children are groomed, exploited, recorded, and abused through digital platforms, while weak laws, limited data, poor institutional coordination, and inadequate victim protection allow the problem to persist.

2026 English Policy Briefs and Reports Child Rights

Policy Briefs and Reports

The Promise of Article 9A: Bridging constitutional rights and environmental governance

This policy paper analyzes the constitutional recognition of environmental rights in Pakistan and the significance of Article 9A. It argues that the new fundamental right provides a stronger legal basis for addressing climate change, pollution, environmental degradation, and weak enforcement, while calling for effective action by state institutions.

2025 English Policy Briefs and Reports Environment and Climate Justice

Policy Briefs and Reports

Streets of Fear: Freedom of Religion or Belief in 2024/25

The report examines the state of religious freedom and belief in Pakistan in 2024–25. It documents violence, discrimination, forced conversions, blasphemy-related cases, attacks on religious minorities and places of worship, and weaknesses in state protection.

2025 Urdu Policy Briefs and Reports Minority Rights and Racial Discrimination

Policy Briefs and Reports

The Ailing Prisoner: Access to Healthcare in Pakistan’s Prisons

The report examines healthcare in Pakistan’s prisons and finds serious problems including overcrowding, inadequate medical staff and facilities, shortages of medicines, delayed hospital treatment, infectious diseases, and limited mental-health care. It argues that prison healthcare needs major reforms to meet Pakistan’s legal obligations and international human-rights standards.

2023 Urdu Policy Briefs and Reports Health, Bioethics and Medical Ethics

Policy Briefs and Reports

Modern Slavery: Trafficking in Women and Girls in Pakistan

Modern Slavery: Trafficking in Women and Girls in Pakistan examines human trafficking as a form of modern slavery in Pakistan, with particular attention to women and girls. The report identifies Pakistan as a source, transit, and destination country for trafficking and highlights forced labour, domestic servitude, sexual exploitation, forced marriage, forced begging, and bonded labour. The study argues that poverty, unemployment, gender inequality, lack of awareness, and weak enforcement of anti-trafficking laws increase vulnerability to trafficking. It draws on interviews with law-enforcement agencies, government departments, NGOs, international organizations, and trafficking survivors. The report concludes that Pakistan needs better data collection, stronger law-enforcement capacity, improved coordination between institutions, and more effective implementation of existing laws.

2022 English Policy Briefs and Reports Gender Equality

Other Publications

The Punjab Defamation Act (PDA) 2024

The report critically examines the Punjab Defamation Act 2024, focusing on its implications for freedom of expression, press freedom, fair trial rights, and democratic accountability. HRCP argues that the Act has an excessively broad scope because it extends the concept of broadcasting to social-media platforms and potentially treats bloggers, vloggers, and ordinary social-media users who create news content as journalists. The report also highlights concerns about the Act's vague definitions, severe financial penalties, procedural safeguards, and special tribunals. It notes that damages can begin at PKR 3 million and potentially reach PKR 30 million in punitive damages, alongside measures such as apologies and blocking or suspension of social-media accounts. Overall, HRCP concludes that the Act risks creating a chilling effect on journalism and public criticism, particularly criticism of public officials. The report records that the Act was challenged before the Lahore High Court on constitutional grounds, including freedom of speech under Article 19 and the right to fair trial under Article 10-A.

2025 English Other Publications Civil and Political Rights

Policy Briefs and Reports

Peaceful Assembly and Public Order Act 2024

The HRCP report examines the Peaceful Assembly and Public Order Act 2024 and argues that it places excessive restrictions on the constitutional right to peaceful assembly. It highlights concerns about prior permission requirements, restrictions on protest locations, broad powers to ban assemblies, and harsh penalties for violations. HRCP concludes that the Act could limit peaceful protest and freedom of expression and recommends amendments to better protect the right to peaceful assembly while maintaining public order.

2024 English Policy Briefs and Reports Civil and Political Rights

Policy Briefs and Reports

Internal Colonization in Northern Pakistan: The Impact on Cultural Rights

The study examines internal colonialism in northern Pakistan, particularly in upper Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Gilgit-Baltistan. Torwali argues that indigenous communities have experienced political, cultural, and linguistic marginalization, resulting in the weakening of local languages, identities, and cultural rights. The study also discusses assimilation, loss of indigenous culture, fragmented political structures, and the situation of Gilgit-Baltistan. It calls for greater recognition and protection of the region's linguistic, cultural, and political rights.

2024 English Policy Briefs and Reports Economic, Social and Cultural Rights

Policy Briefs and Reports

A Culture of Hate Mongering: Freedom of Religion or Belief in 2022/23

The report examines the state of freedom of religion or belief in Pakistan during July 2022–June 2023. It documents blasphemy-related cases, forced conversions, attacks on religious minorities and places of worship, mob violence, hate speech, and discrimination against Ahmadis and other minority groups. The report argues that religious intolerance and the misuse of religion-related laws have contributed to violence and restrictions on religious freedom. It calls for stronger protection of religious minorities, accountability for perpetrators, and reforms to laws and policies that enable discrimination and persecution.

2024 English Policy Briefs and Reports Minority Rights and Racial Discrimination

Policy Briefs and Reports

Who Belongs? The Foreigners Act 1946 and Pakistan Citizenship Act 1951

The document reviews Pakistan's Foreigners Act 1946 and Pakistan Citizenship Act 1951, focusing on gaps in the protection of refugees, citizenship rights, and stateless persons. It argues that Pakistani law largely divides people into citizens and foreigners without providing an adequate legal framework for refugees. It also examines birthright citizenship, citizenship through marriage, detention, deportation, and government powers, highlighting discriminatory provisions and inconsistent court interpretations.

2024 English Policy Briefs and Reports Minority Rights and Racial Discrimination