The Australian High Commissioner to Pakistan, Timothy Kane, met with Federal Minister for Human Rights, Senator Azam Nazeer Tarar, in Islamabad with Secretary Abdul Khalique Shaikh also in attendance to discuss ways to deepen bilateral engagement on human rights.
The meeting centred on strengthening human rights cooperation across legislative, institutional and policy fronts, with both delegations reaffirming a shared commitment to advancing inclusive, rights-based governance and protection for vulnerable groups.
The High Commissioner welcomed Pakistan’s recent progress in human rights legislation and institutional strengthening, praising efforts to protect marginalised communities and offering Australia’s support for ongoing reforms and capacity building.
The Minister outlined implementation of the National Action Plan on Human Rights, highlighting priorities to bolster institutions, expand access to justice and improve compliance with international obligations as part of a broad strategy to advance rights at the national and provincial levels.
Officials discussed improvements to treaty reporting through the National Mechanism for Reporting and Follow-up, including recent submissions and preparations for upcoming reviews under CRC, CRPD, ICCPR and CAT, underscoring Pakistan’s commitment to fulfil its international commitments.
National human rights bodies such as the National Commission for Human Rights, the National Commission on the Status of Women and the National Commission on the Rights of Child were described as functioning effectively, alongside recent constitutional and legislative measures aimed at strengthening protections.
Child rights were a key focus, with the Minister briefing on the Islamabad Capital Territory Child Marriage Restraint Act 2025 and enhancements to the Zainab Alert, Response and Recovery System for missing children. The delegation also discussed digital safety initiatives, including awareness campaigns, digital literacy efforts and cooperation with international platforms like Meta’s Take It Down portal. The Minister welcomed Australia’s recent move to restrict social media access for children under sixteen as a complementary safeguard.
Both sides agreed to pursue closer collaboration on practical measures to protect rights and promote dignity, equality and inclusion. Strengthening human rights cooperation emerged as a shared objective, with commitments to continue dialogue and joint efforts to support reforms and protect vulnerable populations across Pakistan.
