ISLAMABAD: The Ministry of Human Rights (MoHR), with support from the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) through the European Union-funded Huqooq-e-Pakistan II project, has officially launched the upgraded Human Rights Information Management System (HRIMS) to strengthen human rights monitoring and support Pakistan’s reporting against its international treaty obligations.
The digital platform is aimed at improving human rights monitoring, facilitating evidence-based policymaking and strengthening reporting on Pakistan’s domestic and international human rights commitments.
The launch event, held in Islamabad on November 11, brought together senior representatives from the federal and provincial governments, human rights commissions, civil society, human rights defenders, international development partners and diplomatic missions.
Barrister Aqeel Malik, Minister of State for Law and Justice, termed the launch a significant milestone in strengthening coordination between federal and provincial institutions.
“The true measure of our commitment to human rights lies not just in evidence-based laws and policies, but in their effective implementation and their impact on people’s lives,” he said.
The minister thanked the European Union and UNDP Pakistan for their support and reaffirmed the government’s commitment to a more transparent and accountable human rights system.
According to the press release, the platform was upgraded after a comprehensive nationwide needs assessment and extensive consultations with provincial stakeholders. The upgraded system now provides stronger digital infrastructure, standardised templates and more streamlined processes for collecting, managing and sharing data.
These improvements are expected to support more consistent reporting and indicator-based tracking of Pakistan’s human rights commitments.
Jeroen Willems, Head of Partnerships at the Delegation of the European Union to Pakistan, welcomed HRIMS as a practical contribution to EU-Pakistan cooperation on human rights.
“Sustained action on human rights requires a clear understanding of progress over time. The HRIMS can provide a valuable basis for recognising achievements, setting priorities and following through on commitments, including under GSP+. Through the Huqooq-e-Pakistan II project, the EU is supporting Pakistan in translating these commitments into measurable action,” he said.
Abdul Khalique Shaikh, Secretary, MoHR, said the platform would help Pakistan assess its own progress.
“The HRIMS will strengthen Pakistan’s capacity to meet its international human rights reporting obligations through data integration, evidence-based reporting and effective follow-up on international recommendations. This initiative marks an important shift towards digital human rights governance in Pakistan,” he said.
Drawing on international best practices, the indicator-driven platform will consolidate information from sectors including health, education, law enforcement and justice.
The system will also support the disaggregation of data by location, gender, age and disability, enabling institutions to develop a more detailed understanding of people’s experiences and needs and direct policy responses where they are most required.
Dr Samuel Rizk, Resident Representative, UNDP Pakistan, highlighted the role of the system in responsive policymaking.
“Behind every data point is a person, a family or a community. By bringing this information together, the HRIMS can help institutions make decisions that respond to people’s needs and protect their rights. UNDP is committed to working with the Ministry and provincial line departments to strengthen the evidence that guides this work,” he said.
During the launch, Khaola Batool, Deputy Director at the Ministry of Human Rights, demonstrated the platform’s key features and highlighted how nationwide inputs would contribute to a consolidated picture of human rights progress.
