The Biz Update One of Pakistan's Most Reliable Business News Website
Related Articles
Lahore, 9 February 2026: The European Union (EU), through its Huqooq-e-Pakistan II project, in partnership with the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), has inaugurated the Shaista Ikramullah Human Rights Education Centre (SIHREC) in Lahore, aimed at promoting human rights education across Pakistan.
The Centre is designed as an interdisciplinary hub for learning, research, and dialogue, supporting students, academics, civil society, and institutions working on human rights issues. It seeks to foster engagement beyond traditional classroom settings and strengthen the application of human rights principles across sectors.
In his opening remarks, H.E. Raimundas Karoblis, EU Ambassador to Pakistan, highlighted the EU’s long-term commitment to human rights and inclusive governance in Pakistan. “The European Union hopes this Centre will help shape the future Shaista Ikramullahs, who will support dignified lives in the country and contribute to the global human rights discourse,” he said.
Abdul Khalique Shaikh, Secretary of the Ministry of Human Rights, praised the initiative, emphasizing the government’s support for programs that link learning with practice and foster collaboration across academia, civil society, and institutions to promote dignity, equality, and justice.
The inauguration featured a panel discussion with representatives from the National Commission for Human Rights (NCHR) and Lahore University of Management Sciences, focusing on bridging human rights studies and practice. The Global Campus of Human Rights, a European Union-backed global initiative, will support key activities at the Centre.
Dr. Samuel Rizk, UNDP Resident Representative, highlighted human rights education as a foundation for inclusive development. “SIHREC creates a space grounded in practice, enabling young people to engage constructively with the systems that shape their rights, choices, and opportunities,” he said.
The event concluded with a student-led art exhibition, “The Quiet Curriculum of Justice,” organized with Kinnaird College for Women University, reflecting the Centre’s commitment to creative, cross-disciplinary engagement in human rights education. The launch also marked the start of SIHREC’s opening week, featuring workshops, training sessions, and activities to introduce its mandate and promote sustained collaboration in human rights learning.
