Protecting human rights activists

John Stuart Mill once said, "bad men, need nothing more to compass their ends, than that good men should look on and do nothing." It is indeed evil's triumph when it succeeds in muzzling the voices in support of justice and freedom. As the world observed Human Rights Day on 10th December, much-needed attention was also drawn to the sacrifices made by human rights defenders working for the rights of others. In today's world, as human rights abuses gain media attention, the perils human rights defenders face in fighting for their fellow citizens are oft overlooked. It was thus heartening to observe that the Human Rights Commission of Pakistan (HRCP) released its Observatory Annual Report 2011 on the Protection of Human Rights Defenders on 8th December. But what the report revealed was enough to temper any positive sentiment. It depicted a sad picture of how far the state has failed to protect the champions of human and civil rights. The report details how in 2010-11, human rights defenders worked in an extremely high-risk environment as extra-judicial killings and enforced disappearances, especially in Balochistan, continued in high numbers. Despite the conclusion of three high-profile cases via anti-terrorism courts - the Sialkot lynching case, the Rangers shooting case in Karachi, and Salmaan Taseer's murder case - the judicial processes in the higher courts was still found to be unnecessarily long. In fact, instead of state efficiency, the media's role in the first two cases was primarily the reason why the murderers were arrested and found guilty. In most of the other cases, including that of Shahbaz Bhatti, the state apparatus showed little less than criminal incompetence in its failure to bring the killers to justice. This alone helped reinforce the mindset about the ease with which rule of law can be bypassed in this country. What is more tragic is that in addition to no action to provide protection to the human rights defenders, at times security forces were "harsher" with them as reported by the Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) in its statement. In fact, the AHRC claims that 18 human rights defenders were allegedly killed by the state intelligence agencies this year. The situation is admittedly bleak. Though the HRCP report acknowledges that the media and civil rights activists can openly criticise the state's infringements, it also states that media persons were targeted for questioning the military, intelligence agencies and Taliban. Reportedly 20 journalists were murdered for their work in 2010. Additionally, those campaigning for minority rights, like Salmaan Taseer and Shahbaz Bhatti, were also targeted by extremist zealots. Human rights defenders tread a highly risky path as they try to uphold the universal standards of human dignity and civil rights for all. Whether using their profession to help the downtrodden through the media, judiciary or executive etc, or showing personal determination to work for justice through civil society, these brave people are part of the fabric that protects us from unbridled fundamental rights violations. They should be honoured and celebrated. But before that, they must be provided protection so they can continue to work for the betterment of others. Copyright Business Recorder, 2011