“A Word from the CHIEF EXECUTIVE”

He has told you, O’ man, what is good: and what does the Lord require of you. But to do Justice, and to Love kindness, and Walk Humbly with your God
(Micah 6:8)

Today the world is talking about Human Rights; Justice.Countless numbers of speeches have been delivered by well-known human rights activists and heads of the Human Rights organizations. Lots many efforts are done and are continued to be done for the betterment of the situation of Human Rights worldwide. The rights are categorised and recognised universally through well-known groups and organizations but we have reaped very little. We are still in a process to understand what our Rights are?

The right to life is a universally recognized right for all human beings. It is a fundamental right which governs all other existing rights. In its absence, all other fundamental rights have no reason to exist. Human rights are the basic standards that people need to live in dignity; and all human beings are entitled to enjoy human rights regardless of age. Human rights are those rights which are fundamental for living and for normal human existence. They are based on the concept that every man and woman, irrespective of caste, creed, color, race and nationality is born with certain fundamental rights such as, right to live, speech, freedom, justice, etc. These rights are, therefore, enshrined in the constitution of the countries. In short when we talk about Rights we imagine one word i.e. Freedom. E.g. freedom of speech, judicial remedies, freedom of movement, right to take part in the governance of one’s country etc the wider context of rights are economic and social rights. These are the right to work, right to live with dignity, right to rest and leisure, right to education, equal pay for equal work, right to equality, etc. The rapid religious elements have assumed upon themselves the responsibility to take care of the religious rectitude of the citizenry. Thus violating many rights, they seem to genuinely believe that those not subscribing to their version of faith has either gone astray or they entertain criminal credentials. A mass scale conversion of the religious minorities to the majority religion is the fantasy and standing agenda of these bigoted souls. While talking this much about Human Rights one cannot forget this summary to be applied in its own homeland, as it is a wise saying that, ″Charity begins at Home″. So I as a Chief Executive of The Voice Society and a Common citizen of Pakistan cannot resist myself talking about situation of Human Rights in my own Homeland, PAKISTAN.

The Human Rights are frequently violated in Pakistan, not because we Pakistanis are not Human Beings it’sbecause our community does not have proper awareness about our rights. The Voice Societyhastaken the initiative among all other Human Rights organizations and the Civil Society in Pakistan to support and protect the Human Rights in Pakistan in wider context, in any and all forms of Rights i.e. Women Rights, Child Rights, Rights of Destitute etc. Talking about Human Rights one cannot forget the Minorities in Pakistan, especially Christians.There is a fundamental contradiction in Pakistani society vis-à-vis Christian-Muslim relations. One the one hand, the Christians are all seen as being dalits (untouchables), and therefore totally irrelevant and of no consequence whatsoever. On the other hand, whenever something goes wrong between Islam and the West, the first people to feel the full brunt of reactions are the Christians who face the threat of mob violence against which the state is either unwilling or unable to protect them. What happens as an intermittent reality becomes an ever-present sword of Damocles and makes the Christians of Pakistan extremely insecure. The past few years have witnessed a string of attacks against Christian groups across Pakistan highlighting not only the victimization and persecution of minority Christians, but pointing to a catalogue of suppression against religious and individual rights on a wider scale.  Unless the forces of liberalism are felt and religious freedoms are protected, the future for minority groups across all Pakistan and Islamic states in all over the region of Asia will be uncertain and fraught with danger. An illustration of religious harassment is found in relation to Pakistan’s blasphemy laws, the assassination of Christians, and the persecution of Christians in different forms.Normally constitutionally it is state that is responsible for the safety, security and prosperity of its people. But Pakistani state has failed even to give Christians the status of Pakistani in Pakistan. We Christians are categorized as Aliens, kafirs, dalitsand Muslim are not to  maintain any relationships with the Dalits in Pakistan. The parallel Legal system of Taliban is much stronger to implement the Islamic law in the country by hook or by crook. Therefore what our state Government has failed to provide us Christians in Pakistan is the right to be Pakistani, the right to live, the right to speak and the right to practice our religion.The Voice Society along with the Civil society in Pakistan are forefront in the implementation of  Actual law, in the elimination of discrimination against all groups/categories of  Christians whether they are Adults, Children, elders, labors or Women. The Voice is forerunner in protecting the Rights of the Christians against violence and after the attacks upon Christians by helping them and providing them Legal Aid, Assistance and rehabilitation. The Voice Society is on the forefront to protect the people’s rights, providing them with free legal Aid, supporting the persecuted families financially and morally, helping them in rehabilitation and serving them with rightful purpose. The Voice Society also motivates young generation of the time to take part in the program of elimination of all sorts of discriminations against Minorities and make sure that the Law is utilized in a fair manner and the Justice is prevailed. The Voice Society has been trying to reduce the hatred among people for other castes, religions and race. The Voice Society along with the civil society of Pakistan is on its way to ensure the institutional guarantees to protect the rights of each and every human being in the state of Pakistan. Pakistan is our home, we will repair it in case of any damage and we will not turn our backs towards our brothers and sisters of different caste and religions no matter how annoyed or angry they are with us. We will make our home peaceful and safe.

Nevertheless, many types of discrimination and violation of human rights are seen in different parts of the world. Cruelty to prisoners of war, unjust treatment of prisoners in jail, economic discrimination, casteism, rape, child labor, child prostitution, etc., are other forms of violation of human rights. But Safe Pakistan is our Right, which is Supreme beyond all sorts of Rights.

We know what real love is because Jesus gave up his life for us. So we also ought to give up our lives for our brothers and sisters. If someone has enough money to live well and sees a brother or sister in need but shows no compassion—how can God’s love be in that person? (John 3:16, 17)

ANEEQA . M. ANTHONY
CHIEF EXECUTIVE
THE VOICE SOCIETY