Geneva, November 13,2026: Senator Samina Mumtaz Zehri, Chairperson of the Senate Functional Committee on Human Rights, represented Pakistan at the Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU) Global Parliamentary Conference on Human Rights, held in Geneva on November 12–13, 2026, under the theme “Protecting Human Rights in an Age of Disruption – The Responsibility of Parliaments.”
During the two-day conference, Senator Zehri participated in deliberations on strengthening the role of parliaments in safeguarding fundamental freedoms, promoting human dignity and translating international human rights commitments into effective national action.
The discussions highlighted the importance of legislative implementation, institutional accountability and access to justice in ensuring effective human rights protection. Particular attention was given to the rights of women, children, minorities, migrants and persons with disabilities, as well as emerging challenges posed by artificial intelligence and digital technologies.
Pakistan’s parliamentary perspective emphasized constitutional guarantees of fundamental rights and the importance of legislative scrutiny, parliamentary oversight and institutional coordination in addressing gaps between legislation and its implementation.
The conference also underscored the responsibility of parliaments to protect freedom of expression, safeguard democratic institutions and ensure that technological advancement does not undermine human dignity and fundamental freedoms.
The gathering brought together parliamentarians, United Nations representatives, national human rights institutions and civil society stakeholders to exchange experiences and explore practical approaches to strengthening human rights protection.
Senator Zehri’s participation reflected Pakistan’s continued engagement in international parliamentary dialogue and cooperation on human rights, particularly in translating constitutional and international commitments into meaningful protections for citizens.
