Judicial Training on Human Rights

The Sindh Human Rights Commission (SHRC), in collaboration with the Sindh Judicial Academy (SJA) and with the technical and financial support of Obun2 and Terre des Hommes (TDH), organised a two-day capacity-building programme for 60 district-level judges from Sindh in Larkana on 23rd and 24th January 2025. The training aimed to promote a deeper understanding of laws protecting women and girls, with a special focus on Article 9A of the Constitution of Pakistan, which guarantees every citizen the right to a clean, healthy, and sustainable environment—a right closely linked to gender-based justice and protection.

The sessions featured insightful presentations by SHRC Chairperson Mr. Iqbal Ahmed Detho, District & Sessions Judge Naveed Ahmed Soomro, and Barrister Rida Tahir, who provided legal perspectives on existing constitutional and statutory protections for women. Topics included legislative frameworks on gender-based violence, discrimination, and access to environmental justice for women and girls. The facilitators also addressed implementation gaps and the judiciary’s role in strengthening rights enforcement at the district level.

In a keynote reflection, District & Sessions Judge Larkana, Mr. Simkan Mughal, stressed the judiciary’s pivotal responsibility in advancing gender equality. He underscored that judicial officers, through increased sensitisation and legal awareness, can play a transformative role in dismantling entrenched discrimination and fostering a culture of respect for women’s rights.

This collaborative initiative reflects the shared commitment of SHRC, SJA, Obun2, and TDH to enhancing judicial capacity, promoting inclusive legal practices, and ensuring that the rights of women and girls are protected and upheld in line with constitutional values and international human rights standards. It further reinforces the judiciary’s central role in creating a more equitable and rights-based justice system in Sindh.