The Australian High Commissioner to Pakistan, Mr. Timothy Kane, met the Federal Minister for Human Rights, Senator Azam Nazeer Tarar, in Islamabad on 10 December 2025 to advance human rights cooperation between the two countries. Secretary of the Ministry of Human Rights, Mr. Abdul Khalique Shaikh, attended the meeting as Pakistan outlined recent policy and institutional steps.
Both sides welcomed Pakistan’s progress in human rights legislation and institutional strengthening. The Minister highlighted ongoing implementation of the National Action Plan on Human Rights and efforts to expand access to justice, strengthen institutions, and align domestic practice with international norms as part of a sustained drive to deepen human rights cooperation.
Pakistan briefed the High Commissioner on its enhanced treaty reporting system through the National Mechanism for Reporting and Follow-up and recent submissions ahead of reviews under CRC, CRPD, ICCPR and CAT. The discussion underscored a shared commitment to timely reporting and practical steps to meet international obligations.
The meeting also reviewed the functioning of national human rights bodies, including the National Commission for Human Rights, the National Commission on the Status of Women and the National Commission on the Rights of the Child, and recent constitutional and legal measures aimed at strengthening rights protection across the country.
Child rights featured prominently, with the Minister noting the Islamabad Capital Territory Child Marriage Restraint Act, 2025, and improved response mechanisms such as the Zainab Alert, Response and Recovery System for missing children. Both delegations discussed digital safety initiatives, digital literacy campaigns and cooperation with international platforms like Meta’s Take It Down portal, while welcoming Australia’s recent move to restrict social media access for children under sixteen as a timely protective measure.
Both Pakistan and Australia reaffirmed their shared resolve to deepen human rights cooperation, with Canberra expressing support for Pakistan’s reform agenda and both sides committing to practical collaboration to promote dignity, equality and inclusion for all citizens.
