Lahore, 9 February 2026 — The European Union, through funding under the Huqooq-e-Pakistan II project and in partnership with the United Nations Development Programme, inaugurated the Shaista Ikramullah Human Rights Education Centre in Lahore to expand human rights education, research and civic engagement across Pakistan.
Designed as an interdisciplinary platform, the Centre will support students, academics, researchers and civil society actors by encouraging study, dialogue and practical work beyond traditional classroom settings. The new facility aims to connect global standards with local realities and to give emerging advocates a role in shaping the Centre’s programming and research priorities.
In his opening remarks, Ambassador Raimundas Karoblis underscored the EU’s long-term partnership with Pakistan in promoting rights and inclusive governance and said ‘the European Union hopes that this Centre will help shape the future Shaista Ikramullahs, who will not only support dignified lives in the country but also contribute to shaping the global discourse on human rights.’ His comments highlighted the EU’s financing role under the Huqooq-e-Pakistan II initiative.
Secretary Abdul Khalique Shaikh praised the establishment of the Centre and reiterated the Government of Pakistan’s support for measures that strengthen human rights education and public engagement. He observed that ‘platforms such as the SIHREC help connect learning with practice and encourage collaboration across institutions, academia and civil society in promoting dignity, equality and justice.’
Dr. Samuel Rizk, UNDP Resident Representative in Pakistan, described human rights education as a vital development investment and said ‘human rights education is not abstract; it is a framework that shapes how people experience justice, dignity and opportunity in their daily lives.’ He emphasised that the Centre will create practical spaces for young people to engage constructively with systems that affect their rights and choices.
The inauguration gathered representatives from government, academia, civil society and the diplomatic community and featured a panel discussion on bridging human rights studies and practice with contributions from the National Commission for Human Rights and Lahore University of Management Sciences. The Global Campus of Human Rights will support key activities at the Centre, reinforcing international academic links.
The event closed with a student-led art exhibition titled ‘The Quiet Curriculum of Justice’, organised in partnership with Kinnaird College for Women University, Lahore, reflecting the Centre’s commitment to extending human rights education through creative engagement. The launch marked the start of SIHREC’s opening week, which will include workshops, training sessions and engagement activities to introduce its mandate and build sustained collaboration in human rights education across Pakistan.
