Serious concerns over human rights violations in rehabilitation centres across Pakistan were brought to the forefront on Monday as the National Commission for Human Rights (NCHR), with support from the European Union (EU) and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), launched a major investigative report titled Caged in Care: Investigating Human Rights Abuse in Rehabilitation Centres.
The report was launched under the UNDP-supported Huqooq-e-Pakistan II project funded by the European Union, bringing together parliamentarians, minority lawmakers, legal experts, civil society representatives, development partners and senior government officials for an evidence-based discussion on improving accountability in institutional care systems.
Based on the testimonies from former and current patients, as well as an extensive review of institutional and legal frameworks, the report identifies serious gaps in oversight, regulation and accountability in selected rehabilitation centres operating across the country.
Addressing the launch ceremony, NCHR Chairperson, Rabiya Javeri Agha said the report highlights plight of the individuals placed in care but instead found themselves without adequate protection, voice or legal recourse.
