Staff Reporter
Ministry of Human Rights (MoHR), under European Union (EU)’s Huqooq-e-Pakistan Project (HPP) launched on Monday “Young Expert Programme” with an aim to providing passionate young professionals with opportunity to gain human rights specific knowledge, skills and expertise, whilst working with state institutions and independent commissions in Pakistan.
The Young Experts Programme recruits inspired, talented and dynamic young graduates in the field of human rights through a rigorous and highly competitive selection process.
The first cohort will comprise of 40 Young Experts (YEs) who will be engaged for a period of 12 months. The Young Experts (YEs) will learn about Pakistan’s legal system, domestic and international human rights obligations, and the processes and procedures of different state institutions and machineries.
The programme will also enable the YEs to develop and strengthen their skills related to research, data analysis, policy and legislation, whilst bridging the capacity gaps of current institutions.
The programme was inaugurated through an online orientation session organized for the first batch of the young professionals.
Speaking at the inaugural session, Federal Secretary MoHR Rabiya Javeri Agha said, “The Young Experts Programme is a prestigious, innovative and progressive initiative that is the first of its kind in Pakistan. The youth possesses the passion, commitment and talent to greatly alter and strengthen the landscape of Human Rights in Pakistan. By giving young graduates and professionals opportunity to gain hands-on experience with Human Rights Institutions, we are laying the groundwork for a cohort of trained and sensitized professionals and future leaders that can positively impact and shape the process of Human Rights reform in Pakistan.”
In her introductory remarks during the orientation, EU Chargé d’Affaires a.i., Anne Marchal placed this initiative in the wider perspective of the EU-Pakistan relationship, enhanced by the signature in 2019 of the Strategic Engagement Plan.
