UN Authority Figures

UN Economic and Social Council: Pakistan

Violence against Christians is on the rise in Pakistan, where a disturbing trend of attacks by Islamist fanatics has made life inside the U.S. ally hell for religious minorities, including the gang rape last month of a deaf Christian woman inside her home.
Source: Fox News, November 2, 2015

Mission of the Economic and Social Council: "The Economic and Social Council is at the heart of the United Nations system to advance the three dimensions of sustainable development – economic, social and environmental. It is the central platform for fostering debate and innovative thinking, forging consensus on ways forward, and coordinating efforts to achieve internationally agreed goals." (ECOSOC website, "About Us")

Term of office: 2015-2017

Pakistan's Record on "social development" and "fostering debate":
"Violence, abuse, and social and religious intolerance by militant organizations and other nongovernmental actors contributed to a culture of lawlessness in some parts of the country... According to the constitution, every citizen has the right to free speech, subject to 'any reasonable restriction imposed by law in the interest of the glory of Islam' or the integrity, security, or defense of the country... [C]riticism of the military could result in political or commercial reprisal from government entities. Blasphemy laws restricted individual rights to free speech concerning matters of religion and religious doctrine... Security forces, political parties, militants, and other groups subjected media outlets, journalists, and their families to violence and harassment. Journalists were abducted. Media outlets that did not practice self- censorship were often the targets of retribution... According to the International Federation of Journalists, attacks killed 13 journalists during the year, and journalists also reported physical attacks, harassment, intimidation, kidnapping, or other forms of pressure. The Committee to Protect Journalists included the country in its annual 'impunity index' because the government allowed deadly violence against members of the press to go unpunished... There were reports the government restricted internet access and monitored internet use, e-mail, and internet chat rooms. In 2012 the government began a systematic nationwide content monitoring and filtering system that restricts or blocks 'unacceptable' content, including material that is un-Islamic..." (US State Department's Country Report on Human Rights Practices 2014, Pakistan)

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