A diverse coalition of human rights defenders, environmental activists, legislators, legal professionals, government officials and academic scholars on Tuesday raised urgent alarms about the prolonged suffering of vulnerable communities in the aftermath of the 2022 Sindh floods and underlined the need to protect the rights of underprivileged and vulnerable communities from the vagaries of climate change.
Speaking at a seminar, jointly organised by the Centre for Law, Justice and Policy, Sindh Human Rights Commission (SHRC), United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), and Denning Law School, to mark International Human Rights Day the experts emphasized the persistent challenges facing Sindh province, where victims of the devastating 2022 floods continue to struggle with rehabilitation more than two years after the catastrophic event.
The collective call underscores the critical intersection of human rights and climate vulnerability, drawing attention to the long-term impacts of extreme weather events on Pakistan's most vulnerable populations.
The unanimous voice comes as a stark reminder of the ongoing humanitarian crisis, with many flood-affected communities still grappling with displacement and inadequate recovery support. “Thousands of school buildings have been destroyed and still not repaired, thus the students of those schools are without education for the last two years,” remarked by various speakers.
In his address as chief guest, Mr. Rajvir Singh Sodh, Special Assistant to the Sindh CM on Human Rights emphasized the Sindh government’s commitment to human rights legislation. He highlighted that inheritance rights are being ensured, and the government is working to address issues like displacement due to floods and inadequate infrastructure in rural areas.
Mr. Sodha called for action-oriented solutions, urging citizens of urban areas of Sindh to visit flood-affected regions to witness the challenges firsthand.
He stressed the importance of research on lightning-related deaths in Thar desert areas, well-digging difficulties, and the need to provide relief directly to affected people.
The Chairperson, SHRC, Mr. Iqbal Detho, underscored the significance of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR), describing it as the "Bible of Human Rights." He highlighted its core principles, which include 30 articles encompassing political, civil, economic, social, and cultural rights. Mr. Detho noted that Pakistan is a state party to seven out of the nine core international human rights conventions.
He elaborated on the SHRC's partnerships with Denning Law School and UNDP to promote human rights education. Proposals have been submitted to the Sindh government for internship opportunities in major universities, including Nusrat Bhutto University, Sindh University, and Karachi University, he remarked.
He informed the audience that the Sindh Human Rights Policy (2023-2026) has been made, which addresses climate change, gender-based violence (GBV), and labour rights.
A panel discussion focused on the human rights implications of climate change, particularly using the 2022 floods as a case study was held on the occasion. Panellists included Ms. Afia Salam, Ms. Zofeen Ibrahim, Ms. Zeenia Shaukat, Ms. Abeera Ashfar, Shahid Shah and Mr. Imdad Siddiqui from the Provincial Disaster Management Authority (PDMA), Sindh, who mostly highlighted the problems of vulnerable communities.
Ms. Afia Salam emphasized that marginalized communities face disproportionate climate impacts. She called for integrated approaches to solve these problems.
Senior environmental journalist Ms. Zofeen Ibrahim highlighted the devastating impact of the 2022 floods, noting that over 30 million people were affected, with 6.5 million displaced.
Ms. Zeenia Shaukat, Director of The Knowledge Forum, discussed vulnerabilities in rural areas and criticized weak labour rights protections and inadequate social security. She called for a shift in energy consumption and the promotion of renewable energy sources. She urged for reduced reliance on fossil fuels, which currently generate 60% of Pakistan’s energy.
Ms. Shaukat highlighted that Karachi has faced at least seven heatwaves, with the 2024 heatwave resulting in 1,400 reported deaths.
Mr. Imdad Siddiqui, representing PDMA Sindh, shared the measures taken by the provincial government after the 2022 floods. He said that floods caused significant damage in 24 districts out of a total 30 districts in the province, resulting in 1500 casualties. He outlined the three-tier disaster management system in the province and recent multidisciplinary assessments to improve preparedness.
Ms. Abeera Ashfaq, a human rights advocate, criticized the role of “Big Businesses” in undermining environmental protections. She highlighted flaws in the Sindh Environmental Protection Agency (SEPA) processes and called for meaningful public participation in environmental impact assessments.
Syed Shahid Shah, a water expert and a journalist, shed light on the environmental degradation of the Indus Delta, where 3.5 million acres of land have been lost to sea intrusion. He emphasized the need to restore the natural flow of the Indus River to combat environmental challenges.
Agha Shahnawaz, Secretary for Environment, Government of Sindh, acknowledged that climate change has become a critical challenge for all government departments. He highlighted the need for better implementation of existing laws and policies.
Samad Aftab, a UNDP representative, reaffirmed the organization’s commitment to supporting Sindh in achieving sustainable development goals and protecting human rights.
Mr. Abdul Waheed Sheikh, Secretary, of Training Management & Research Wing SGA&CD, Mr. Pervez Seehar, Secretary, of the Social Welfare Department, Government of Sindh and others also spoke on the occasion.
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