Team ALAC-II Lahore conducted an impactful training workshop with senior police officials at the DPO Office Sheikhupura, focusing on strengthening understanding of Human Rights and Refugee Rights in the context of law enforcement.
The session was graced by SP (Special) Mr. Ghulam Abbas as the Chief Guest, who emphasized the importance of upholding human dignity and rights while performing policing duties: “Law enforcement must balance firmness with fairness. Respect for human rights is not optional—it’s fundamental to ethical policing,” he remarked.
The session witnessed active participation of 25 senior officials including DSPs, Inspectors, Sub-Inspectors, and SHOs, highlighting institutional interest in human rights mainstreaming.
Ms. Arooj Un Nissa, Field Manager ALAC-II Lahore, delivered an insightful session on Human Rights, covering the legal framework, constitutional guarantees, international human rights conventions, and police obligations in safeguarding the rights of all individuals—regardless of nationality or status. Her session emphasized the importance of accountability, non-discrimination, and due process in policing practices.
Ms. Ghazala Mirza, representing UNHCR, delivered a powerful and inspirational presentation on Refugee Rights, underscoring Pakistan’s hospitality legacy, its legal and moral responsibilities under international refugee law, and the role of the police in ensuring the safety, dignity, and non-refoulement of Afghan refugees and asylum seekers.
Bridging the two themes, Project Director (ICT) Mr. Aatif Afzal articulated how the principles of human rights and refugee protection are deeply interlinked, urging officers to recognize that every vulnerable individual who walks through a police station’s door is entitled to justice, safety, and dignity. “Empathy and awareness are powerful tools in the hands of those who uphold the law. Human rights and refugee rights are two sides of the same coin—our collective humanity,” he stated.
This collaborative engagement reaffirmed SHARP’s commitment to capacity building of law enforcement to promote rights-based policing and foster a protection-sensitive environment for all, especially refugees and other persons of concern.
