QUETTA: Civil society representatives at a workshop on Monday appreciated the National Commission for Human Rights (NCHR) policy guideline on the protection of Human Rights Defenders (HRD) that they said would help in strengthening democracy and the rule of law.

The policy envisions a country where everyone has the right individually and in association with others to strive for the protection and realisation of human rights and fundamental freedoms at the national level.

The two-day workshop, which was attended by the representatives of civil society as well as the Balochistan government, concluded here on Monday.

The participants were informed that the essence behind the NCHR policy guideline was UN Declaration on Human Rights Defenders according to which `Everyonehas the right, individually and in association with others, to promote and to strive for the protection and realization of human rights and fundamental freedoms at the national and international levels`.

Adviser to the Balochistan Chief Minister on Minority Affairs Dinesh Kumar said: `The guideline provides a tool for Pakistani human rights defenders advocating for stronger legal recognition and protection of their important work.

It also provides both the government and defenders with a tool to measure the coverage and effectiveness of existing laws and policies.

NCHR`s Balochistan chapter coordinator Shamrose Satakzai told the participants in the workshop that the NCHR was an apex human rights body that was obliged to protect the Human Rights Defenders.

-Staff Correspondent