Strengthening Legislative Review: The Relationship Between Parliament and Independent Rights Commissions for Protection and Promotion of Human Rights in Pakistan
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This article aims to explore the legislative review functions of Pakistan’s Independent Rights Commissions (IRCs), including the National Commission for Human Rights (NCHR), the National Commission on the Status of Women (NCSW), and the National Commission on the Rights of the Child (NCRC), in their engagement with the parliament. It analyses the statutory basis, operational scope, and practical challenges of this relationship within the framework of international and national standards such as the Paris Principles, Belgrade Principles, Abuja Guidelines, national laws and policies. The article seeks to assess how these commissions contribute to harmonizing national legislation with international human rights obligations and advise on legislative and policy reforms. Additionally, it identifies barriers to effective legislative review and provides recommendations to strengthen collaboration between parliament and IRCs for promotion and protection of human rights. By addressing these issues, the article aims to propose a roadmap for enhancing efficiency, and impact of IRCs in legislative review in an independent manner for promoting and protecting human rights in Pakistan.
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