This Fact Sheet provides key insights from the Diagnostic Study of Nikkahnamas in Punjab: A Review of Women's Marriage Rights.

Dive in to see how we’re building a safer, more just Pakistan for all.

CFHR's report on Pakistan-Malaysia migration analyzes trends, abuse, and policy gaps, offering recommendations to improve legal pathways and reduce irregular migration.

The Refugee Rights Clinic engaged 21 students from UCL and KCW, offering practical research and advocacy experience under CFHR experts, focusing on refugee children's right to education and legal identity in Pakistan.

TANA assesses justice access barriers for transgender people in Sindh, offering data-driven insights and reforms to strengthen inclusion and accountability.

This template for educational Institutions helps to promote survivor-sensitive policies to prevent harassment, bullying, and misconduct through legal alignment in universities in Pakistan.

Investigating justice for Pakistani rape victims, this project analyzed 63 trial court files from District Lodhran, revealing procedural challenges contributing to high acquittal rates.

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The Centre for Human Rights, with the Council of Islamic Ideology, offers a Training-of-Trainers Curriculum on Pakistan's Nikahnama, empowering Nikah Registrars with legal and Islamic insights on marriage rights.

This report researches Punjab's legal and policy history on poor air quality, identifying gaps and hurdles in current frameworks. It recommends strategic interventions and evidence-based solutions from similar countries.

The Two Finger Test, a discredited medico-legal practice assessing virginity through vaginal muscle laxity, violates human rights and lacks scientific basis, yet persists in countries like Pakistan.  Research by law students aims to eliminate this test through legal and societal reform, addressing its continued use and arbitrary court interpretations.

This volume addresses issues such as fair trial standards for mentally ill prisoners, child marriage through informal justice systems, blasphemy law abuse, and the compatibility of Sharia with international human rights law. With contributions from legal professionals and students, it offers comparative legal analysis and reform-oriented insights grounded in both international treaties and domestic practice.

The Centre for Human Rights and the American Bar Association Rule of Law Initiative collaborated on a report analyzing Pakistani marriage and family laws.  This report, supported by Axis Law Chambers, identifies issues like inconsistent minimum marriage ages and weak women's financial rights post-divorce.

This report, a collaboration between the Centre for Human Rights and the American Bar Association Rule of Law Initiative, with support from Minto & Mirza, examines Pakistani laws affecting Muslim women's marriage rights. It clarifies ambiguities regarding divorce, custody, maintenance, and property, presenting case law concisely.

CFHR undertook a project to assess the effectiveness of the 2018 Act in addressing the challenges faced by transgender individuals. Law students at CFHR’s Human Rights Clinic conducted a literature review, examining legal and societal issues under the supervision of the project lead.

This volume focuses on barriers to women’s understanding and enjoyment of their marriage rights in Pakistan. Featuring in-depth legal and sociological analysis, this edition addresses underage marriage, the nikahnama’s role in protecting women’s rights, marital rape, and challenges faced by women seeking divorce. With contributions from leading scholars and legal practitioners, it offers a critical look at systemic issues and explores reforms rooted in both Islamic law and international human rights frameworks.

Pakistan has a high maternal mortality rate, partly due to inadequate healthcare for impoverished women.  A study of 23 low-income women in Pakistan identified obstacles to adequate pregnancy care and offered recommendations to improve maternal health outcomes.

CFHR’s legal journal featuring critical analyses on Pakistan’s human rights landscape. This volume covers a broad spectrum of issues, including the legal flaws in anti-terrorism laws, military courts, enforced disappearances, the right to a fair trial, juvenile justice, madrassa reform, and Pakistan’s obligations under international conventions like UNCAT. With contributions from legal professionals and scholars, the journal promotes in-depth dialogue on the intersection of law, state accountability, and fundamental rights.

This volume delves into the challenges of anti-terrorism legislation, its human rights implications, and the role of judicial oversight. It features original research on the design and implementation of counter-terror laws, the impact of hyper-nationalism on human rights, and the evolving balance between state power and civil liberties.

Volume IV continues CFHR’s mission to critically examine Pakistan’s human rights landscape through legal analysis and field-based insights. This edition delves into pressing issues including custodial torture, the right to health, climate justice, freedom of expression, and protections for vulnerable communities—such as transgender individuals and religious minorities. Contributions by students and legal professionals explore the justiciability of economic and social rights in Pakistan, offering both critique and actionable frameworks for reform.

CFHR's section journal featuring legal analysis, commentary, and original research on human rights issues in Pakistan. Edited by legal scholars and student contributors, this volume explores topics such as maternal mortality, counter-terrorism laws, preventive detention, religious attire, and the right to a fair trial. With a blend of academic and practitioner perspectives, the journal provides critical insights into constitutional reforms, gender justice, and the intersection of Islamic law and human rights in the Pakistani legal context.

CFHR’s inaugural academic publication featuring critical legal analysis and commentary on pressing human rights issues in Pakistan and beyond. Authored by both legal professionals and students, it explores topics such as counter-terrorism laws, judicial reform, gender justice, torture, drone strikes, and the evolution of public interest litigation. The journal aims to spark informed dialogue and elevate legal scholarship on human rights in the South Asian context.

This report, prepared for the Philippine Commission on Human Rights by the Centre for Human Rights, aids in developing a climate change curriculum and framework. It analyzes successful climate change litigation globally, focusing on landmark cases and the evolving role of climate science as legal evidence.

This handbook helps law professors in Pakistan establish legal aid clinics focused on women's marriage rights. It covers clinical legal education, practical skills, and substantive issues for clinic setup and training.

This report examines women's access to justice when dissolving marriages in Punjab, focusing on four methods: talaq, khula, delegated divorce, and mutual divorce. The research, conducted in Lahore and Pakpattan, used both quantitative and qualitative methods.

CFHR's 2024 Annual Report showcases achievements in human rights across Pakistan, from legal reforms and policy advocacy to community campaigns like "Kaante Na Lagao," while advancing marriage equality, transgender rights, and youth empowerment initiatives.

CFHR’s research examines the critical need for internet access as a fundamental right in education, emphasizing the role of legal and policy frameworks in addressing digital inequality.

This research assesses women's marriage rights in Punjab, focusing on the nikkahnama. The study analyzed 1,150 nikkahnamas, along with surveys and interviews to understand gaps impacting women's rights.

Violence against women significantly impacts victims, society, and the economy.  This report examines the economic costs of this violence globally and in Pakistan, highlighting the need for improved data collection and effective prevention policies.

This report examines AI risks in Pakistan, spotlighting algorithmic bias in automated systems that threaten constitutional equality. Analyzing how societal prejudices infiltrate AI, it proposes policy reforms to bridge legal gaps and ensure ethical governance.

The Juvenile Justice System Act of 2018 in Pakistan aimed to improve the juvenile justice system, but implementation remains lacking. The act's shortcomings, particularly concerning age determination and the death penalty for juveniles, continue to violate international human rights standards.

The Lahore High Court acquitted the accused in the Qandeel Baloch murder case due to a pardon from the victim's parents, highlighting issues within Pakistan's criminal justice system. The court's decision is criticized for its restrictive interpretation of the law and its failure to address the systemic issues contributing to impunity in honor killings.

Western media portrays Palestinians as collateral damage, unlike Ukrainians who are depicted as resistance fighters. This bias, evident in the coverage of the October 7th events and beyond, dehumanizes Palestinians and undermines responsible journalism.

AI chatbots, while beneficial for education, contradict the right to education by promoting Eurocentric views and limiting accessibility and acceptability. Addressing this requires a human rights approach, ensuring diverse data and regulatory frameworks for equitable access to education.

Pakistan's Juvenile Justice System Act of 2018 aimed to improve juvenile offender rights, but flaws in age determination and implementation persist, leading to ongoing human rights violations. Legislative amendments, judicial sensitization, and improved birth registration are crucial for effective reform.

Extrajudicial killings in Pakistan violate fundamental human rights, causing widespread human rights abuses and undermining the rule of law. Addressing this requires comprehensive legal reforms, strengthened accountability mechanisms, and a societal shift towards upholding justice and human rights.

Financial violence in Pakistan, often exacerbated by polygamy, deprives women of financial autonomy and leaves them vulnerable. Societal pressures and legal loopholes further hinder their ability to escape this abuse.

Power loom workers in Pakistan face severe health risks due to unsafe working conditions, including respiratory illnesses, eyesight problems, and musculoskeletal issues. The Punjab Occupational Safety and Health Act of 2019 aims to improve these conditions, but significant implementation challenges remain.