The Centre for Human Rights (CFHR) was established in 2013 at the School of Law, University College Lahore. The CFHR provides a platform for the promotion of human rights and due process. Core aims of the CFHR include:
> Creating awareness on human right violations and protections in Pakistan through promotion of research
> Developing human rights laws and policies through strategic advocacy
> Strengthening legal education and rule of law in Pakistan
> Promoting equality & non-discrimination in Pakistan
The CFHR has developed several journals, research papers, housed fellows, hosted training events and seminars in a wide variety of areas relating to human rights since its inception. The CFHR has a broad research mandate and has previously worked extensively on understanding the effects of anti-terrorism laws on human rights and fair trial protections in Pakistan as well as on gender-based violence. Other areas that the CFHR has worked in include: climate change, refugee rights and criminal justice reform.
The CFHR has partnered with local and international institutions like the American Bar Association – Rule of Law Initiative, UNDP (Lahore), Musawi and Arizona State University Sandra Day O’Connor School of Law. The CFHR continues to work with both local and international partners to promote human rights and refine legal education in Pakistan. The CFHR hopes to develop long-term relationships with non-governmental organizations and law schools to help implement clinical education and related work in the future as well.