Challenges and Opportunities of Globalization for the Development of Human Rights in Pakistan 2010-2014

Globalization is a growing phenomenon in the contemporary times when man has become modern in its thinking, actions and evaluation. Growing awareness regarding human rights is not only bringing human into mainstream affairs being major stakeholders indirectly but also greater expectations. This reality of preservation of human rights has brought the issue into legislation to make it law as a written part of the constitution at national, regional and global level in almost all spheres. Consequently, assurance of human fundamental rights is ground reality and written part of all the constitutions of the world. Globalization has transformed the world into a global village where there are commonalities of the cultures, exchange of ideas and free economic approaches are struggling to bring consensus among the world society to protect and preserve the human rights against any violation. World has divided into two blocks global north and global south based on their economic and political capacities. Globalization phenomenon was started by global north so it augurs well for the advancement of their interests while South is less benefited because of having underdeveloped status and weaker rule of law, social, economic and political condition. There are disparities of resources between both the blocks that are why south is suffering and north is maintaining status quo. State like Pakistan being the part and parcel of global south is facing economic and political hurdles where there is no provision of basic human requirements like food, health, education, employment and socio-economic stability. Globalization is north-centered phenomenon and more beneficial for them as compare to south. Globalization has positives and negatives. On one side it is providing awareness about the human rights violations while on other side it seems unable to protect human rights violations. Human rights violation scale is growing in Pakistan where there is nationalistic economy that is anti-thesis of the globalization and free market economy of north. Moreover, weak socio-economic and political conditions in Pakistan causing deprivations and grievance are growing where a specific chunk of society is violating all norms and rules of human rights by using their economic power and social status. In comparison to internationalization of economies under the umbrella of globalization, limited weightage is given to Pakistani exports in international market as compare to exports that proves very costly with the emergence of issue balance of payment that causes severe economic implications on Pakistan economy where social and political sector already going downwards and lacking to provide basic needs of life and fundamental rights. Labor issues and forced labor menace is growing in Pakistan where there are less facilities and larger number of labor and phenomenon of brain drain is growing. Globalization is impacting Pakistan more in a negative way and less in positive way. In this phase of initial years of second decade of twenty first century, human rights violation has decreased due to constitutional protection, media campaigns, role of NGO’s but still long way to go ahead to curb the menace. Purpose-The purpose of this paper is to explore the embodied effects of process of globalization on human rights in Pakistan. Objectives of the study- To investigate explore and analyze the present status of human rights status in Pakistan in this globalized arena and legislative measures taken by the government. To highlight, the growing hurdles in the protection of human rights violations in Pakistan. Research Questions- What can be the impacts of globalization on global South? And how it is affecting human rights in Pakistan? What actions should be taken to support and extend rights to the humans in the era of globalization? Design / Methodology / Approach- Descriptive method is used based on secondary sources like UNDP reports, human rights commission of Pakistan reports, academic papers, books and newspaper articles etc. An analytical approach has also been used to illustrate the human rights violation in Pakistan and explore the underlying realities. Findings-This paper provides the pen picture of the Globalization phenomenon and its significant impacts on human rights in Pakistan, either it has created opportunities for the preservation of human rights or it has threatened the human rights. It is concluded that globalization is the major independent variable. Although through integrating Pakistan’s commercial, financial and economic institutions with the world the dream of economic globalization can be materialized and freedom of equal socio-economic rights and freedom to engage in economic transactions may be ensured but still it might will remain at loss because of weak economy, limited resources and political immaturity, moreover, other human rights violations occurred in Pakistan are needed to be addressed at state level in a more pragmatic way and viable policy methods by analyzing situation in depth. Research Limitation-The focus of this research would be only Pakistan regarding violation of human rights with the detail discussion of globalization and human rights in general. The policy making at Government level i-e role of parliament, role of international organizations and role of NGOs would also be studied for law making and to preserve the human rights. The period of the research would be 2011 to 2013. Hypothetical framework- Globalization phenomenon is a promoter of liberal thoughts in socio-economic and political perspectives. Liberalism of globalization gives a perception that assists in the prevention of human rights violation in developing societies. The underlying socio-economic disparities between global North and global South are creating un-favorable environment for the protection of human rights in developing world. Pakistan is facing human rights violations due to inherent socio-economic and political weakness with unfavorable impacts of globalization because of her mismatch with the western standards. This clearly shows the indiscriminate impacts of globalization on different regions of the world. Originality / Value-This is original research work. The analysis provided is based on facts and information is acquired from human rights commission of Pakistan reports.