‘Human rights’ is PIPS’ key programmatic theme. Besides carrying out research and analysis, the Institute has been conducting workshops, in-house sessions and debates on human rights issues.

The Institute successfully completed a comprehensive empirical research study exploring patterns of reporting on human rights issues in Pakistani print and electronic media. Besides interviews, the study undertook two surveys, with journalists and general public, across the country. The study focused on these key areas: Public perceptions of media reporting on human rights (HR) issues; Journalist’s capacity to understand, investigate and report rights issues; Treatment of HR issues in media and patterns of reporting and analysis; Environmental factors affecting HR reporting; Effectiveness, quality and range of HR reporting; Suggestions to improve reporting on HR.

A part of the study was published in PIPS research journal Conflict and Peace Studies, Issue Jan-March 2009; Number: 2.