Najam U Din
is a lawyer, former journalist, human rights activist and researcher. He has worked part- or full-time in renowned English newspapers in Pakistan for nearly a decade. Until recently, Najam headed the well regarded Pakistani rights organization Human Rights Commission of Pakistan (HRCP). He has been the editor of the State of Human Rights in Pakistan, the annual flagship publication of HRCP, as well as assistant editor of Pakistan Security Report, published by Islamabad-based Pak Institute for Peace Studies.
He has written extensively on social issues in newspapers and research journals. At HRCP, his research focused, for nearly 11 years, on forced migration, rule of law issues, and religious and fundamental freedoms, including the freedom of expression and the right to information. He also designed and implemented projects aimed at enhancing contact and collaboration between Pakistani and Afghan journalists and media houses.
He has covered safety issues for media practitioners in Pakistan, most recently by charting key initiatives on journalist safety in Pakistan. The study was in the context of Pakistan’s inclusion among five pilot countries for implementation of the UN Plan of Action on the Safety of Journalists and the Issue of Impunity. Najam stepped down as HRCP’s director in November 2017 in order to focus on a health crisis in the family. He continues to work from home on issues close to his heart.
