Research Society of International Law (RSIL), Pakistan

10/06/2026

On 8 June, the Research Society of International Law (RSIL) and the Legal Aid Society (LAS) launched Mediation Before Litigation: A Reform Package for Labour and Commercial Disputes in Islamabad at the Movenpick Hotel.

Nine years after the ADR Act 2017 promised faster, cheaper justice through mediation, court backlogs persist and referral practices remain inconsistent. This report sets out a complete roadmap to change that — a diagnostic of the existing framework, a drafted legislative reform package amending the Industrial Relations Act 2012, the Payment of Wages Act 1936, the ADR Act 2017 and the CPC 1908, and an operational blueprint for putting the reforms into practice.

We were grateful to be joined by Justice Miangul Hassan Aurangzeb of the Supreme Court of Pakistan as Chief Guest, Barrister Aqeel Malik, Minister of State for Law and Justice, as Guest of Honour, and Justice (retd.) Arif Hussain Khilji, alongside senior voices from the Ministry of Law and Justice and the National Industrial Relations Commission, the legal profession, the business community, and civil society.

Thank you to everyone who joined the conversation. The work of reform begins here.

05/06/2026

Launch of a report on “Introducing Mandatory Early-Stage Mediation for Labour and Commercial Disputes in Islamabad.”

The event will bring together members of the judiciary, policymakers, legal professionals, mediators, business community representatives, and civil society stakeholders to discuss the role of mediation in improving access to justice and strengthening dispute resolution in Pakistan.

04/06/2026

Registration Closed

Thank you for the overwhelming response to the report launch “Mediation Before Litigation: A Reform Package for Labour and Commercial Disputes in Islamabad.”

Due to limited seating capacity, registrations for the event are now closed.

As this is an invite-only event, ONLY shortlisted participants will be contacted by Friday with confirmation and further details regarding the venue and timings.

We are grateful for the strong interest shown in the event.

The Research Society of International Law (RSIL) and Legal Aid Society are pleased to invite interested participants to the launch of a report on introducing Mandatory Early-Stage Mediation for Labour and Commercial Disputes in Islamabad.

The event will bring together members of the judiciary, policymakers, legal professionals, mediators, business community representatives, and civil society stakeholders to discuss the role of mediation in improving access to justice and strengthening dispute resolution in Pakistan.

Due to limited seating capacity, participation will be confirmed on a first come, first served basis.

Interested participants are requested to register by 5:00 PM on Thursday. Confirmation emails, along with venue and timing details, will be sent to selected participants by Friday.

Register at: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSch9THZh5HMeFna5yByVgHJfVRKsPBw9ev9veQF7f3N3M34wA/viewform?usp=publish-editor

02/06/2026

The Research Society of International Law (RSIL) and Legal Aid Society are pleased to invite interested participants to the launch of a report on introducing Mandatory Early-Stage Mediation for Labour and Commercial Disputes in Islamabad.

The event will bring together members of the judiciary, policymakers, legal professionals, mediators, business community representatives, and civil society stakeholders to discuss the role of mediation in improving access to justice and strengthening dispute resolution in Pakistan.

Due to limited seating capacity, participation will be confirmed on a first come, first served basis.

Interested participants are requested to register by 5:00 PM on Thursday. Confirmation emails, along with venue and timing details, will be sent to selected participants by Friday.

Register at: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSch9THZh5HMeFna5yByVgHJfVRKsPBw9ev9veQF7f3N3M34wA/viewform?usp=publish-editor

19/05/2026

RSIL convened a multi-stakeholder consultation in Karachi on the feasibility of introducing human rights due diligence regulations in Pakistan, bringing together representatives from government institutions, workers’ organisations, civil society, and the private sector. The consultation was held under the EU-funded Huqooq-e-Pakistan II project, in collaboration with the Ministry of Human Rights and UNDP Pakistan.

The session focused on obtaining stakeholder feedback on our recommendations on voluntary human rights due diligence entry points, creating space for dialogue, exchange of perspectives, and discussions on key priorities and challenges related to the implementation of HRDD under the National Action Plan on Business and Human Rights in Pakistan.

18/05/2026

RSIL conducted a two-day capacity development training workshop in Karachi under the EU-funded Huqooq-e-Pakistan II project, in collaboration with the Ministry of Human Rights and UNDP Pakistan.

The sessions combined lectures and interactive group exercises to strengthen participants’ understanding of the fundamentals of business and human rights frameworks, as well as key skills such as coordination, law and policy analysis and monitoring the implementation of the NAP-BHR.

18/05/2026

Racial discrimination undermines equality, dignity, and justice and under CERD, states have a legal obligation to eliminate it in all its forms.

In this video, we break down Pakistan’s commitments under the International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination (CERD), including protections against discrimination, equal access to justice, safeguards for economic and social rights, and the prohibition of hate speech and racist activities.

As one of Pakistan’s earliest international human rights commitments, CERD remains central to the protection of equal rights for all communities.

Read the treaty at: https://www.ohchr.org/en/instruments-mechanisms/instruments/international-convention-elimination-all-forms-racial