Peter Jacob Gill

Peter Jacob
Born (1961-04-22) 22 April 1961
Khanewal, Pakistan
EducationLLB, University of Karachi, Masters in Rural Development, University of Sindh, Masters in Political Science, Islamia University of Bahawalpur, (Pakistan)
LLM, University of Notre Dame (USA)
OccupationsHuman rights activist
Researcher
Columnist
Organization(s)Executive Director, Centre for Social Justice Pakistan
Chairperson, Peoples Commission for Minorities' Rights
AwardsInternational Religious Freedom Award
Websitehttps://csjpak.org/

Peter Jacob (born 22 April 1961) is a human rights defender, researcher, trainer and columnist. He is heading the Centre for Social Justice as the executive director since October 2014, and the Peoples Commission for Minorities' Rights as the chairperson since 2018.[1] He established institutions for human equality and dignity, particularly National Commission for Justice and Peace, and Centre for Social Justice, and served as a member of National Curriculum Council, established by the Ministry of Federal Education and Professional Training.[2] He has been recognized internationally,[3] and is a recipient of the US Department of State’s International Religious Freedom Award.[4]

Education

He was born and raised in Khanewal, Punjab, Pakistan. He completed his early education at St. Vincent's High School, Mian Channun, district Khanewal, which was nationalized by the Government of Pakistan in 1972. He did LLB from University of Karachi in 1985 and earned an LLM degree in International Human Rights Law from the University of Notre Dame, USA in 2014.[5] He did Masters in Political Science from Islamia University Bahawalpur in 1988, and completed Masters in Rural Development and Project Management from University of Sindh and Wye College University of London in 2003.[6]

Career

Jacob has been associated with several national and international human rights organizations since 1988 in different capacities, including Amnesty International Pakistan, Hotline Asia, Forum Asia, and Human Rights Commission of Pakistan. He has been a member of the Council of Experts for the International Religious Freedom or Belief Alliance since 2021.[7]

He worked at Justice and Peace Commission, as assistant and acting Executive Secretary (1988–1990), The Pastoral Institute, Multan as a lecturer and executive staff (1990–1995), and National Commission for Justice and Peace as its executive director (1995–2013), Visiting Scholar at Kroc Institute for Peace Studies, Klau Institute for Civil and Human Rights, Notre Dame University USA.[8]

He has been part of several movements, campaigns, and networks, and has led some of them relating to minorities rights including campaigns for restoration of Joint Electorate, the abolition of the column for religion in the national identity card,[9] the implementation of Jillani Judgement,[10][11][12][13][14][15] the reforms in Christian Marriage Laws,[16][17][18][19] and the establishment of statutory national commission for minorities rights,[20][21][22][23][24] and the inclusive and equitable education,[25][26][27][28][29][30] and ending forced marriages[31][32][33] and forced conversions in Pakistan.[34][35][36]

Jacob' work focuses on the rights of marginalized minorities, women and labour[37] and he has written blogs and articles published in reputed newspapers including, The News on Sunday,[38] The News International, Express Tribune,[39] Dawn,[40] Global Open Democracy,[41] University of Notre Dame,[42] HumSub[43] and The Friday Times.

Publication

Jacob contributed to over 100 articles, and over 50 research based studies.

a) Articles for books

  1. “Religious Minorities: The heart of the alternative narrative”, in the book "Pakistan: Alternative imag(in)ing of the Nation-State", published by Oxford University Press, 2018, edited by Jürgen Schaflechner, Christina Oesterheld, and Ayesha Asif.[44]
  2. “Common Ground Between Religious Minorities and Secular Forces in Pakistan”, in the book “The Rise of Religion Based Political Movements”, published by Strategic Information and Research Development Centre, Malaysia, 2009, edited by Darwis Khudori.[45]
  3. "Religious Minorities: The Struggle for Rights in Pakistan", in the book “At the Cross Roads: South Asian Research, Policy and Development in a Globalized World” published by Sustainable Development Policy Institute, Pakistan, 2007.[46]
  4. "Identity Questions for Christians in Pakistan", in the book “Religious Minorities in South Asia”, published by Manak Publications Delhi, 2002, edited by Monirul Hassain & Lipi Ghosh.[47]

b) Research studies and publications

  1. What Are We Teaching in School?[48] focuses on content review of school textbooks published by federal and provincial textbook boards in Pakistan.
  2. Quality Education Vs. Fanatic Literary[49] on analysis of textbooks, curriculum and policies in Pakistan.
  3. Human Rights Observer,[50][51][52][53] an annual fact sheet covering key developments and data analysis regarding issues of religious freedom and minorities’ rights in Pakistan.
  4. Silence of the Lamb,[54][55] a working paper based on research and analysis of forced conversions of minority girls in Pakistan.
  5. Lessons from the nationalization of education[56] focuses on the impact of education policy of 1972 on education and minorities.
  6. Promises to Keep & Miles to Go[57] on assessment of progress against political parties’ manifesto, focusing on pledges and actions to protect minorities' rights.
  7. Justice Yet Afar,[58] a compliance analysis of the Supreme Court's Verdict (SMC No. 1/2014) given by then Chief Justice Tassaduq Hussain Jillani on 19 June 2014.
  8. Confusing demographics of minorities[59] on assessment of census data in Pakistan.
  9. Implementation of Job Quota[60] on assessment of the job quota policy for religious minorities in Pakistan.
  10. Defining National Interest in Human Development,[61] assessing the economic, developmental and relational impact of policy for the regulation of INGOs in Pakistan.
  11. Life On the Margins[62] on the situation of minority women in Punjab and Sindh Provinces.
  12. How green was my village,[63] development profile of villages with sizable Christian population in Punjab, Pakistan.
  13. Tedious Path to Poverty Alleviation[64] on assessment of indebtedness and cyclic poverty among religious minorities in Punjab, Pakistan.
  14. Insani Haqooq Ke Irteqa,[65] a book on brief history of the evolution of human rights.
  15. Insani Haqooq Ka Bainulaqwami Nizam,[66] a book on United Nations international human rights mechanisms.
  16. Building Peace from the Bottom[67] on assessment of local-level peace-building efforts and peace committees.
  17. Combating Hate Speech beyond Administrative Measures[68] on analysis of laws and policies dealing with Hate Speech.

Awards and recognition

He received several awards and accolades, nationally and internationally, including the best correspondent of Ucanews for 1998, Bishop Tji Hak-soon Justice & Peace Award, South Korea, 2001, Tulip International Award for human rights in 2001[69] as executive director of the Catholic (National) Commission for Justice and Peace.[70] He also mentored the documentary film, Humsaya (Neighbour), as executive producer of the film, which won an award for the best documentary on Human Rights at the Venice International Film Festival in 2023.[71] The US State Department bestowed on him the Religious Freedom Award in 2024.[72][73][74][75]

References

  1. ↑ VoicePk (2020-05-07). "A Commission With No Mission?". Voicepk.net. Retrieved 2025-11-05.
  2. ↑ "List of National Curriclum Council members" (PDF). Ministry of Federal Education & Professional Training.
  3. ↑ "Peter Jacob | Islamabad Literature Festival". Retrieved 2025-11-03.
  4. ↑ "International Religious Freedom Awards". United States Department of State. Retrieved 2025-11-03.
  5. ↑ "169th UNIVERSITY OF NOTRE DAME COMMENCEMENT" (PDF). Commencement, University of Notre Dame, USA.
  6. ↑ "Peter Jacob | Cell Karachi". educationandinclusion.eu. Retrieved 2025-11-05.
  7. ↑ "Council of Experts". Article 18 Alliance. Retrieved 2025-11-05.
  8. ↑ "CSJ_Team – Centre for Social Justice Pakistan – CSJPAK". Retrieved 2025-11-05.
  9. ↑ "PLF Advisors". Pakistan Learning Festival. Retrieved 2025-11-05.
  10. ↑ admin (2024-04-25). "Ex-Chief Justice of Pakistan Leads Dialogue on Religious Minority Rights at Lahore School of Law - Lahore School of Law". Lahore School of Law. Retrieved 2025-11-05.
  11. ↑ Reporter, The Newspaper's Staff (2021-05-05). "'State has failed to implement 2014 SC verdict on minorities rights'". Dawn. Retrieved 2025-11-05.
  12. ↑ hrcp-webdesign (2019-06-19). "The long wait for justice: Jillani judgement conference". HRCP. Retrieved 2025-11-05.
  13. ↑ "A majoritarian paradigm | Special Report | thenews.com.pk". www.thenews.com.pk. Retrieved 2025-11-05.
  14. ↑ Reporter, The Newspaper's Staff (2022-06-20). "'Incomplete' implementation of 2014 court verdict on minorities lamented". Dawn. Retrieved 2025-11-05.
  15. ↑ VoicePk (2024-08-11). "Implementation of the Jillani judgement discussed". Voicepk.net. Retrieved 2025-11-05.
  16. ↑ Reporter, The Newspaper's Staff (2019-08-28). "Stakeholders seek changes in Christian marriage and divorce bill". Dawn. Retrieved 2025-11-05.
  17. ↑ Jacob, Peter (2016-11-23). "Amendments to Christian marriage laws". The Express Tribune. Retrieved 2025-11-05.
  18. ↑ Reporter, The Newspaper's Staff (2019-08-21). "Draft of Christian Marriage, Divorce Act needs amendment: experts". Dawn. Retrieved 2025-11-05.
  19. ↑ Ali, Kalbe (2019-11-05). "Christian Marriage and Divorce Bill caught between feuding ministries". Dawn. Retrieved 2025-11-05.
  20. ↑ Reporter, The Newspaper's Staff (2024-07-12). "Private members' bill on minorities' body opposed". Dawn. Retrieved 2025-11-05.
  21. ↑ DailyTimes.pk (2018-04-17). "Centre for Social Justice urges formation of National Commission for Minorities' Rights". Daily Times. Retrieved 2025-11-05.
  22. ↑ Reporter, The Newspaper's Staff (2024-01-12). "HRCP seeks statutory national commission for minorities' rights". Dawn. Retrieved 2025-11-05.
  23. ↑ Pracha, Maheen (2024-01-11). "HRCP reiterates the demand for a statutory national commission for rights of minorities". HRCP. Retrieved 2025-11-05.
  24. ↑ "Pakistan Rights Commission calls for establishment of national commission for rights of minorities". The Citizen. 2024-01-15. Retrieved 2025-11-05.
  25. ↑ "'Government's single national curriculum is like martial law'". www.geo.tv. Retrieved 2025-11-05.
  26. ↑ Datta, Anil (2019-04-09). "Centre, provinces urged to remove hate material from books". www.thenews.com.pk. Retrieved 2025-11-05.
  27. ↑ Hasan, Shazia (2020-08-17). "Experts point out flaws in Single National Curriculum". Dawn. Retrieved 2025-11-05.
  28. ↑ VoicePk (2021-06-08). "Removal of religious content from SNC at an impasse". Voicepk.net. Retrieved 2025-11-05.
  29. ↑ Reporter, The Newspaper's Staff (2022-05-03). "Punjab likely to roll back Single National Curriculum for middle classes". Dawn. Retrieved 2025-11-05.
  30. ↑ "Not by design | Special Report | thenews.com.pk". www.thenews.com.pk. Retrieved 2025-11-05.
  31. ↑ AsiaNews.it. "New parliamentary committee on forced conversions is an encouraging sign". www.asianews.it. Retrieved 2025-11-05.
  32. ↑ "Child marriage and forced conversions | Shehr | thenews.com.pk". www.thenews.com.pk. Retrieved 2025-11-05.
  33. ↑ VoicePk (2020-12-08). "'46% of victims of forced conversions are under 18'". Voicepk.net. Retrieved 2025-11-05.
  34. ↑ Khan, Sameen (2017-03-17). "Forced conversion, marriage and the endless cycle of misogyny". Herald Magazine. Retrieved 2025-11-05.
  35. ↑ Rizwan, Sheharyar (2021-11-22). "'Rejection of forced conversion bill has emboldened perpetrators'". Dawn. Retrieved 2025-11-05.
  36. ↑ Reporter, The Newspaper's Staff (2019-05-12). "State urged to check forced conversions, trafficking of minority women". Dawn. Retrieved 2025-11-05.
  37. ↑ "TEDxAIOU | TED". www.ted.com. Retrieved 2025-11-05.
  38. ↑ "Peter Jacob:The News on Sunday (TNS) » Weekly Magazine - The News International". www.thenews.com.pk. Retrieved 2025-11-03.
  39. ↑ "Peter Jacob, Author at The Express Tribune". The Express Tribune. Retrieved 2025-11-03.
  40. ↑ "News stories for Peter Jacob - DAWN.COM". www.dawn.com. Retrieved 2025-11-03.
  41. ↑ "Home". openDemocracy. 2016-06-22. Retrieved 2025-11-03.
  42. ↑ "Peter Jacob, Author at Contending Modernities". Contending Modernities. 2011-07-07. Retrieved 2025-11-04.
  43. ↑ "پیٹر جیکب, Author at ہم سب". ہم سب (in Urdu). 2023-04-16. Retrieved 2025-11-03.
  44. ↑ "PAKISTAN: Alternative Imag(in)ings of the Nation State". Oxford University Press.
  45. ↑ "THE RISE OF RELIGION-BASED POLITICAL MOVEMENTS". BANDUNG SPIRIT.
  46. ↑ "At the crossroads : South Asian research, policy and development in a globalized world | Catalogue | National Library of Australia". catalogue.nla.gov.au. Retrieved 2025-11-04.
  47. ↑ "Religious minorities in South Asia post post-colonial situations". Syracuse University Libraries.
  48. ↑ "What are we Teaching at School?" (PDF). Centre for Social Justice.
  49. ↑ "Quality Education vs Fanatic Literacy" (PDF).
  50. ↑ "Human Rights Observer, fact sheet on data regarding accusations of blasphemy, complaints of coerced faith conversions, and religion-based discrimination in education policies" (PDF). Centre for Social Justice.
  51. ↑ "Human Rights Observer 2024" (PDF).
  52. ↑ "Human Rights Observer 2023, fact sheet on religious freedom and minorities rights in Pakistan" (PDF).
  53. ↑ "Human Rights Observer 2022" (PDF).
  54. ↑ "Silence of the Lamb" (PDF). Centre for Social Justice.
  55. ↑ "Legal Protections against Forced Conversions and Child Marriage in Pakistan" (PDF).
  56. ↑ "Lessons from Nationalisation of Education" (PDF). Centre for Social Justice.
  57. ↑ "Promises to keep & Miles to go" (PDF).
  58. ↑ "Justice Yet Afar" (PDF). Centre for Social Justice.
  59. ↑ "Confusing demographics of minorities, assessment of census data in Pakistan" (PDF).
  60. ↑ "Implementation of job quota for minorities" (PDF).
  61. ↑ "Defining National Interest in Human Development" (PDF).
  62. ↑ "Life on the margins of minority women in Pakistan" (PDF). European Parliament.
  63. ↑ "How green was my village, development profile of villages with sizable Christian population in Punjab, Pakistan" (PDF).
  64. ↑ "Tedious Path to Poverty alleviation: An Assessment of indebtedness and cyclic poverty among religious minorities in Punjab, Pakistan" (PDF).
  65. ↑ "Evolution of Human Rights" (PDF).
  66. ↑ "UN Human Rights Protection Mechanism" (PDF).
  67. ↑ "Building Peace from the Bottom" (PDF).
  68. ↑ "Analysis of laws and policies dealing with Hate Speech" (PDF).
  69. ↑ "Peter Jacob | Cell Karachi". educationandinclusion.eu. Retrieved 2025-11-03.
  70. ↑ "Catholic Commission for Justice and Peace – Catholic Commission for Justice and Peace". Retrieved 2025-11-03.
  71. ↑ "Neighbour: The Saga of Forced Conversions in Pakistan (Screening and Discussion) – The Black Hole". 2024-09-30. Retrieved 2025-11-03.
  72. ↑ Communications (2024-01-23). "State Department Honors NED Partners with International Religious Freedom Award". NATIONAL ENDOWMENT FOR DEMOCRACY. Retrieved 2025-11-03.
  73. ↑ Iqbal, Anwar (2024-01-22). "Pakistani among recipients of Religious Freedom Award". Dawn. Retrieved 2025-11-05.
  74. ↑ AsiaNews.it. "Peter Jacob gets award as a defender of human and religious rights in Pakistan". www.asianews.it. Retrieved 2025-11-05.
  75. ↑ "Peter Jacob's contribution to human rights acknowledged". 2024-02-17. Retrieved 2025-11-05.
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