Civil Society demands central place for rights of citizens in electoral reforms
Leading civil society representatives have demanded that the ongoing electoral reforms process in parliament should take into account independence and accountability of electoral processes and ensure transparency and access of citizens, especially women, minorities and persons with disabilities (PWDs), to all stages of the electoral process. A set of comprehensive set of recommendations related to electoral administration, transparency, accountability and participation of all citizens including women, minorities and persons with disabilities was put forward by the representatives of civil society at the roundtable conference on “Civil Society Perspective on Electoral Reforms” arranged by Strengthening Participatory Organisation (SPO) in Islamabad.
Report and Recommendations appointed by the Supreme Court of Pakistan on the reforms of the media sector January-June, 2013,Launched
A launching event of the printed version of “Report and Recommendations appointed by the Supreme Court of Pakistan on the reforms of the media sector January-June, 2013” took place at a local hotel in Lahore. The launch was honoured by Former Minister of Information, Broadcasting, and Senator Javed Jabbar and notable dignitaries including I.A. Rehman Director Human Rights Commission of Pakistan, Dr. Mughees Ud Din Sheikh Dean Media and Communication University of Central Punjab, Dr. Nosheena Saleem Director Institute of Mass Communication Studies PU, Yasmeen Aftab Professor BNU, Salman Abid Regional Head SPO, and Sidra Saeed Programme Coordinator FES. The event was attended by university students, representatives from SAP-PK, Aurat foundation and other prominent organizations, lawyers, MPAs, and journalist community.
Lahore Region under RAF project hosted joint meeting of MPAs working group and watch group of CS in connection with BISP’s Wasela-i-Sehat Scheme
21 May 2014: SPO-RAF Project, Lahore region organized a joint meeting of MPAs working group and civil society watch group in connection with the newly initiated BISP’s Wasela-i-Sehat Scheme that focuses mothers and their newly born babies. The PML-N MPA MissKaneezAkhter presided the meeting; whereas, Dr.NajmaAfzal (MPA) convened the working group sessionand Dr.NosheenHamad (MPA-PTI) Parliamentary Secretary on MNCH was the keynote speaker. SPO is first in having the privilege tobring together 28 senior parliamentarians’ of Punjab Assembly belonging to PML-N, PTI, PPP and PML-Q, key Government officials and CSO representatives on the table of the Assembly Committee Room to discuss and reflect on Maternal Neonatal Child Health (MNCH) issue. All of them agreed over collective submission of questions and suggestions on the reforms of the social safety networks as well as the conditional grants under BISP “Wasela-e-Sehat” Program. Mr. Salman Abid Regional Head, SPO Lahore Region, Shazia Shaheen Planning Specialist SPO, Mumtaz Hussain Coordinator and Abdul Mateen Advocacy Specialist SPO-RAF Project, along with the representatives from Aurat Foundation, Plan International, Action Aid Pakistan were present at the meeting.
SPO Celebrates International Human Rights Day in Collaboration with directorate of Human Rights KP at Peshawar University
Chairperson of the IR Department briefed about the history of the Human Rights day and shared the theme of the year. She said, “The UN General Assembly proclaimed 10 December as Human Rights Day in 1950, to bring to the attention ‘of the people of the world’ the Universal Declaration of Human Rights as the common standard of achievement for all peoples and all nations.It celebrates the fundamental proposition in the Universal Declaration that each one of us, everywhere, at all times is entitled to the full range of human rights, that human rights belong equally to each of us and bind us together as a global community with the same ideas and values.All human beings are born free and equal in dignity and rights”: in perhaps the most resonant and beautiful words of any international agreement, the Universal Declaration of Human Rights promises, to all, the economic, social, political, cultural and civil rights that underpin a life free from want and fear. These human rights are not country-specific. They are not a reward for good behavior, or particular to a certain era or social group. They are the inalienable entitlements of all people, at all times and everywhere, 365 days a year. They are the rights of people of every colour, from every race and ethnic group; whether or not they have disabilities; citizens or migrants; no matter their sex, their class, their caste, their creed, their age or sexual orientation. The commitments made to the people of the world through the Universal Declaration are in themselves a mighty achievement – discrediting the tyranny, discrimination and contempt for human beings that have so painfully marked human history. And since the Declaration was adopted, countless people have gained greater freedom. Professor Ijaz said in his speech Independence and autonomy have been attained. Many people – though not all – have been able to secure freedom from torture, unjustified imprisonment, summary execution, enforced disappearance, persecution and unjust discrimination, as well as fair access to education, economic opportunities, rich cultural traditions and adequate resources and health-care.They have obtained justice for wrongs, and national and international protection for their rights, through the strong architecture of the international human rights legal system.The power of the Universal Declaration is the power of ideas to change the world. It tells us that human rights are essential and indivisible – 365 days a year. Every day is Human Rights day: a day on which we work to ensure that all people can gain equality, dignity and freedom. At the end a question answer session was carried by the students from the faculty and directorate of human rights in order to enhance their knowledge. The event was concluded with refreshment. MrKashif from SPO thanked all the participants for their active participation.
SPO Marking International Human Rights Day – Karachi
Mr. ElahiBuxBaloch; the Regional Head SPO Karachi during his address with the students emphasized to promote social harmony and Resilience among them. He quoted Martin Luther King Jr. Injustice anywhere is a threat to Justice everywhere” and said youth can play a very important role in bringing peace in society. Mr. Asad Iqbal Butt briefed the audience about the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and said that social justice is the only key to bring peace in any society. Ms. ZarinaMagsi; Head of NJV School, Mr. Qadir Khan Mandokhel, Mr. IqbalPashah Sheikh; Director Regional Directorate of Human Rights Karachi, Mr. Ali Akbar Abro; Deputy Director Regional Directorate of Human Rights Karachi and Ms. QuratMirza from SPO Karachi also spoke during the event. At the end audience paid tribute to Asma Jahangir, MalalaYousuzai and KailashSatyarthi for winning Right Livelihood Award and Nobel Peace Prize respectively. The Assembly also observed one-minute silence to mourn the demise of Senior Comrade SobhoGianChandani.
Provincial Conference on the Status of Millennium Development Goals 12th May, 2014
Pakistan would miserably fail to achieve most of the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs)targeted for 2015. This was stated by the participants of the Provincial Conference on “Current Status of Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) in Pakistan” organized by Strengthening Participatory Organization (SPO) under its AAWAZ Program. Out of 48, Pakistan is obligated to achieve 33 indicators related to the eradication of poverty, gender disparity and HIV, improving child and maternal health, and access to primary education by 2015. The Planning Commission and the United Nations Development Programme, jointly reported that Pakistan has achieved three targets and is on right track for seven more. Nevertheless, for the remaining 23 indicators, the country is certainly off the track. The panelists stressed that urgent measures are needed to improve the state of health and education in country. The speakers opined that government has to demonstrate its seriousness towards the MDGs.
Malevolent Floods of Pakistan by Naseer Memon launched
The destruction wreaked by floods in Pakistan between 2010 and 2012 was indicative of governance and political problems in the country, according to Naseer Memon . “It is my considered view that these floods were a governance disaster,” said Naseer Memon, a writer and CE Strengthening Participatory Organization. “More than a natural or administrative issue, they are a political issue and must be viewed through the political lens.” He was speaking at the launching ceremony of his new book “Malevolent Floods of Pakistan,” in which he has discusses the context and impact of recent floods and makes suggestions for flood management. The ceremony was organised by the Sindh Graduates Association in Islamabad.
MoU for the promotion of good governance and pro people legislation in Sindh
Strengthening Participatory Organization (SPO) and the Ministry of Law & Parliamentary Affairs, Government of Sindh have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) for the promotion of good governance and pro people legislation in the province. The MoU was signed by Dr. Sikandar Mandhro, the Minister for Law & Parliamentary Affairs, Sindh and Naseer Memon, Chief Executive of SPO. The MoU is based on broader understanding to jointly carry out consultation and feedback on good governance and pro people legislation issues and to achieve common aims, like providing inputs/comments on draft laws, etc. Speaking on the occasion CE SPO Naseer Memon said that good governance and pro people legislation is signature identity of democratic societies. State of Governance merits greater cooperation among various stakeholders for improvement. Dr.Sikandar Mandhro, speaking on this occasion said that the provincial government is committed to provide good governance and pro people legislation and to enhance state-civil society interaction on policy matters. Eminent civil society representatives and senior officials of the Ministry attend the ceremony. Ms. Sadiqa Sallahuddin, Member BoD of SPO also attended the event.
Consultation on Domestic Violence Bill and National Policy for Home-based-workers
SPO organized a consultation on January 9th 2014 to finalize the draft Domestic Violence (DV) Bill and National Policy for Home Based Workers (NPHBW) in collaboration with MOLJ&HR by inviting relevant stakeholders who have background and knowledge about the areas covered under Bill and Policy. The purpose of the consultation was to highlight the gaps in the bill on domestic violence and the process of its approval and to recommend changes in favor of women in the two documents (DV Bill and NPHBW). Consultation was attended by more than 80 participants from Government and Civil Society Organizations. Director General Human Rights Wing opened the consultation with welcome note. Ms. Riffat Butt, Legal Expert, and Ms. Um-e-Laila Azhar, Executive Director, Home Net, National Commission on the Status of Women, presented the draft Bill on Domestic Violence highlighting its main features and National Policy on Home-based Workers (NPHBWs) respectively.