Advocacy Efforts and Impacts
In pursuance to the organizational mission, SPO is gradually increasing the capacity and participation of its partners’ civil society network in policy reforms, feedback and alternate solutions. One of SPO’s partner network WHDT (Web for Human Development) from Thatta district succeeded to catch the attention of education ministry and expressed desire via practical measures for the re-opening and rehabilitation of primary schools in three Talukas of Thatta including Ghorabari, Mirpursakro and Thatta through advocacy campaign. After having complete base line and compilation of survey report, CSN team met with Mr. Nisar Ahmed Khuro, Senior Minister for Education and Literacy, Govt. of Sindh and shared the up status of primary school buildings and requested him for necessary assistance. Initially a list of five schools was submitted for Minister‘s approval. The Education Minister approved the request immediately but also appreciated the approach and efforts of SPO and WHDT to improve education through recommendations of community at gross root level instead of legislators’ choice. Mr. Khuro had also shown desire to have a list of other incomplete schools for necessary rehabilitation work which will cover under funds available by the Sindh Government.
One Day Consultation on National Human Rights Policy Framework in Pakistan
SPO held a National Consultation about a year ago to devise the National Human Rights, Policy Framework and policy principles in collaboration with Ministry of Law, Justice & Human Rights (MoL, J&HR). The National Consultation produced a consolidated National Human Rights Policy Framework (NHRPF). To further strengthen this document and hold wider stakeholder consultations, SPO is going to implement a yearlong project supported by National Endowment for Democracy (NED). The overall objective of the intervention is to facilitate promotion and defence of human rights and the rules of law through introduction of human rights policy framework in the country. Following are the specific objectives of the intervention: To prepare a draft NHRPF for discussion and incorporation with stakeholder recommendations. To consolidate stakeholder recommendations in the draft NHRPF To present a consolidated NHRPF to the Government to adopt it.
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.
Waseela-e-Sehat should focus on maternal, new born health: SPO Study Maternal & Newborn Health (MNH) should be treated as a Basic Right through Legal Protection; SPO Research Recommends
About eighty prominent Parliamentarians and senators from different political parties and parts of the country, civil society members, researchers and academia attended a Federal level Round-table convened by SPO (Strengthening Participatory Organization) to sensitize participants on the gaps and limitations of existing Social Safety Nets (SSNs) in Pakistan, for improving health in general, and Mother and Neonatal Health (MNH) in particular for the most marginalized women. SPO Chief of Program Zafar Zeeshan welcomed the participants and shared the objectives of the consultation; he said the main objective of this research was to compare unconditional and conditional cash transfer programmes with focus on MNCH. NCCTs with the aim to financially empower women, in actual practice do not have the desired impact on enhancing women’s access to healthcare for a number of reasons. He added that the purpose of this discussion is to share the findings of the research. He said, Pakistan has a high Maternal Mortality Ratio (MMR) of 276 per 100000 live births. Risk of death is one per every 89 women compared to one per 8000 in the developed world.
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.