FATA students are facing issues in D I Khan colleges

FATA students who are in DI Khan now days as IDPs are facing issues in getting admissions in Degree 2 college DI Khan where they are not allowed on basis that they are from FATA. This is a serious issue and Government should take this case very seriously as it is concerned with future of students. On one hand it is proudly professed by Pakistan and its institutions that tribal are protecting Pakistan but on other hands they are being deprived of the fundamental right of education. This is double standard and needs solution.

We sit down to stand up: End Child and forced marriage in KP and FATA

http://tribune.com.pk/story/969849/rally-out-non-prof-its-demand-legislation-on-child-marriages-in-k-p/

ESHAWAR: A joint sit-in was organised outside Peshawar Press Club on Thursday by NGOs to rally for an end to early child and forced marriages.

Groups like Alliance, Blue Veins, Tribal NGO consortium, MEN UNiTE, Pakhtunkhwa Civil Society Network and National Coordination Group were joined by teachers, working women and students.

Participants demanded the Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa government provide a time frame in which the legislation could be enacted. The bill paves the way to deal with pending cases and can help prevent future instances of child marriages in K-P.

“The K-P government has shown a lack of will in addressing the issue of child marriages. Through this sit-in, we are calling on the provincial government to table the K-P Child Marriage Restraint (Amendment) Bill 2015 in the provincial assembly without delay, “said Qamar Naseem, coordinator of Alliance.

Protesters complained the government showed poor will in the past to introduce this bill in the K-P Assembly. According to the Pakistan Demographic and Health Survey for 2012-13, the statistics for child marriages are significantly alarming especially in K-P.

Naseem added the federal government announced it would prevent child marriages in 2015 through the support of Sustainable Development Goals. “Yet, three years later, child marriage remains a significant problem in Pakistan.”

He said, “UNICEF reports 21% girls in Pakistan are married before they are 18.” According to reports from Human Rights Commission, the child marriage rates for 2012 were as high as 74% for certain districts of K-P.

Protesters demanded the government deliver on its commitment to end child marriages and set-up plans to end the practice by 2030.

Published in The Express Tribune, October 9^th, 2015.

Read more: Rally out

‘Govt ignoring experts’ input in cybercrime bill’

http://www.dawn.com/news/1211642

ISLAMABAD: Despite a civil society outcry and several public hearings with stakeholders, the government seems bent on pushing a long-awaited cybercrime bill through parliament without incorporating experts’ recommendations.

On Wednesday, a large number of groups advocating digital rights and freedom of expression gathered for a press conference at the National Press Club to oppose this attitude.

Representatives of the Digital Rights Foundation (DRF), Human Rights Commission of Pakistan, Blue Veins, the Pakhtunkhwa Civil Society Network, the Tribal NGOs Consortium, Institute for Research, Advocacy and Development (IRADA), Civic Action Resources and Pakistan For All voiced concerns over the fact that the draft bill was not shared amongst members of the committee, despite being asked to do so, which appeared to be an attempt to pass the bill without proper analysis and debate.

A final draft of the bill has been approved by the National Assembly Standing Committee on Information Technology and forwarded to the National Assembly for passage to the Senate.

A DRF representative said, “The government must introduce a stringent personal data protection law that defends the rights of Internet users in the country.

The government must also establish a privacy commission to perform surveillance and privacy oversight, to ensure that laws and provisions set up to protect citizens are strictly adhered to.”

The IRADA representative said that the cybercrime bill, as approved by the standing committee, was against the individual’s fundamental right to information as enshrined in Article 19-A of the Constitution and the principles of proactive disclosure of information.

“The bill, in fact, criminalizes the disclosure of information in public interest (whistle-blowing) and is no less than a modern version of the draconian Official Secrets Act, 1923,” he said.

“The political parties and parliament are duty bound to protect the interests and rights of citizens, not assist the government of the day in protecting some of its own interest that are at odds with the interests of the public.

“There should be no compromise on civil liberties and their protections,” a spokesperson for the Freedom Network said.

Published in Dawn, October 8th, 2015

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Thanks FATA Lawyers forum for joining us today in our joint sit in for legislation on child and early marriage in FATA and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. This was jointly organized by Tribal NGOs Consortium, PCSN, Blue Veins, Men Unite, Alliance to end child violence and marriage, NACG KP/FATA and Child Rights Movement FATA and PVDP.

Child Rights Movement Movement FATA Press Conference over implementation of Article 25 A in FATA at Parachinar Press Club Kurram Agency FATA

Participated in a meeting over Vaccination in Islamabd

Participated in a Public Hearing on The Islamabad Mandatory Vaccination and protection of Health workers Bill. Prominent among them were Senator Farhatullah Babar, Senator Aisha  Raza Farooq, Senator Kumar, Dr Sheryar Afridi Member National,  Assembly, Wajiha of National Child Health Consortium, Zar Ali Khan Afridi Coordinator Child Rights Movement FATA, Dr Tahir Masood, President Pakistan Pediatric Association, Mehnaz Akbar Aziz  and few others were present on that occasion. This Public Hearing was held in Pakistan Institute for Parliamentary Services Islamabad.
Good suggestions and recommendation regarding FATA were also presented regarding immunization and need for legislation. Senator Sajjad Hussain Turi Chairman Senate Standing Committee on National Health Services Regulations and Coordination was chief guest on this occasion.

Child Rights Movement FATA demands for implementation of Article 25 A in FATA

http://tribune.com.pk/story/965352/educational-reform-in-fata-govt-urged-to-implement-article25-a/

PARACHINAR: Child Rights Movement coordinator Zar Ali Khan Afridi said the government should take meaningful steps to implement Article 25-A, Right to Education, in the tribal areas. He demanded it rebuild 500 schools which were destroyed in militant attacks. Afridi was speaking at a news conference at Parachinar Press Club on Wednesday about the government’s duties under Article 25-A. Afridi explained the government is responsible to provide free and compulsory education to all children between ages five and 16. Although the act is in place, it is not implemented, he added. The government should collaborate with civil society to launch an awareness campaign for parents to ensure education for all children in Fata, said Afridi. According to a survey, Fata is short of 8,844 schools based on the population ratio. He appealed to the media to play its role for the implementation of Article 25-A in Fata.

Published in The Express Tribune, October 1^st, 2015.