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.

Society for Rights and Development was Awarded by Namati Justice

Society for Rights and Development(SRD) got Courage Recommendation Award after Namati Justice announced The Results of Namati Justice Prize. Zar Ali Khan Afridi Executive Director Society for Rights and Development is highly obliged to Namati team for awarding us Courage Commendations Award. This award was given to 4 organizations. One of them is Society for Rights and Development.

http://namati.org/network/justiceprizeresult/

Abducted child was rescued

Now a day it is a common practice that children in Peshawar and surrounding areas are kidnapped and through press we came to know that after abduction children mutilated bodies are dumped in deserted areas or fields. It was September 23, 2015 when i was in Peshawar cantt where i saw a man apparently he was abducting a boy of three. When i sensed it i went closer to him and asked about boy identity and he said that the boy was missing from his parents. Boy who was very small child of about three years could not speak any thing and was just weeping bitterly. When i was in Deans by time i had heard some body announcing that a child was missing and his parents are looking for him. I soon understood the case and snatched boy from abductor and brought him to deans center in my lap. I handed over boy to his father and three young sisters of whom he was their lone brother in front of Administration of Deans. They were very glad and thanked me. It was a shocking moment for me and a joyful moment as well. Thanks God i saved a child from abductors.

Regards 
Zar Ali Khan Afridi

Abduction of Akhunzada Chattan son condemned

Tribal NGOs Consortium, Child Rights Movement FATA and National Action and Coordination Group FATA strongly condemn abduction of a teen aged son of Akhunzada Chattan a former member of parliament of Pakistan from Bajaur Agency FATA and a leader of Pakistan Peoples Party. Using of children in war or to coerce some one to leave what opponents do not like to see is a great crime. Pakistan as a state is signatory to UN Convention on the Right of Child but situations of children in Pakistan is worst. Pakistan has not yet signed optional protocols where children are banned to be used in armed conflicts. Pakistan should accelerate its efforts to stop perpetrators to use children for war purposes. Pakistan also does not send its human rights related situation report and especially that of children to UN Human Rights Committee for Universal Periodic Review. Situations of FATA is worst and human rights record is unsatisfactory. This needs to be straightened as human rights and children rights are universal and all countries have a responsibility to use good offices to secure our children from clutches of criminals and terrorists whose agenda is anti human and anti children.

Malala day is being observed on July 14, 2015

Dear All

Malala Day is observed  every year on 14 July 2014, is not just a day to celebrate Malala Yousafzai. It is a day for all children everywhere to raise their voices and be heard. It is a day to stand up for education and say to world that we are stronger than the enemies of education and stronger than the forces that threaten girls, boys and women from leading happy and productive lives.

This year Pakhtunkhwa Civil Society Network (PCNS) in collaboration with Khwendo Kor, MEN UNiTE, Tribal NGOs Consortium, and Education Watch KP/FATA have organized a media briefing to celebrate Malala Day to highlight the leading role that youth can play in enabling all children to get an education.

You are cordially invited to this press briefing as following:

Date; July 14, 2015

Venue: Peshawar Press Club

Time:  1 : pm (Sharp)

Regards,

Taimur Kamal (Coordinator)

PCSN

Religious Minorities in FATA need to be empowered

Zar Ali Khan Afridi Chairman Tribal NGOs Consortium welcomes government decision to nominate Maliks from  religious minorities in Khyber Agency-FATA. Reforms in FATA and especially integration of religious minorities is appreciated and a laudable act but at same time we demand of government to work to empower people of FATA and its religious minorities as well who should be considered as equal and empowered citizens. Besides government should also realize women as human beings and as citizens in FATA where there is no concept of women empowerment whether it is politics, parliament, economic and social life and matter. Government should focus on protecting and defending human rights, women rights, children rights and religious minorities rights in FATA by bringing more and more positive, constructive and human friendly reforms and its implementation in letter and spirit. We know throughout history of FATA and role of Maliks has not been positive and they have always tried to keep people backward and gain petty interest. By nominating religious minorities as Lungi Holdres will not help solve the long standing issues confronting people of FATA in general and religious minorities in particular.

Three women arrested under FCR and lactating child seperated

Three women of Khyber Agency-FATA have been arrested by Political Administration who are still in its custody

Police in Peshawar arrested three tribeswomen in Peshawar who belong to Khyber Agency-FATA and handed them over to Political Administration of Khyber Agency-FATA who latter on further handed them over to some one influencial person from Khyber Agency on Superdari like vehicles by Pakistan courts. Women in questions belong to Malik Din Khel Tribe of Afridi of Bara Sub Division-Khyber Agency whose male members are alleged to have committed some unlawful act. The male members were absconder for few days and Peshawar Police instead arrested women and handed them over to Political Administration of Khyber Agency. Latter on male members are said to have been arrested but still women are in custody of Political Administration. One of the women is pregnant while other is lactating mother who feeds her newly born child. Ironically mother and child have been separated forcefully. The child is home while woman is in custody of Political Administration.

Asif Ali Zardari then Pakistan President had amended FCR of 1901 in 2011 which states that children below 16 and women will not be arrested under FCR of 1901. Political Administration in FATA does not abide by amendments and still women and children are arrested and put behind bar which is violation of women and children rights in FATA. Pakistan does not send its FATA human rights violation report in Universal Periodic Review to United Nations.

Tribal NGOs Consortium, Child Rights Movement FATA and National Action and Coordinating Group against Violence against Children (NACG)-FATA strongly condemn this heinous crime against women and children and demand of government to punish responsible officials and officers who committed this crime against women and children.

Regards

Zar Ali khan Afridi

Chairman

Tribal NGOs Consortium

Coordinator

Child Rights Movement-FATA

Coordinator

National Action and Coordinating Group against violence against children-FATA

Contact  :03015963336