Speak out: ‘Govt must protect activists from violent social elements’
Civil society activists lament the rise of intolerance in the country.
Women in Struggle for Empowerment Director Bushra Khaliq said Pakistan suffered from intolerance. PHOTO: REUTERS
FAISALABAD:
“Human rights activists face violence in their struggle for peace and truth... many have lost their lives on this mission,” Association of Women for Awareness and Motivation (AWAM) Director Naseem Anthony said at a policy advocacy seminar on the Struggle for Human Rights in a Challenging Environment on Friday. The event was organised in collaboration with the Rights of Expression, Association, Assembly and Thought (REAT) organisation.
Anthony said human rights activists were determined to continue their struggle and the government should provide them security from certain groups with vested interests. “People should celebrate and value diversity for peaceful coexistence and treat members of various communities as equals,” he said.
Women in Struggle for Empowerment Director Bushra Khaliq said Pakistan suffered from intolerance. “Difference of opinions is no longer respected nor tolerated and that is why civil society groups are threatened with dire consequence.” They exercise their right to freedom of expression by highlighting issues faced by marginalised groups and unveil those responsible abusing them, she said.
Activists must develop a cadre of like-minded people and continue to raise a unified voice against human rights violations, democracy and peace, she added.
Mehrgarh Director Maliha Hussain said, “There is social injustice in Pakistan due to discrimination on the basis of ideology, class, ethnicity, faith and caste.
This leads to intolerance and violence in the society and towards people who are different in any way. The process of creating the ‘other’ leads to two groups in which one is the oppressor and the other oppressed.
Peaceful coexistence is not possible unless people celebrate and value diversity. They need to realise that all people are equal and are entitled to dignified life, equal rights and freedoms, she said.
Abdul Khaliq, a human rights activist, said, “School curriculum plays a vital role in the progress or degradation of any nation. Our biased history syllabi develop a mind-set among the youth that promotes discrimination against various sects and religious minority groups.
“The right to freedom of expression is restricted in Pakistan. Civil society groups can talk about some issues to a certain extent, but when they expose the elements behind these issues that are less debated, they are threatened and their voices stifled,” he said.
Published in The Express Tribune, May 31st, 2014.
“Human rights activists face violence in their struggle for peace and truth... many have lost their lives on this mission,” Association of Women for Awareness and Motivation (AWAM) Director Naseem Anthony said at a policy advocacy seminar on the Struggle for Human Rights in a Challenging Environment on Friday. The event was organised in collaboration with the Rights of Expression, Association, Assembly and Thought (REAT) organisation.
Anthony said human rights activists were determined to continue their struggle and the government should provide them security from certain groups with vested interests. “People should celebrate and value diversity for peaceful coexistence and treat members of various communities as equals,” he said.
Women in Struggle for Empowerment Director Bushra Khaliq said Pakistan suffered from intolerance. “Difference of opinions is no longer respected nor tolerated and that is why civil society groups are threatened with dire consequence.” They exercise their right to freedom of expression by highlighting issues faced by marginalised groups and unveil those responsible abusing them, she said.
Activists must develop a cadre of like-minded people and continue to raise a unified voice against human rights violations, democracy and peace, she added.
Mehrgarh Director Maliha Hussain said, “There is social injustice in Pakistan due to discrimination on the basis of ideology, class, ethnicity, faith and caste.
This leads to intolerance and violence in the society and towards people who are different in any way. The process of creating the ‘other’ leads to two groups in which one is the oppressor and the other oppressed.
Peaceful coexistence is not possible unless people celebrate and value diversity. They need to realise that all people are equal and are entitled to dignified life, equal rights and freedoms, she said.
Abdul Khaliq, a human rights activist, said, “School curriculum plays a vital role in the progress or degradation of any nation. Our biased history syllabi develop a mind-set among the youth that promotes discrimination against various sects and religious minority groups.
“The right to freedom of expression is restricted in Pakistan. Civil society groups can talk about some issues to a certain extent, but when they expose the elements behind these issues that are less debated, they are threatened and their voices stifled,” he said.
Published in The Express Tribune, May 31st, 2014.