Changing minds: Youth Dept, NGOs, varsities to set-up peace network

Network to launch projects to counter violence and extremism.

LAHORE:

The Youth Department, 40 non-government organisations (NGO) and universities will create a peace network that will work to counter violence and extremism.

Umeed Jawan, Bargad and the Punjab Youth Department held a consultative meeting with the 40 NGOs and universities on Wednesday to create a coordination unit to work for the formulation of the peace network. The network will be engaging people between the ages of eight and 35 years.

The purpose of the coordination unit is to help bring together various organisations working for the alleviation of extremism. It will also provide them a platform to exchange ideas regarding the various problems they encounter in the field and possible solutions. Organisations working in the province for the purpose will exchange expertise on projects and help provide a more coherent picture of the efforts they are making.

Talking to The Express Tribune, Rubina Ahmad, who runs an organistion in Islamabad which works towards skill development and peace promotion, said that such a coordination unit would play a very important role in helping organisations throughout the country communicate with each other. “We have always had resources to work with but there has been a lack of coordination,” she said.

Various strategies were discussed during the meeting to provide the youth alternative means of education, awareness and entertainment. The speakers said that youth should be provided vocational training and engaged in socio-cultural activities. “These included an introduction to arts, organising competitions and inter-faith dialogue,” they said.

Suggestions about the structure, functioning, objectives and vision of the peace network were also discussed. The participants also suggested a number of amendments in the agreement and laws governing the working of the network.

Sabiha Shaheen from Bargad told The Express Tribune that a web portal would be set up to help network members exchange material with each other. She was hopeful that the coordination unit would be successful in showcasing the efforts of various organisation.

“The Youth Department has agreed to provide space to the coordination unit at the department to setup a central office. The unit can make use of the infrastructure available with the government to conduct their activities,” she said.

Salma Butt from the Youth Department said that more efforts were needed to counter terrorism. “The project is a good example of public-private partnership,” she said.

She said that the Punjab Citizen Peace Force would be constituted by the Youth Department. “The force will function as a neighborhood watchdog and will be organised at the union council level throughout the Punjab. It will engage professionals from all walks of life, especially the youth giving them orientation workshops to make them more aware and vigilant. The objective of the force is essentially to mobilise young people,” she said.

She said that details about the force would be finalised soon.

Published in The Express Tribune, January 22^nd, 2015.