Pakistan is planning to punish parents who fail to have their children vaccinated as part of an increasingly desperate effort to halt the spread of polio.
The country is one of three – along with Afghanistan and Nigeria – that have failed to eradicate the virus.
Now the government is promising to take a more muscular approach to the problem by making immunisation compulsory, fining parents of children who are not protected and prosecuting religious groups who spread misinformation about vaccines.
Draft legislation, unveiled to coincide with a March vaccination drive, promises fines of more than £700 for parents who fail to comply.
Children could also be barred from school if they do not have an immunisation card.
Last year there were 198 cases of polio in Pakistan's tribal areas where limited health care, insecurity and large populations of refugees make it difficult to administer vaccine.
Pakistan to punish parents who do not have children vaccinated for polio
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Changing mindsets
By: Atle Hetland
When I first came to work in Pakistan over 10 years ago, the NGO and UN crowd, together with the modern English speaking Pakistanis, had already started using the term “mindset”. It became an in-word that we all had to use. It took me a while to get used to it. I have worked in English for over 30 years and I have lived in English speaking lands for nearly as long. Still, my Norwegian mother tongue remains the language I know best, better than the world’s lingua franca of our time.
Mindset, though, is not only about language. It is about ideas, ways of thinking and reasoning. It is about understanding issues. It is about ‘how’ we see the world, and ‘what’ we see of the world, either by choice, convention or for a number of other reasons. In this article, I shall discuss a few aspects concerning the term ‘mindset’ and I shall give some examples of issues that need to be solved if we can only set our mind to doing so, and if we try to understand issues as the really are, and search for new ways to benefit all.
First, it is useful to consider the wider topic of how we learn and adopt specific mindsets, and how we develop our ideas and opinions. And, indeed, how we change - or do not change - our mindset.
In the field of education, we are concerned about learning theories and practices, especially how we learn new things. Today, we are more and more concerned about what we learn, too, since so much of the vast fields of knowledge are so easily retrievable in our time - not only from books and in printed form, but also from the Internet. Our access is limitless, but then our ability to learn, understand and remember is limited. How to learn and what to learn are fields for cognitive psychologists and for specialists in didactics and many other fields.
We have always been concerned about how to learn new things. But we have been less concerned about de-learning, how we can get rid of old and wrong ideas, impractical ways of thinking and doing things, how to correct misunderstandings so that we don’t keep repeating the same mistakes. We have been less concerned about how to be less stubborn and more open-minded and welcoming to alternatives.
In business schools, they talk about innovation. In design and art schools, they talk about creativity. In philosophy, they talk about paradigms and paradigm shifts, and broad trends in ways of thinking and analysing within academic disciplines. If they become even more advanced, they talk about whole cosmologies, and broad sets of ideas to form cultures. And in politics, they talk about change, yes, an everyday word, yet, so complex to realise. “Change - we can believe in,” said Barack Obama in his campaign for President of America three and a half years ago. And people wanted change. Imran Khan, too, knows that and all the other hopefuls preparing for the upcoming elections.
A few weeks ago I read a book about forced child labour, or slavery by its right name, on the cocoa plantations of the Ivory Coast in the West Africa. In Pakistan, there are children working in brick kilns, with similarities to the cocoa plantations. There are children working on the vast land tracts owned by feudal lords. And there are children working as maids and houseboys in homes of wealthy people, where they may be subject to use and abuse. They have no chance of going to school, and at best their parents get some pay at the mercy of the employer. No, it is not right, and we should not accept it, but somehow we do; we rationalise and explain away facts. “It would even be worse for such children to stay in their poor, real homes,” we say. Really!
We seem not to be able to see that it is wrong. Our mind is set in such a way that we ignore much of the reality. We see what we want to see. It is a form of blindness, or deceit, accepted by ourselves and the public. It is a mindset!
Knowledge with moral and ethical values can change our mindset. Public debate is needed. Groups and individuals should take up issues and tell us what is right and wrong. We should pray that we do the right we want to do, not the evil we do not want to do, as advised by Issa. Laws that are there to protect the weak must be enforced. Laws that belong to another time, and prejudiced interpretations must be changed. We must not accept gender-based violence, and not excuse it when it happens - for the sake of the victims as well as the perpetrators. Often, we seem brainwashed to live within unreal mindsets.
The huge socio-economic inequalities that exist in Pakistan cannot be swept under the carpet. The first step to change it is by admitting that such inequalities exist and that they are negative to everyone, also for the minority, say the 20 percent, at the top of society, and indeed so for the majority 80 percent of the people whose efforts run the society. Our mind is set in such a way that we almost believe class differences to be an inevitable “world order”. But it is not! The same goes for violence and war. It is not inevitable and there are peaceful ways of solving disagreements and conflicts - if we set our mind to do so.
Mindsets change, too, luckily - sometimes very fast, but usually after persistent challenging over time. The rulers, the powerful and the opinion leaders have to admit fault. Take, for example, South Africa’s apartheid system, which lasted in an institutionalised form for half a century. It became politically unacceptable, and economically too costly to maintain. But before it happened, even some good people defended it, perhaps against better judgment, or perhaps they belonged to the class and colour that benefited from the system. People were told it was right, and people were told not to challenge authority and hierarchy, which we say is part of any society. Sometimes, it is said that certain orders and ways are given by God. Through it all, people’s mindsets become fixed and kept in a screw. But then, South Africa’s apartheid is now history; America’s racial discrimination, too. Our mindset has changed. Yet, many more structural changes are needed in the aftermath to reduce inequality and differences.
When I grew up in Norway in the 1950s and 60s, reducing regional and class differences were top on the political agenda. Improving women’s situation came a bit later. In a couple of generations, gender equality has come far, evidenced, for example, in the Norwegian government where there is now 50-50 representation of men and women, likewise, in the boards of publicly registered companies. In Pakistan, Afghanistan and other countries in the region, there is need for political debate of gender equality. There is also need for debate about gender equality in the practicing of Islam. Our set minds must be “set free”.
Often, new ideas that lead to new mindsets get impulses from outside. But they can only flourish if they grew roots within a society. Real change can only happen if the concerned members take part and have deciding power. The leaders must facilitate the debate, as it would be expected that they are more knowledgeable, open-minded and tolerant than the masses, often lacking sufficient information, knowledge and examples from elsewhere to inspire change. Only outdated leaders live in closed mindsets, afraid of change, worried about the consequences of opening the windows, fearing what change and broad participation will lead to, and simply not trusting people’s judgment and decisions. But changed mindsets do not change the world - you may say. But I say, it does! It is the basis for further change.
The title of this article, Changing mindsets, can be read as if mindsets are already changing, a passive action that is already happening. It can also be read in an active way: How can we change mindsets? That is what I want. I want us to find ways and strategies to change our closed mindsets. We should all be active in identifying how change can happen, how improvements can be made, for ourselves and for others.
The writer is a senior Norwegian social scientist based in Islamabad. He has served as United Nations specialist in the United States, as well as various countries in Africa and Asia. He has also spent a decade dealing with the Afghan refugee crisis and university education in Pakistan.
Email: atlehetland@yahoo.com
My dream for Pakistan
A couple of months ago I witnessed an elderly man, approximately 70 years old, being violently shoved off the side of the road by a policeman who was clearing the way for a 10-car protocol of a federal minister.
Incidents like these are not rare and it seems as though we have grown accustomed to them. But that doesn’t mean we don’t think they are wrong.
You often hear people arguing about ‘which hidden arm’ is behind specific problems in our country; whether it’s the politicians, RAW, or the army - it’s an endless debate. But in truth, the average Pakistani just wants to feed his hungry children, survive and live a decent life.
Back in 2006, I made a video about Pakistan. It was an amateur production but it left me wanting to remake it from a better perspective. Recently, a group of Pakistani students studying in England approached me to make a short film that was relevant to March 23 for an event that they were organising.
The country’s descent into darkness and hopelessness were my drive to make this video; I wanted to try and incite a yearning amongst people not to lose hope. The idea was to make a video that reached out to people who are sick and tired of the constant struggle and help them dream of a better tomorrow.
I explained this concept to my uber-talented friend Ali Mudar and he penned the script. Another friend, Hammad Hanfi, was kind enough to be boom operator for the first two days of shooting; on the third day, my cook, Qadeer, took responsibility for this coveted job.
The video has many different people in it. I tried to portray a cross-section of society. A few people were complete strangers, including a dhaaba owner and a couple of people who visit the dhaaba on a daily basis. Others in the video are people I have worked with in short films and plays before. One lady runs a preschool; another is a classical dancer and political activist.
I tried to keep it as diverse as possible, so it really sucks when people comment saying I’ve just put a bunch of rich kids in front of the camera!
I want this video going viral in the hope that every Pakistani can be inspired to do anything to make the dream of a happy, prosperous Pakistan a reality.
Child labour in our culture
Karar Ali
There is a need for eliminating child labor in Pakistan. Child labor and child trafficking negatively affect human capital development and the overall national development agenda. When children do not go to school they are denied the knowledge and skills needed for national development. Educating children, rather than forcing them to work, could yield enormous economic benefits for developing nations, through increased productivity and human capital. Benefits of education however large, may not be enough to convince poverty struck families to stop sending children to work as the concern over household survival outweighs that of children’s future earnings, therefore this is the problem that Pakistan faces today.
Child labor in Pakistan is perhaps most rampant in a north-western province called Sialkot, near the border with Kashmir, which is an important production centre for exports goods such as sporting goods. Thousands of Pakistani children, many under the age of 10, get less than 10p an hour stitching soccer balls for export around the world. About three-quarters of all the high-quality footballs used in international competitions are made here where child labour is perhaps the most rampant (In 1994, it pumped the equivalent of $385 million into the Pakistan economy).
I think we need to educate our people and and also has to repair our damage culture. Children are not the labour material they are for love and its their right to get proper education and care from everyone. No one will support child labour and use them as an instrument or tool to achieve negative goals.
—Karachi
Child nutrition: ‘62.5 per cent Pakistani children are anaemic’
LAHORE:
“The state of child nutrition in Pakistan is alarming,” Prof Shakila Zaman of Children’s Hospital said on Monday.
She was addressing a four-day training workshop on In-patient Management of Severe Acute Malnutrition with Medical Complications.
The four-day workshop was organised by the World Health Organisation to train the staff at the newly established stabilisation centre at the hospital. The centre has been set up to treat severe malnutrition.
Prof Zaman shared findings of the National Nutrition Survey 2011 that studied children under five years of age.
She said that 43.6 per cent of the children in Pakistan were stunted (underdeveloped), 15.1 per cent wasted (lacking energy), and 31.5 per cent underweight.
She further said that 32.7 per cent of the children suffered from an iron deficiency, 30.3 per cent from a vitamin-A and 40 per cent from a zinc deficiency.
“More shockingly, 62.5 per cent children are anaemic,” she said.
Prof Zaman said that the newly created stabilisation centre will help treat children and mothers with severe malnutrition.
The training was arranged jointly by the World Health Organisation, the United Nations International Children Education Fund and the Health Department.
The session was presided over by Children’s Hospital dean Faisal Tahir.
Dr Babar Alam, the WHO operations officer said that seven stabilisation centres were already functional in the Punjab, including two in Lahore. The new centre will start working from April 1.
Seven WHO facilitators trained 24 doctors and nurses on community mobilisation, supplementary feeding, out-patient’s therapeutic programme and functioning of the stabilisation centre’s essential components.
Published in The Express Tribune, March 27th, 2012.
New hope for SH Children
Islamabad—The lives of the children, attending an Art Therapy Workshop here at Sport Complex on Sunday afternoon, may not be as gleaming as the colours of their drawings, but the workshop did help the children to see a new ray of hope for future.
Some 3000 orphaned kids of Pakistan Sweet Homes, mostly the flood affected and internally displaced children attended the four-day art workshop aimed at countering negative influences in their lives, and to broaden their cultural interests and understanding.
Universal Women Children Art Therapy Association (UWCATA), and Pakistan Sweet Home, a charity project of Pakistan Baitul Mal arranged the Art Therapy Workshop. UWCATA had been organizing therapy workshops for the flood and war-affected children, traumatized, sexually harassed, internally displaced and special children for the last three years.
The types of workshop include art therapy, dialogue therapy, music therapy, performing art, creative writing and sharing therapy.
Ms. Samina Jamshed conducted the therapeutic art practices with orphan Boys of Pakistan Sweet Homes, who were offered a chance to show their artistic skills by employing crayons and colored papers.
The artworks of the children would then be put on display at an art gallery and “the money generated from the exhibition will go back to these orphan children” told Ms. Jamshed.
Interestingly enough, the art workshop organizers, aiming to fulfill one wish of each children, also compiled a wish list of the which would be fulfilled within next one month.
CALL FOR ENTRIES
Now in its 29th year, the CICFF is the oldest and largest children's film festival in the U.S. It's also one of the world's only Academy Award qualifying children's film festivals. Two films that screened at last year's Festival were nominated for the Academy's best animated short film award - and one of those two won the Oscar. (The Fantastic Flying Books of Mr. Morris Lessmore).
In 2011, 236 films from over 40 countries were screened for approximately 25,000 children, parents, and teachers, plus 100 filmmakers. The Festival includes participatory programs for children as well as professional development opportunities for filmmakers and attendees. Films are presented at multiple venues throughout the Chicago area. The Festival is adjudicated by two juries: an adult jury and a children's jury.
The CICFF has earned an international reputation for presenting the very best in children's media from around the world. The festival advocates inspired, innovative programming for kids. We are seeking humanistic, culturally diverse, and compelling films that reveal the world in new ways and leave room for the child's own imaginative response.
Deadline for $20 discount: May 1, 2012
Final Deadline: May 31, 2012
Click here for Entry Form and Regulations
The largest festival of films for children in North America!
- CICFF Award Categories include: Feature, Short, Animation, Live-action, Documentary, TV production, Young Filmmakers (Ages 6-14, Ages 14-18)
- CICFF Prizes Include: Montgomery Award for Best Emerging Director ($2500); Montgomery Award for Best Child-Produced Film ($2500).
WHO chief to visit Pakistan to address poor performance over polio
Two in every three children paralysed by the polio virus in the world belonged to Pakistan, a source from WHO Pakistan maintained. “Despite decades of efforts to eradicate the virus in the country, this year alone 12 children have been paralysed which shows that much more needs to be done”, he stressed.
Replying to a question regarding the alarming rate of child mortality owing to insufficient immunisation in the country, the official said the WHO was placing routine immunisation on the main agenda for the RD’s visit to the country.
Dr Ala Alwan has replaced the longest serving RD for the Eastern Mediterranean Region (EMRO) Dr Hussian A Gezairy, who had served the organisation for over three decades. “He has chosen Pakistan for his first trip due to its critical importance with regards to polio eradication, other emergencies and health issues,” the source in WHO Pakistan, said.
“It will be interesting to know what reasons are shared for the country’s poor performance with regards to the implementation of the National Emergency Action Plan on Polio”. Dr Alwan will arrive in Karachi for a three-day visit starting from the 19th of March and leave on the 22nd from Islamabad.
'Education emergency' threatening Pakistan's future: British HC
He acknowledged that although the current situation is 'disastrous', there has been some progress.
But, he added, this progress is not yet fast enough.
In his speech the High Commissioner highlighted: The global average primary school enrolment is 87%, Pakistan's is 56% 17 million primary school age children, equivalent to the entire population of Karachi, are out of school in PakistanUK aid from the Department for International Development will help support four million children into school, train 90,000 teachers, fund six million textbook sets and rebuild schools in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa destroyed by militants or floods.
The UK is already working with Pakistan to assist in this necessary transformation in Pakistan's education, the High Commissioner said, arguing that the UK has more to offer Pakistan on education than any other country in the world.At the end of the speech, Adam Thomson cited Qaid-e-Azam Mohammad Ali Jinnah's strong personal conviction that "education is a matter of life and death for Pakistan." Adam Thomson said: "The economic cost of not educating Pakistan's children is the same as suffering a 2010 flood every single year.
This is an education emergency.
No country can follow the path to a happy future if it cannot read the road signs.
Children are a country's future.
Pakistan is failing its future.""It's disastrous for the economic and physical health of the country and it's systemic.
It's on a scale only soluble by Pakistan's provincial and federal Governments." Arguing that an education transformation is possible, he said: "In a province in Brazil, the literacy rate among eight year olds jumped from 49 % to 73% just three years after a reform programme was launched.
Pakistan could expect to start seeing the results within two years."Imagine lifting primary school enrolment across Pakistan to the world average of 87% within 5 years.
It is entirely possible.
Imagine the social and political partnerships that would have accomplished this - between media, civil society, the private sector and politicians, with parents mobilised to demand, and political leaders galvanised to deliver, better education for children."Imagine then how good the nation would feel about its achievement and how much it would want to complete the easier rest of the journey to 100%.
All it needs is leadership." Highlighting the strong links between Pakistan and the UK on education, he said: "The UK and Pakistan are linked by history, language and educational testing.
More Pakistanis still take English exams than any other nationality outside a formal government education sector."We are connected.
We cannot flourish if you do not flourish.
You cannot flourish if your population is uneducated.
This is why UK will support four million children in school and is set to provide £ 650 million, equivalent to almost Rs 100 billion, over four years for primary and secondary education in Pakistan."
COMMENT: Pakistani peacekeepers —Hina Hafeezullah Ishaq
Pakistan has been a member of the UN since 1947 and has been actively involved in its peacekeeping missions in various conflict-torn countries. We are at the top of the list with our largest number of troop and observer deployments
Pakistanis have made international headlines yet again for the wrong reasons. According to Reuters, “Two UN peacekeepers from Pakistan have been sentenced to a year in prison for raping a 14-year-old Haitian boy after being convicted in a Pakistani military trial in Haiti, authorities said on Monday.” According to reports, “UN spokeswoman Sylvie Van Den Wildenberg said judges from a Pakistani military tribunal came to the impoverished Caribbean nation to hold the trial that resulted in the conviction last week of the peacekeepers. They were found guilty of the rape of a boy in the northern city of Gonaives on January 20.” The soldiers were sentenced to one year rigorous imprisonment in Pakistan.
Pakistan has been a member of the UN since 1947 and has been actively involved in its peacekeeping missions in various conflict-torn countries. We are at the top of the list with our largest number of troop and observer deployment. Pakistan’s army has been a part of the UN mission in Haiti since 1995 and provided one infantry battalion that made tremendous contributions to the conflict-ridden area. Mr Enerique ter Horst, UN Secretary General’s Special Representative in Haiti, while appreciating the services of Pakistani troops said, “Since the arrival of Pakistan Battalion in Haiti the UN has realized that Pakistan Army is not only a formidable fighting force but peace keepers and peace builders in the best sense of the word. The way in which they have participated in the reconstruction and humanitarian assistance programmes beyond the call of duty to ensue stable environment, makes me confident that UN shall very soon attain the objectives of its mission in Haiti.”
The recent conviction of the Pakistani soldiers prompted me to check the website of the UN Stabilisation Mission in Haiti (MINUSTAH), which revealed that no military personnel were part of this mission; however, Pakistan’s police personnel are deployed there. Hence, I think it might be safe to infer that the persons convicted in fact belong to our police service.
The next question that the ordinary man would be asking is if those convicted were civilians and not military then how come they were tried and sentenced by a Pakistani military tribunal?
The UN peacekeeping troops are granted jurisdictional immunity from criminal prosecution as the result of a Status of Forces Agreement (SOFA) executed between the UN and the Haitian government. There have been many allegations of human rights violations and sexual abuse committed by the MINUSTAH troops. Last year Uruguayan troops landed in hot water after a video appeared on the internet showing them gang-raping a Haitian boy; the Uruguayan government undertook to prosecute the accused in their own homeland.
The Pakistan Army Act 1952 (PAA) is applicable to our forces deployed on UN peacekeeping missions. Section 2(c) reads “persons not otherwise subject to this Act, who, on active service, in camp, on the march, or at any frontier post specified by the Central Government by notification in this regard, are employed: by, or are in the service of or are followers of, or accompany any portion of the Pakistan Army”, will be subject to the said Act “until duly retired, released, discharged, removed or dismissed from the service.”
Section 41(c) reads any person subject to this Act “is guilty of any disgraceful conduct of a cruel indecent or unnatural kind shall, on conviction by Court martial, be punished with rigorous imprisonment for a term which may extend to ten years or with such less punishment as is in this Act mentioned.”
Section 59 states “any person subject to this Act who at any place in or beyond Pakistan commits any civil offence shall be deemed to be guilty of an offence against this Act and, if charged therewith under this section, shall be liable to be tried by Court martial”. The offence committed by the Pakistani peacekeepers would be covered by the term ‘civil offence’ used in this section and since it was committed while they were in active service in Haiti and it otherwise was an offence as described in the Army Act, it fell within the jurisdiction of the military courts
The Pakistan Penal Code (PPC) does not recognize ‘rape’ as an offence when committed against a male; the definition of rape pertains exclusively to a ‘woman’. However section 377 of the PPC relates to “unnatural offences” and states: “Whoever voluntarily has carnal intercourse against the order of nature with any man, woman or animal, shall be punished with imprisonment for life, or with imprisonment of either description for a term which shall not be less than two years nor more than ten years, and shall also be liable to fine.”
Unlike section 376 PPC, which provides death or life imprisonment as a mandatory punishment in cases of gang rape, which means “two or more persons” jointly commit rape, there is no provided punishment for acts of “unnatural offences” if committed by a gang or against minors.
The punishment awarded in this case has eluded me. If reports are to be believed only one year rigorous imprisonment was given to the two peacekeepers; the tribunal was empowered to award punishment extending to ten years if a field general court martial had taken place. However, it appears that in order to appease the outrage immediately, a summary court martial took place that could only award imprisonment extending to one year.
Pakistan is a signatory to the UN’s Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC) and to the United Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR). Whilst Pakistan has done precious little to safeguard its own children, one being the lack of adequate and effective child protection laws in place, it is shameful to see members of our forces committing atrocities against the very persons they are deployed to protect, and that too against minors and while representing our nation on none other than on a UN peacekeeping assignment.
It is commendable that whilst Uruguay opted to prosecute its personnel at home, Pakistan’s military tribunal tried the accused in Haiti; this is the first time that members of a UN peacekeeping mission have been prosecuted within the borders of Haiti. The Haitian Justice Minister, Michael Brunchae has termed the verdict a “small” step in the right direction, and added, “We expected more from the UN and the Pakistani government, but now we want to focus on the proper reparation that the victim deserves.” Pakistan has since called back its forces and there is fear that it will be blacklisted by the UN.
Pakistan has offered to compensate the victim, according to reports. Although I have never understood the concept of ‘compensation’ in regard to the indignity suffered, not to mention the despicable violation of one’s body and the trauma that the survivors of such heinous offences have to live with all their lives, I guess every ‘small’ step counts. How Pakistan intends to compensate itself for loss of its own image and tarnishing of all previous efforts of extending humanitarian assistance “beyond the call of duty” is what plagues me. The Pakistani peacekeepers who have been summarily tried and convicted should have had a full court martial and sentenced to the maximum punishment instead of the token one year. We owe it to ourselves and that little boy to restore our dignity and to lessen his sense of indignity by awarding exemplary punishment, so no Pakistani peacekeeper dares violate the very rights he has been entrusted to uphold.
The writer is an advocate of the high court
Pakistanis have made international headlines yet again for the wrong reasons. According to Reuters, “Two UN peacekeepers from Pakistan have been sentenced to a year in prison for raping a 14-year-old Haitian boy after being convicted in a Pakistani military trial in Haiti, authorities said on Monday.” According to reports, “UN spokeswoman Sylvie Van Den Wildenberg said judges from a Pakistani military tribunal came to the impoverished Caribbean nation to hold the trial that resulted in the conviction last week of the peacekeepers. They were found guilty of the rape of a boy in the northern city of Gonaives on January 20.” The soldiers were sentenced to one year rigorous imprisonment in Pakistan.
Pakistan has been a member of the UN since 1947 and has been actively involved in its peacekeeping missions in various conflict-torn countries. We are at the top of the list with our largest number of troop and observer deployment. Pakistan’s army has been a part of the UN mission in Haiti since 1995 and provided one infantry battalion that made tremendous contributions to the conflict-ridden area. Mr Enerique ter Horst, UN Secretary General’s Special Representative in Haiti, while appreciating the services of Pakistani troops said, “Since the arrival of Pakistan Battalion in Haiti the UN has realized that Pakistan Army is not only a formidable fighting force but peace keepers and peace builders in the best sense of the word. The way in which they have participated in the reconstruction and humanitarian assistance programmes beyond the call of duty to ensue stable environment, makes me confident that UN shall very soon attain the objectives of its mission in Haiti.”
The recent conviction of the Pakistani soldiers prompted me to check the website of the UN Stabilisation Mission in Haiti (MINUSTAH), which revealed that no military personnel were part of this mission; however, Pakistan’s police personnel are deployed there. Hence, I think it might be safe to infer that the persons convicted in fact belong to our police service.
The next question that the ordinary man would be asking is if those convicted were civilians and not military then how come they were tried and sentenced by a Pakistani military tribunal?
The UN peacekeeping troops are granted jurisdictional immunity from criminal prosecution as the result of a Status of Forces Agreement (SOFA) executed between the UN and the Haitian government. There have been many allegations of human rights violations and sexual abuse committed by the MINUSTAH troops. Last year Uruguayan troops landed in hot water after a video appeared on the internet showing them gang-raping a Haitian boy; the Uruguayan government undertook to prosecute the accused in their own homeland.
The Pakistan Army Act 1952 (PAA) is applicable to our forces deployed on UN peacekeeping missions. Section 2(c) reads “persons not otherwise subject to this Act, who, on active service, in camp, on the march, or at any frontier post specified by the Central Government by notification in this regard, are employed: by, or are in the service of or are followers of, or accompany any portion of the Pakistan Army”, will be subject to the said Act “until duly retired, released, discharged, removed or dismissed from the service.”
Section 41(c) reads any person subject to this Act “is guilty of any disgraceful conduct of a cruel indecent or unnatural kind shall, on conviction by Court martial, be punished with rigorous imprisonment for a term which may extend to ten years or with such less punishment as is in this Act mentioned.”
Section 59 states “any person subject to this Act who at any place in or beyond Pakistan commits any civil offence shall be deemed to be guilty of an offence against this Act and, if charged therewith under this section, shall be liable to be tried by Court martial”. The offence committed by the Pakistani peacekeepers would be covered by the term ‘civil offence’ used in this section and since it was committed while they were in active service in Haiti and it otherwise was an offence as described in the Army Act, it fell within the jurisdiction of the military courts
The Pakistan Penal Code (PPC) does not recognize ‘rape’ as an offence when committed against a male; the definition of rape pertains exclusively to a ‘woman’. However section 377 of the PPC relates to “unnatural offences” and states: “Whoever voluntarily has carnal intercourse against the order of nature with any man, woman or animal, shall be punished with imprisonment for life, or with imprisonment of either description for a term which shall not be less than two years nor more than ten years, and shall also be liable to fine.”
Unlike section 376 PPC, which provides death or life imprisonment as a mandatory punishment in cases of gang rape, which means “two or more persons” jointly commit rape, there is no provided punishment for acts of “unnatural offences” if committed by a gang or against minors.
The punishment awarded in this case has eluded me. If reports are to be believed only one year rigorous imprisonment was given to the two peacekeepers; the tribunal was empowered to award punishment extending to ten years if a field general court martial had taken place. However, it appears that in order to appease the outrage immediately, a summary court martial took place that could only award imprisonment extending to one year.
Pakistan is a signatory to the UN’s Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC) and to the United Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR). Whilst Pakistan has done precious little to safeguard its own children, one being the lack of adequate and effective child protection laws in place, it is shameful to see members of our forces committing atrocities against the very persons they are deployed to protect, and that too against minors and while representing our nation on none other than on a UN peacekeeping assignment.
It is commendable that whilst Uruguay opted to prosecute its personnel at home, Pakistan’s military tribunal tried the accused in Haiti; this is the first time that members of a UN peacekeeping mission have been prosecuted within the borders of Haiti. The Haitian Justice Minister, Michael Brunchae has termed the verdict a “small” step in the right direction, and added, “We expected more from the UN and the Pakistani government, but now we want to focus on the proper reparation that the victim deserves.” Pakistan has since called back its forces and there is fear that it will be blacklisted by the UN.
Pakistan has offered to compensate the victim, according to reports. Although I have never understood the concept of ‘compensation’ in regard to the indignity suffered, not to mention the despicable violation of one’s body and the trauma that the survivors of such heinous offences have to live with all their lives, I guess every ‘small’ step counts. How Pakistan intends to compensate itself for loss of its own image and tarnishing of all previous efforts of extending humanitarian assistance “beyond the call of duty” is what plagues me. The Pakistani peacekeepers who have been summarily tried and convicted should have had a full court martial and sentenced to the maximum punishment instead of the token one year. We owe it to ourselves and that little boy to restore our dignity and to lessen his sense of indignity by awarding exemplary punishment, so no Pakistani peacekeeper dares violate the very rights he has been entrusted to uphold.
The writer is an advocate of the high court
I am ready to work in Pakistan: Shohreh Aghdashloo
Iranian born theater, TV and film actress, Shohreh Aghdashloo moved to the US after the 1979 Iranian Revolution. While in Iran, Aghdashloo worked in Iranian movies and plays.
After moving to the US, she performed in The Nativity Story, The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants 2, House of Sand and Fog, House of Saddam, American Dreamz, 24, Grey’s Anatomy, The Lake House, Will and Grace, X-men, The Last Stand and The Stoning of Soraya M. She resides both in US and UK.
Now, Aghdashloo is in London and performing leading role in the theatre play, House of Bernarda Alba by Federico García Lorca.
Aghdashloo also used her gifted voice for the narration in movies and documentaries such as Iranium, Mystic Iran: The Unseen World, and also voiced Admiral Shala Raan in a video game, Mass Effect 2.
She was nominated for the Oscar Award for the best supporting actress in the movie “House of Sand and Fog” and won an Emmy Award for her role as a wife of Saddam Hussain in HBO-BBC mini TV serial, “The House of Saddam.”
Recently she was approached by Dawn.com and spoke on the phone from London about her life, work and future projects.
Stoning of Soraya M:
Aghdashloo played a leading role in 2008 US drama movie, based on a true story, adopted from a French-Iranian Journalist Freidoune Sahebjam’s best seller novel, entitled “The Stoning of Soraya M.”
The movie directed by Cyrus Nowrasteh tells the story of an incident that took place in the remote village of Iran where a man, Ali wanted separation from his wife Soraya Manutchehri . He reached the village’s cleric and falsely charged his wife of adultery with another person from the village. Ali and the cleric both devised a conspiracy to trap Soraya, which eventually led to her being stoned to death in 1986.
Aghdashloo played the role of Zahra, the brave and outspoken aunt of Soraya who struggled a lot to save Soraya’s life and then narrated the entire story to the journalist after the stoning.
The movie made a huge impact on viewers worldwide and was appreciated with many awards and distinctions.
Dawn.com: Your performance in “Stoning of Soraya M” was very much appreciated and the viewers remember Zahra more than the main character Soraya, what is your opinion?
SA: It is still one of my best films ever. You are right, people paid more attention to Zahra’s character. I am so happy that the film already saved one life and that is Sakineh Mohammadi Ashtiani.
When the film came out, my best friends said that they had no idea that this (stoning) was still happening nowadays. They called it a Biblical story. I said no, it has been happening in Iran and other countries too and a couple of times the incidents have also been reported throughout the world by international human rights association.
As a famous playwright said,“Art is not a mirror held up to reality but a hammer with which to shape it.”
This film hammers reality and I am so honoured and happy that we had the opportunity to make this film, as it was not an easy job to do.
The producer, Stephen McEveety and John Shepherd now have their own producing company called “M-Power” – M for mother. The revenue of the film or from the play will go to the company for charity.
McEveety made the movie “Passion of Christ” before and he is familiar with human misery and pain. Both of them set a fund of five million US dollars. I am also with them and with the mission for the rest of my life.
Dawn.com: It is definitely not possible to shoot the film in Iran, where was it filmed?
SA: Stoning of Soraya M was actually filmed in Jordan. The village is called “Dana” which means wise.
The people were ever so kind to us. The village was very similar to the village of Kupayeh in Iran (where Soraya was actually stoned in 1986 after being falsely accused).
The village was a one-and-a-half hour drive from the historical site of Petra in Jordan. Dana is a beautiful place where people from US and Europe visit every year. Every morning we traveled from Petra to Dana for the shooting. The exterior of the movie was filmed in Dana and the interior filmed in Jordan.
Dawn.com: Do you know anything about the children, especially about the daughters of Soraya?
SA: I am afraid; I have no idea about Soraya’s children and what happened after. Because when she was stoned, Ali, her husband took the sons to a nearby city and a couple of years later when Zahra died of old age, the girls were married to people who lived in the city and finally left the village.
One year after the movie, news about Sakina Ashtiani’s case spread on the internet since the westerners had become familiar with the case through the movie. Everybody stood for her life including French President’s Sarkozy’s wife, Berlusconi in Italy, US President Obama and many other people of the world urged for her freedom.
Sakina’s children decided to come out and share the case with the world and saved their mother’s life. I was hoping Soraya’s children would also do the same but so far, I haven’t heard anything from them.
Dawn.com: Can you tell us something about your new film?
SA: I do pick my projects very meticulously. I want my projects to be meaningful. I also like making entertaining films which are either eye-openers or do some good for humanity.
I have made a movie which has not been released yet, called “The Odd life of Timothy Green”. It is a Disney movie, directed by Peter Hedges and the actors are Jennifer Garner and Joel Edgerton. The movie is about a young couple who cannot have children. I played the role of a social worker who helps them adopt a child.
It’s my first comedy film for which I am so thankful to the producers. I noticed that they were laughing at my performance after the shoot in the next room. They said to me, “My God! Woman you are a great comedy actress.”
“Unfortunately you don’t trust me and only give me tragedies,” I had replied.
Dawn.com:What assignments are you are currently working on?
SA: I am working on the role of Bernada Alba in the “House of Bernarda Alba” by Federico García Lorca. Again it is a tragedy role in the theatre. I love Lorca because Lorca is all about poetry, madness and love.
Dawn.com: You are the first Middle Eastern woman who has been nominated for the Oscar and won the Emmy Award. Do you think you truly represent the Middle Eastern woman?
SA: I do fairly represent Middle Eastern women. I was honoured when my name was called for the Emmy Award. While I was going up to the stage, I told myself; woman, you are carrying millions of Middle Eastern women with you, so stay upright and go to receive the award on behalf of all the millions who haven’t had the chance to cross cultures yet.
Dawn.com: What do Iranian people think about you?
SA: I proud to say that most of the Iranians love me and love my work. I love them and I always have them in my mind when I work.
There are few people who do not agree with me but truly I don’t care. I call myself an actress with a mission. The mission is to educate not only my people but the world. Obviously there are many people who do not agree with me.
Dawn.com: The movies “24” and “Stoning of Soraya M” are movies which depict the misuse of Islam by the powerful people. Are you interested in raising your voice for the injustices against Muslims? I mean for example, the issue of depleted Uranium on Iraqi children or on the plight of Palestinians?
SA: I would love to raise my voice for all the movements on behalf of Palestinians. Nobody has ever given me a chance. Believe me, I will do it.
I was born in a Muslim family – a pious family not a fanatic one. Islam is a religion of love, humanity and understanding. Islam is one of the few religions which believes in other religions too. All that I have learnt from Islam is to be nice to people and your neighbours. People who torture and imprison women are not Muslims in my view. I call them the enemies of Islam.
When it comes to “24”, I am afraid I did not agree with you. I created a woman from scratch and she does not belong to a stereotype. The producers never showed the origin and country of the character.
Dawn.com: In your opinion what is the future of Iranian movies?
SA: They (Iranian directors) are doing great and thriving. I am so proud of the film makers because I know what they go through to make the films especially from the private sector; not those who made propaganda movies for the state.
I love the movies “Children of Heavens”, “White Balloon” and “A Separation” – all made by Iranians.
Dawn.com: Hollywood raised a campaign in favour of Jaffar Panahi – do you have any updates about him?
SA: Jafar is a great film director. He is an international film director. Nowadays boundaries are fading and the world has really turned into a village.
Of course we are still identified as Iranian, Pakistani, English or American – but more so because we are born in those states, not because of our mentality or point of view.
It is a pity that such a great filmmaker has been banned from making films just because he made a film that was apparently offensive for a few people with a closed mind.
You know unfortunately, closed minded people are now ruling Iran. People like Jafar Panahi have great talent yet he is forced to stay at home.
I feel so sorry about the situation and I hope he will be able to make another film soon. He is now under house arrest.
Dawn.com: What is your opinion on Pakistani people?
SA: I love Pakistani people. Find me a project in Pakistan and I will come. If you can find me a project, I would like to do a one-man show in Pakistan.
In 2000, during a summit in New York, I was hired by a Pakistani TV channel to interview General Musharraf and other leaders. I had an amazing experience doing that.
After moving to the US, she performed in The Nativity Story, The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants 2, House of Sand and Fog, House of Saddam, American Dreamz, 24, Grey’s Anatomy, The Lake House, Will and Grace, X-men, The Last Stand and The Stoning of Soraya M. She resides both in US and UK.
Now, Aghdashloo is in London and performing leading role in the theatre play, House of Bernarda Alba by Federico García Lorca.
Aghdashloo also used her gifted voice for the narration in movies and documentaries such as Iranium, Mystic Iran: The Unseen World, and also voiced Admiral Shala Raan in a video game, Mass Effect 2.
She was nominated for the Oscar Award for the best supporting actress in the movie “House of Sand and Fog” and won an Emmy Award for her role as a wife of Saddam Hussain in HBO-BBC mini TV serial, “The House of Saddam.”
Recently she was approached by Dawn.com and spoke on the phone from London about her life, work and future projects.
Stoning of Soraya M:
Aghdashloo played a leading role in 2008 US drama movie, based on a true story, adopted from a French-Iranian Journalist Freidoune Sahebjam’s best seller novel, entitled “The Stoning of Soraya M.”
The movie directed by Cyrus Nowrasteh tells the story of an incident that took place in the remote village of Iran where a man, Ali wanted separation from his wife Soraya Manutchehri . He reached the village’s cleric and falsely charged his wife of adultery with another person from the village. Ali and the cleric both devised a conspiracy to trap Soraya, which eventually led to her being stoned to death in 1986.
Aghdashloo played the role of Zahra, the brave and outspoken aunt of Soraya who struggled a lot to save Soraya’s life and then narrated the entire story to the journalist after the stoning.
The movie made a huge impact on viewers worldwide and was appreciated with many awards and distinctions.
Dawn.com: Your performance in “Stoning of Soraya M” was very much appreciated and the viewers remember Zahra more than the main character Soraya, what is your opinion?
SA: It is still one of my best films ever. You are right, people paid more attention to Zahra’s character. I am so happy that the film already saved one life and that is Sakineh Mohammadi Ashtiani.
When the film came out, my best friends said that they had no idea that this (stoning) was still happening nowadays. They called it a Biblical story. I said no, it has been happening in Iran and other countries too and a couple of times the incidents have also been reported throughout the world by international human rights association.
As a famous playwright said,“Art is not a mirror held up to reality but a hammer with which to shape it.”
This film hammers reality and I am so honoured and happy that we had the opportunity to make this film, as it was not an easy job to do.
The producer, Stephen McEveety and John Shepherd now have their own producing company called “M-Power” – M for mother. The revenue of the film or from the play will go to the company for charity.
McEveety made the movie “Passion of Christ” before and he is familiar with human misery and pain. Both of them set a fund of five million US dollars. I am also with them and with the mission for the rest of my life.
Dawn.com: It is definitely not possible to shoot the film in Iran, where was it filmed?
SA: Stoning of Soraya M was actually filmed in Jordan. The village is called “Dana” which means wise.
The people were ever so kind to us. The village was very similar to the village of Kupayeh in Iran (where Soraya was actually stoned in 1986 after being falsely accused).
The village was a one-and-a-half hour drive from the historical site of Petra in Jordan. Dana is a beautiful place where people from US and Europe visit every year. Every morning we traveled from Petra to Dana for the shooting. The exterior of the movie was filmed in Dana and the interior filmed in Jordan.
Dawn.com: Do you know anything about the children, especially about the daughters of Soraya?
SA: I am afraid; I have no idea about Soraya’s children and what happened after. Because when she was stoned, Ali, her husband took the sons to a nearby city and a couple of years later when Zahra died of old age, the girls were married to people who lived in the city and finally left the village.
One year after the movie, news about Sakina Ashtiani’s case spread on the internet since the westerners had become familiar with the case through the movie. Everybody stood for her life including French President’s Sarkozy’s wife, Berlusconi in Italy, US President Obama and many other people of the world urged for her freedom.
Sakina’s children decided to come out and share the case with the world and saved their mother’s life. I was hoping Soraya’s children would also do the same but so far, I haven’t heard anything from them.
Dawn.com: Can you tell us something about your new film?
SA: I do pick my projects very meticulously. I want my projects to be meaningful. I also like making entertaining films which are either eye-openers or do some good for humanity.
I have made a movie which has not been released yet, called “The Odd life of Timothy Green”. It is a Disney movie, directed by Peter Hedges and the actors are Jennifer Garner and Joel Edgerton. The movie is about a young couple who cannot have children. I played the role of a social worker who helps them adopt a child.
It’s my first comedy film for which I am so thankful to the producers. I noticed that they were laughing at my performance after the shoot in the next room. They said to me, “My God! Woman you are a great comedy actress.”
“Unfortunately you don’t trust me and only give me tragedies,” I had replied.
Dawn.com:What assignments are you are currently working on?
SA: I am working on the role of Bernada Alba in the “House of Bernarda Alba” by Federico García Lorca. Again it is a tragedy role in the theatre. I love Lorca because Lorca is all about poetry, madness and love.
Dawn.com: You are the first Middle Eastern woman who has been nominated for the Oscar and won the Emmy Award. Do you think you truly represent the Middle Eastern woman?
SA: I do fairly represent Middle Eastern women. I was honoured when my name was called for the Emmy Award. While I was going up to the stage, I told myself; woman, you are carrying millions of Middle Eastern women with you, so stay upright and go to receive the award on behalf of all the millions who haven’t had the chance to cross cultures yet.
Dawn.com: What do Iranian people think about you?
SA: I proud to say that most of the Iranians love me and love my work. I love them and I always have them in my mind when I work.
There are few people who do not agree with me but truly I don’t care. I call myself an actress with a mission. The mission is to educate not only my people but the world. Obviously there are many people who do not agree with me.
Dawn.com: The movies “24” and “Stoning of Soraya M” are movies which depict the misuse of Islam by the powerful people. Are you interested in raising your voice for the injustices against Muslims? I mean for example, the issue of depleted Uranium on Iraqi children or on the plight of Palestinians?
SA: I would love to raise my voice for all the movements on behalf of Palestinians. Nobody has ever given me a chance. Believe me, I will do it.
I was born in a Muslim family – a pious family not a fanatic one. Islam is a religion of love, humanity and understanding. Islam is one of the few religions which believes in other religions too. All that I have learnt from Islam is to be nice to people and your neighbours. People who torture and imprison women are not Muslims in my view. I call them the enemies of Islam.
When it comes to “24”, I am afraid I did not agree with you. I created a woman from scratch and she does not belong to a stereotype. The producers never showed the origin and country of the character.
Dawn.com: In your opinion what is the future of Iranian movies?
SA: They (Iranian directors) are doing great and thriving. I am so proud of the film makers because I know what they go through to make the films especially from the private sector; not those who made propaganda movies for the state.
I love the movies “Children of Heavens”, “White Balloon” and “A Separation” – all made by Iranians.
“I love Pakistani people. Find me a project in Pakistan and I will come,” Aghdashloo. – AP Photo
SA: Jafar is a great film director. He is an international film director. Nowadays boundaries are fading and the world has really turned into a village.
Of course we are still identified as Iranian, Pakistani, English or American – but more so because we are born in those states, not because of our mentality or point of view.
It is a pity that such a great filmmaker has been banned from making films just because he made a film that was apparently offensive for a few people with a closed mind.
You know unfortunately, closed minded people are now ruling Iran. People like Jafar Panahi have great talent yet he is forced to stay at home.
I feel so sorry about the situation and I hope he will be able to make another film soon. He is now under house arrest.
Dawn.com: What is your opinion on Pakistani people?
SA: I love Pakistani people. Find me a project in Pakistan and I will come. If you can find me a project, I would like to do a one-man show in Pakistan.
In 2000, during a summit in New York, I was hired by a Pakistani TV channel to interview General Musharraf and other leaders. I had an amazing experience doing that.
28 centres set up for 3,000 orphans: Zamurd Khan
ISLAMABAD - “A project which took off from seeking donation for an orphan child has now been flourished into a full-fledged phenomenon of Pakistan Sweet Homes where more than 3,000 orphan children are living,” said Managing Director (MD) Pakistan Bait-ul-Mal (PBM), Zamurd Khan in a ceremony at National University of Modern Languages (NUML) on Tuesday.
MD Pakistan Bait-ul-Mal stated this while addressing a ceremony ‘Awareness Campaign for Sports Week of Pakistan Sweet Homes (PSH)’, which is going to be held from 18th March to 25th March 2012 in Sports Complex, Islamabad. He told a big gathering of Deans, Head of Departments, faculty members and students at IT Auditorium of NUML that he was grateful for the generosity of university’s administration and authorities that the moment he spoke about the project of PBM, they offered all out support for further promotion of this sacred cause. He told the audience that under PSH project, orphan children’s hailing from all over the country between ages of 4-6 were enrolled. They are provided with free food, shelter, boarding facility and quality education in the renowned educational intuitions of the area. So far, over 28 PSH have been established all over Pakistan in which almost 3,000 children are spending life of hope, felicitation and respect, he added.
Moreover, MD Bait-ul-Mal, Zamurd Khan said the purpose of this awareness campaign in NUML was to request young students and faculty members to offer their voluntary services to carry forward this sacred mission to new heights. Speaking at the occasion, Director General (DG) Brig Azam Jamal praised the efforts of PBM and said that today around 300 orphan students of NUML were availing the academic sponsorship from PBM and the mission which had been initiated by PBM, we all joined hands with it so that we all could play our role in making those orphan children better and useful citizen of the country. Besides this, a documentary on the project of Pakistan Sweet Homes was shown to the audience and audience was briefed about the achievements and new projects of PBM. Earlier to this, MD PBM Zamurd Khan also met Rector NUML Maj Gen (R) Masood Hasan. The Rector NUML appreciated the efforts and endeavours being carried out by PBM for a noble cause. He told the visiting guest that the way the project of PSH was getting appreciation by generous Pakistanis it spoke volume of the fact that there was no dearth of people who wanted to contribute and donate for welfare of their countrymen.
MD Pakistan Bait-ul-Mal stated this while addressing a ceremony ‘Awareness Campaign for Sports Week of Pakistan Sweet Homes (PSH)’, which is going to be held from 18th March to 25th March 2012 in Sports Complex, Islamabad. He told a big gathering of Deans, Head of Departments, faculty members and students at IT Auditorium of NUML that he was grateful for the generosity of university’s administration and authorities that the moment he spoke about the project of PBM, they offered all out support for further promotion of this sacred cause. He told the audience that under PSH project, orphan children’s hailing from all over the country between ages of 4-6 were enrolled. They are provided with free food, shelter, boarding facility and quality education in the renowned educational intuitions of the area. So far, over 28 PSH have been established all over Pakistan in which almost 3,000 children are spending life of hope, felicitation and respect, he added.
Moreover, MD Bait-ul-Mal, Zamurd Khan said the purpose of this awareness campaign in NUML was to request young students and faculty members to offer their voluntary services to carry forward this sacred mission to new heights. Speaking at the occasion, Director General (DG) Brig Azam Jamal praised the efforts of PBM and said that today around 300 orphan students of NUML were availing the academic sponsorship from PBM and the mission which had been initiated by PBM, we all joined hands with it so that we all could play our role in making those orphan children better and useful citizen of the country. Besides this, a documentary on the project of Pakistan Sweet Homes was shown to the audience and audience was briefed about the achievements and new projects of PBM. Earlier to this, MD PBM Zamurd Khan also met Rector NUML Maj Gen (R) Masood Hasan. The Rector NUML appreciated the efforts and endeavours being carried out by PBM for a noble cause. He told the visiting guest that the way the project of PSH was getting appreciation by generous Pakistanis it spoke volume of the fact that there was no dearth of people who wanted to contribute and donate for welfare of their countrymen.
Dettol and PPA educate 1,000,000 children across Pakistan
KARACHI: Dettol, one of Pakistan’s most trusted brands, today announced its collaboration with the Pakistan Pediatric Association (PPA) and the Infection Control Society of Pakistan (ICSP) to launch its health and hygiene awareness initiative, Mission for Health in across Pakistan. Featuring a robust School Hand-washing Program, as well as Hospital Education for New Mothers, this initiative is aimed at educating 1,000,000 children and new mothers on the simple ways through which they can lead a healthy life & thus make a progressive Pakistan.
This initiative is a further extension of Dettol’s global heritage as the trusted champion of health.
Mr. Tahir Malik, General Manager of Reckitt Benckiser Pakistan, expressed the need to raise health standards in Pakistan by focusing on basic health & hygiene practices.
He highlighted the objective of the initiative undertaken by Dettol and how it would result in doctors educating children in schools as well as new mothers in hospitals.
Mr. Malik’s speech emphasized the importance of regularly washing hands and how it prevents the transmission of germs and diseases. **
Child labour
Pakistan has passed laws greatly limting child labour and indentured servitude but those laws are ignored and millions of children,aged four to fourteen,keep the country’s factory operating,often working in brutal and squalid conditions.The rapid downfall of economy increases the rate of child labor day by day,children who cannot go to schools due to financial problems, they only watch others go to schools and can merely wish to seek knowledge.It is due to many hindrances and difficulties; desperate conditions that they face in life.
Having been forced to kill their aspirations, dreams and are pressed to earn a living for themselves and for their families.the main causes behind child labor are high population growth in poor families,the disguised unemployment in agriculture sector in Rural Areas,low productivity and low prevalence of poverty,unpaid family helpers and inadequate education facilities.In rural areas mostly the children are engaged in agriculture sector(74%) while the urban ones are busy in manufacturing areas.Our government now seriously have to take some action against it because these children are the future of Pakistan.
—Karachi
UNICEF supports children and women displaced by insecurity in north-western Pakistan
JALOZAI CAMP, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Province, Pakistan, 9 March 2012 – Ongoing insecurity in north-western Pakistan has caused thousands to flee their homes. Families are streaming into Jalozai Camp seeking shelter, support and food.
For years, this camp has housed thousands of people displaced from neighbouring Afghanistan. Now, the families arriving here are seeking shelter from unrest caused by security operations against militant insurgents in Khyber Agency, in the Federally Administered Tribal Areas (FATA).
Over 6,600 families have fled the area since January 2012. Some 4,700 families are residing in host communities, and some 1,900 families are living in Jalozai camp. The lives of displaced children have been severely disrupted; many have seen members of their families and communities killed.
“Increasing numbers of civilians are being caught in attacks and crossfire,” said Lucio Melandri, UNICEF Emergency Field Coordinator in Peshawar.
Families arriving in Jalozai Camp bring stories of violence and deprivation. Many have experienced shelling. And with markets closed and movement limited by fighting and curfews, children are at increased risk of malnutrition.
Lubna* is among those uprooted by the operation. She has just arrived with her nine children.
“It was like a rain of bullets,” Lubna said, explaining that she and her neighbours are frequently forced to flee their homes. They have dug bunkers in their houses in case they cannot escape in time. Despite these measures, Lubna’s husband and 14-year-old son were killed by crossfire.
In the camp, Lubna found that all 10 family members would have to share a single tent. Her family decided to risk returning home, taking with them the hygiene items provided by UNICEF, food rations from the World Food Programme (WFP), and other assistance from the UN Refugee Agency (UNHCR). Her youngest daughter also received a dose of polio vaccine.
Kaukab has also just arrived in Jalozai Camp. Her husband was imprisoned years ago, after rumours indicated he was connected to a militant group. Kaukab was left to head her household in a society that prohibits women from engaging in public dealings. Her 12-year-old son, Ahmed, now bears many of his father’s responsibilities.
“I was very scared of the bombardments and shelling,” Ahmed said. Some of his neighbours have died in the operations.
Kaukab travelled to Jalozai Camp to register her family for food assistance. Because her in-laws would not allow her to live in the camp as a single woman, Ahmed was forced to abandon his exam preparations to accompany her.
Years of insecurity have limited access to basic health services in the area, leaving residents here particularly vulnerable to disease. Bara Tehsil in Khyber Agency had 25 cases of polio in 2011, and the mass movement of displaced people now threatens to spread the deadly virus. UNICEF is working with partners to strengthen services in camps, with a particular emphasis on immunization: Teams have been deployed to vaccinate children under age 5 against polio.
UNICEF is also providing hygiene kits to displaced families, including those outside the camps, and is expanding the camp’s existing health care, education, child protection, water and sanitation programmes. Since the start of the year, over 72,000 people in the camps have benefited from safe drinking water and sanitation services, as well as hygiene information and supplies. In addition, WFP is providing food rations, and UNHCR is providing other assistance.
“Through our emergency response activities, UNICEF is striving to assist, protect and promote the rights of children and women who are severely affected by the ongoing violence,” said Mr. Melandri.
The situation remains complex and fluid. Continued support will be required to serve vulnerable families, not only in camps and host communities, but in areas of return as well.
* Names have been changed
With reporting from Lucio Melandri
Government will educate, train special children: CM
LAHORE - Punjab Chief Minister Muhammad Shahbaz Sharif said on Friday that the provincial government will provide education and training to special children. He was addressing a seminar regarding the welfare of special children arranged by the Special Education Department at the Chief Minister’s Secretariat. Sharif said the policy of allocating a two percent quota in government jobs to the disabled will be fully implemented to allow these children to become self-reliant and contribute to national development.
He set up a steering committee for evolving a policy framework for the welfare of special people. He directed the committee to chalk out a roadmap for the betterment of special people and submit its recommendations within two weeks.
Addressing the seminar, the CM said special children can be rehabilitated by providing them proper education in a favorable environment.
He said that Punjab Education Endowment Fund should also provide scholarships and vouchers for free education to the children.
He stated that qualified teachers are also necessary for educating special children and that attention should be paid to training special education teachers.
He directed that a comprehensive survey should also be conducted in the province to collect authentic data on disabled people, which could be used for evolving welfare policies.
The CM said the Special Education Department is providing free education and other facilities to special students in the province.
He also issued directions for the establishment of a state-of-the-art institution in the provincial metropolis for rehabilitation of special children. The Chief Minister added that looking after special children is the collective responsibility of the society.
Sharif said the government, in collaboration with UK’s International Development Department, is providing free education; information technology and vocational skills training to 17,000 South Punjabi youth.
He stated that disabled youth should also be included in that programme as well as the TEVTA and Punjab Vocational Training Council training programmes.
The CM said the organisations working to rehabilitate disabled people should be commended for their role.
Chief Minister Special Assistant Begum Zakiya Shahnawaz, National Assembly Member Pervaiz Malik, Special Education Department Secretary Abdullah Sumbal, Higher Education Department Secretary Dr Ijaz Munir and representatives of NGOs engaged in the rehabilitation of special people also addressed the seminar.
The speakers also presented various recommendations for a comprehensive policy for the rehabilitation of special persons.
They said the concept of inclusive schooling should be promoted in the province as it would provide an opportunity to the special children to study alongside normal children for removing social disparity.
Provincial secretaries, non-governmental organisations’ representatives and social workers were also present at the occasion.
He set up a steering committee for evolving a policy framework for the welfare of special people. He directed the committee to chalk out a roadmap for the betterment of special people and submit its recommendations within two weeks.
Addressing the seminar, the CM said special children can be rehabilitated by providing them proper education in a favorable environment.
He said that Punjab Education Endowment Fund should also provide scholarships and vouchers for free education to the children.
He stated that qualified teachers are also necessary for educating special children and that attention should be paid to training special education teachers.
He directed that a comprehensive survey should also be conducted in the province to collect authentic data on disabled people, which could be used for evolving welfare policies.
The CM said the Special Education Department is providing free education and other facilities to special students in the province.
He also issued directions for the establishment of a state-of-the-art institution in the provincial metropolis for rehabilitation of special children. The Chief Minister added that looking after special children is the collective responsibility of the society.
Sharif said the government, in collaboration with UK’s International Development Department, is providing free education; information technology and vocational skills training to 17,000 South Punjabi youth.
He stated that disabled youth should also be included in that programme as well as the TEVTA and Punjab Vocational Training Council training programmes.
The CM said the organisations working to rehabilitate disabled people should be commended for their role.
Chief Minister Special Assistant Begum Zakiya Shahnawaz, National Assembly Member Pervaiz Malik, Special Education Department Secretary Abdullah Sumbal, Higher Education Department Secretary Dr Ijaz Munir and representatives of NGOs engaged in the rehabilitation of special people also addressed the seminar.
The speakers also presented various recommendations for a comprehensive policy for the rehabilitation of special persons.
They said the concept of inclusive schooling should be promoted in the province as it would provide an opportunity to the special children to study alongside normal children for removing social disparity.
Provincial secretaries, non-governmental organisations’ representatives and social workers were also present at the occasion.
Serving orphan children, life’s mission: Zamarud
Islamabad—Managing Director (MD) of the Pakistan Bait-ul-Mal Zamurad Khan on Sunday said that he has made the mission of his life to serve the orphan children so as maike them useful citizens.
Talking to Pakistan Television (PTV), he said that over 2800 orphan children would hold a “peace march” on the occasion of Pakistan Solidarity Day in the Capital.
He said the Pakistan Bait-ul-Mal was providing all possible facilities, including quality education, food and residence to the orphan children under its ‘Pakistan Sweet Homes’ project. He said some 400 orphan children were residing at three ‘Pakistan Sweet Homes’ in Rawalpindi and Islamabad.
He hoped the children of ‘Sweet Homes’ would work for the progress of the country. They were getting education in the best educational institutions of the country like Educators and Siddique Public School and a huge amount was being spent for the purpose, he added. An expense of approximately Rs 10,000 incurs on a child per month and thus the total expenditure for 14 years will be around Rs 1.4 million, he said.—APP
Talking to Pakistan Television (PTV), he said that over 2800 orphan children would hold a “peace march” on the occasion of Pakistan Solidarity Day in the Capital.
He said the Pakistan Bait-ul-Mal was providing all possible facilities, including quality education, food and residence to the orphan children under its ‘Pakistan Sweet Homes’ project. He said some 400 orphan children were residing at three ‘Pakistan Sweet Homes’ in Rawalpindi and Islamabad.
He hoped the children of ‘Sweet Homes’ would work for the progress of the country. They were getting education in the best educational institutions of the country like Educators and Siddique Public School and a huge amount was being spent for the purpose, he added. An expense of approximately Rs 10,000 incurs on a child per month and thus the total expenditure for 14 years will be around Rs 1.4 million, he said.—APP
P&G Pakistan receives corporate award
Hillary Clinton paid rich tributes to the services rendered by P&G around the world. “When companies act responsibly, they can make vital contributions that matter to everyone. From spurring economic growth and promoting good governance in the rule of law, to providing humanitarian relief after natural disasters,” said Secretary Clinton at the US State Department ceremony that was attended by Congressional staff, the Diplomatic Corps and leaders from business, NGO and academic communities. “P&G stepped up when it mattered most, just as they have stepped up every single day in every single place. They have saved lives.” P&G Pakistan was nominated for the ACE award for its corporate and brand ‘Live, Learn and Thrive’ programmes, in response to the floods in 2010 where P&G partnered with NGOs to assist in flood-hit areas. The consumer products company’s humanitarian efforts consisted of providing clean drinking water, food, hygiene products, medicines, clean clothes, etc. to over 1.9 million flood affectees. P&G’s efforts in the development of human resources, support for orphanages, partnerships to establish a network of schools and focus on sustainability with respect to their production plants were also recognised. The US Consul General in Karachi, William Martin and P&G Pakistan Country Manager Faisal Sabzwari joined the ceremony in Washington from Karachi via digital video conferencing. Bob McDonald, Chairman of the Board, President and Chief Executive Officer of the Procter & Gamble Company accepted the award at the ceremony. Speaking on the occasion, he said: “P&G’s purpose as a company is to touch and improve lives, now and for generations to come. Our purpose guides and inspires everything we do. For 175 years, our purpose has focused us on finding ways to make people’s everyday lives a little better. We improve lives with our brands, with our business growth, with our employee programmes and with our social responsibility efforts. When we improve lives, we grow our business and by growing our business we are able to improve even more lives. It is a virtuous cycle and entirely congruent with our growth strategy to improve more lives, in more parts of the world…more completely. Receiving the ACE is a great recognition of the efforts we are making in Nigeria and Pakistan and around the world, and it motivates us to continue our work to improve lives every day.”
Commenting on the award, US Consul General William Martin said that this was the first time that a firm based in Pakistan had received this prestigious award. He said this recognition is likely to help boost foreign investments in Pakistan as international organisations are bound to take notice of the quality work being conducted in the country. He stated that this award signified the interest American investors have in Pakistan.
P&G Pakistan Country Manager, Faisal Sabzwari was very excited about P&G Pakistan receiving the award. “This year, P&G turns 20 years old in Pakistan and there is a lot to celebrate. With the help of our partners, we have invested in the community where our brand and corporate CSR programmes have touched and improved the lives of over 21 million Pakistanis to date,” he said.
The Secretary of State Award for Corporate Excellence (ACE) was established by the State Department in 1999. The prestigious award recognises the significant role US businesses play around the world in advancing good corporate governance and democratic principles. It also recognises the efforts of US. companies in improving living standards through their corporate social responsibility activities. Chiefs of Mission worldwide nominate US companies and the winners are chosen by the Principals’ Award Selection Committee. The Committee, chaired by the Under Secretary for Economic, Energy and Agricultural Affairs, includes a representative of the Secretary, the Under Secretaries of State and various Assistant Secretaries. It also includes senior officials from the US Agency for International Development, Overseas Private Investment Corporation, MCC, and the Department of Commerce. Winners are recognised with a handsome, copyrighted award statue unveiled at a formal ceremony hosted by the Secretary of State.
Nominations for the ACE award are based on achievements of US companies. This year 62 nominations were received for American companies operating in 38 countries. Of these, 13 companies were selected as award finalists. P&G Pakistan and Nigeria were selected as the winners. This is the first time in ACE history that a single company has been nominated and won the Award for two programmes. P&G was nominated by the Nigerian and Pakistani embassies. It was also first time when an American company based in Pakistan has won this prestigious award.
Both Nigeria and Pakistan are among P&G’s high potential emerging markets as both countries have growing economies with rising middle class consumer populations. These markets are an important part of the company’s purpose-inspired growth strategy.
Touching and Improving lives of more than 21 million Pakistanis:
P&G has continued to fulfil its purpose of touching and improving lives in Pakistan for over 20 years. The company has launched premium quality brands including Pampers, Always, Safeguard and others, many of which have become leading household names in their categories. In Pakistan, P&G has focused on sustainability ensuring a better life for generations to come. The CSR activities include programmes such as Pampers mobile clinics, Safeguard and Always school education programmes. Building partnerships with NGOs to provide quality education for thousands of underprivileged children through P&G-HOPE and P&G READ schools has also been a key focus. More than 500 million litres of clean drinking water has been provided to Pakistani communities in need via Children’s Safe Drinking Water Programme. The most recent social responsibility programme is the formation of P&G Home in the SOS Children’s village in Islamabad. The company’s employees also regularly volunteer their time and effort towards various P&G community programmes in Pakistan.
P&G products are manufactured in an environmentally responsible manner so that even the company’s day to day operations help in meeting environmental sustainability goals.
Employees of P&G are also developed to become future leaders and are recognised globally for their contributions. P&G Pakistan was recognised for its support to education and disaster relief during 2010 floods. P&G provided immediate relief by making critical items available. It also contributed through the following efforts:
* Over 350 million litres of clean drinking water - enough for 1.9 million people over three months - through Children’s Safe Drinking Water Program;
* Ariel reapplied the Tide Loads of Hope campaign and set up laundry stations at flood relief camps across the country; and
* Pampers conducted the Spread-a-Smile programme providing health checks and medicines to over 90,000 babies and mothers.
Nigeria:
In Nigeria, P&G has been supporting children in need through the P&G Live, Learn and Thrive programme. The initiatives include Always hygiene and puberty education programme, Pampers hospital programme and mobile clinics and the Pampers-UNICEF programme that provides tetanus vaccines to mothers and babies. The corporate Employee Volunteer Programme’s initiatives include Safe Water for Nigerian Children and Building futures. All these initiatives make it possible for P&G to give back to the under-developed communities.
Even after all these efforts, for P&G the purpose of improving the quality of life in the world is still unfulfilled. The organisation aims on ‘touching and improving lives’ by further improving their Corporate Social Responsibility programmes and aims to reach 5 billion consumers by 2015. (Contributer)
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