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GCAP Pakistan
Approximately
one-third of the 140
millions of Pakistani population lives below the
poverty line. The incidence of poverty in
this South Asian country is even greater in rural areas. There is limited
social public investment in health care, education, sanitation and water
systems. The majority of workers are self-employed and many of them are in the
informal sector, so they do not have regular income and are excluded of the
benefits of social security. Women, children and non-Muslim minorities are
especially vulnerable to poverty, discrimination, exploitation and violence.
They are exposed for example to child and forced labour and “honour killings”
mainly against women. Recently, due to violent conflict related to growing
extremism and military operation in the North West Pakistan, approximately more
than two and a half million people have been displaced from their homes, losing
everything and currently facing difficult life conditions in camps and local
community houses. This is the biggest displacement in the last 15 years, after
Rwanda, in the world.
In response to the
worldwide call against poverty, the Pakistani GCAP Coalition was formed in
October 2004 by civil society organizations involved in campaign and advocacy.
A successful Rights Action Week was developed in December of that year, with
actions like signature campaign, an awareness raising program and the
distribution of campaign material urging the state to fulfil its commitment
regarding the MDG as well as minimizing national expenditure in security and
military.
In March 2005 a
national strategy planning meeting was
developed
to share and learn about our recent actions, to identify key challenges and to
develop a mobilization strategy and plan for that year. Several campaigners
from human rights groups, media representatives, women groups, INGO
representatives and community development/education/advocacy organizations
coming from several geographical location of the country participated in the
meeting and in the execution of the strategy. Three action weeks took place in
the context of the three White Band Days (25-30 June in the context of G8
Summit, 14-16 September in the context of the UN Summit and 4-9 December on the
occasion of WTO meeting). The focus of the activities was to create a mass
awareness and mobilization, through the use of electronic media, street theatre
and puppets, 4km long banner of half million signatures worldwide, street
theatre train journey, rallies and walks in different parts of the country.
After evaluating our work we identified we had to improve coordination among
campaigners, linkages and coordination by National Focal Point and involvement
of different strata of society. This helped us to plan our activities and
redefine our campaign structure for 2006, establishing regional focal points in
addition to the national one, and Support Groups for both levels.
In 2006 mobilizations
took place in the context of the International Day against Poverty and the Human
Rights Day. In September an interesting initiative took place. In
solidarity with the Global Call to Action against Poverty and the Millennium
Campaign, and in order to celebrate their commitment to stand up for their
rights, the indigenous peoples of The Indus river, namely the Kihals and Mors,
and some GCAP campaigners gathered for a day-long 'Story Telling &
Craft-Expression' at Thala Baloo Raam on riverside on 16th October 2006. They
reflected about poverty, MDG and their link with the indigenous people’s
struggle for their right to land, fish, water and forests. They also reflected
about the importance of craft in their livelihoods.
In 2007 the core action was a nation-wide
banner of 10 Km with the MDG printed in it and surrounded by more than one
million signatures from people from 106 districts, mainly poor people. The
banner was supported by Stand Up Speak Out actions, mobilizing 4.3 million
people. In addition, some activities like seminars and conferences took place
with youth people and women in different dates. A strong media strategy was
also developed.
In the middle of 2008 change in the
Coalition’s focal point occurred democratically and Mohammad Zia-ur-Rehman took
over as National Coordinator on behalf of AwazCDS-Pakistan and resultantly
AwazCDS-Pakistan declared as the National Secretariat for GCAP Coalition in
Pakistan in October 11, 2008. Organizing Stand up & Take Action Campaign was
challenging for the new focal point however with the support of Coalition
members SUTA campaign was organized all over Pakistan during October 17-19,
2008. The Campaign involved 73 CSOs and networks in which 389,259 people stood
up against poverty and food insecurity in 122 SUTA events all across the
country. An impressive press and electronic media coverage gave recognition to
GCAP-Pakistan in common masses and government institutions as well as wider
civil society. Thousands of posters and leaflets were published and disseminated
in masses against poverty and food insecurity. GCAP-Pakistan’s official web
www.gcappakistan.net
was launched during the
campaign to share Coalition’s efforts across the world.
As a matter of fact, the overall impact of
these campaigns on GCAP is very positive. The networking of GCAP improved
significantly and the close collaborative helped in broadening its base. Several
hundred thousands people who directly participated in the campaigns and
activities learnt about GCAP and Pakistan’s commitments such as MDGs which it
has made internationally on their behalf. People are taking interest and
participating in events, which are of their interests and have political
outlook, understanding link between poverty and democracy, social justice and
public accountability. In all these efforts and campaigns, the youth has been in
forefront who later also demonstrated against General Musharraf upon
unconstitutionally sacking the chief justice of Pakistan. The mobilized
communities, CSOs and youth are now ready to initiate any campaign that would be
in the interests of poor and marginalised segment of the society.
Very recently after a focused membership
drive the total membership of the coalition has reached to 213 CSOs, community
based organizations, networks and movements. The national secretariat and the
core team have put in much efforts in democratizing operational and decentralize
planning and campaigning mechanisms of the coalition we have formed four
provincial level coordinators. The new membership and decentralized structures
are now fully functional and contributing to the GCAP national planning.
Peoples’ Voice for Rights (2009-2011)
Campaign was conceptualized and prepared with the support of Coalition member
organizations and experts and submitted to supporting partners in February 2009.
UNMC has granted support for some key events around health, education and
poverty days and for follow up of budgetary allocations etc. One of the key
members from Balochistan’s Provincial Chapter has attended a workshop on behalf
of GCAP-Pakistan held at Bangkok, on budget tracking and accountability in
February 2009. The process of formulation and finalization of National
Educational Policy 2009 was also followed up by GCAP Coalition members by
mobilizing teachers associations and students across the country. Press
briefings were organized and letters were written to National Assembly’s
Standing Committee Members on Education for communicating key demands of
Peoples’ Voice for Rights Campaign on education. (Letter is attached)
We have recently organized 5 pre-budget
seminars at all the four provincial headquarters that gave CSOs, journalists,
farmers, tenants, government servants, students, teachers associations and
people from different walks of life, an opportunity to voice their views on
national budget especially focusing on health and education. The demands of
people were highlighted by the national press across the country and a letter
was written to all the members of provincial and national assembly members as
well as members of senate of Pakistan. (a copy was also shared with you and
other national and international stakeholders).
Further a quick survey was carried out to
ascertain the situation of IDPs of Swat and Bunair and shared with all the
stakeholders at national and international levels to highlight their issues and
mobilize agencies and governments to step forward for their support. A regular
update on IDPs situationis also being shared with stakeholders on weekly basis
and is also uploaded at website of GCAP-Pakistan.
Earlier, when we took over the GCAP
Coalition with the consent of members as National Secretariat, we were clear of
our volunteer role and our foremost priority was to build the trust among the
Coalition members. We have gained their trust as now they are participating
fully in the activities of GCAP-Pakistan. National level experts like Dr. A. H.
Nayyar, Sadiqa Salahuddin, Dr. Ghaffar Billo, Dr Umair, Irfan Mufti, Rana Riaz
Saeed and others alike are now part of our Policy Review and Reforms group.,
Several local organizations and farmers, fisher folk, peasants, workers,
teachers, youth, journalists and women rights organizations and associations are
now part of GCAP Coalitions at provincial and national levels. Other key support
groups including SAP-Pakistan, HANDs, NGORC, Shirkat Gah, PILER and others are
part of GCAP-Pakistan core group. International Organizations like VSO, OxfamGB-Pakistan,
Concern World Wide, Care International, Plan Pakistan and World Population
Foundation Pakistan are also supporting in different campaigns. We have also
formed Mobilization Group by inviting grassroots organizations and networks,
youth organizations for implementation of campaign. Soon we will form
communication and media group to raise peoples’ voices for rights and campaigns
through media.
TORs of Coalition members are already
circulated and shared with all stakeholders and are also uploaded at the Website
of GCAP-Pakistan:
www.gcappakistan.net
.
These and several other initiatives are
taken during the last one year to give the coalition and its campaigning actions
some impetus and soon we will show positive results.
The confidence that we have built among
the coalition members requires their regular engagements in different activities
of GCAP Campaigns and this can only be possible if the national secretariat
maintains it continuously. To ensure this support for the proposed Campaigns are
imperative.
Finally, we would like to draw your
attention towards the fact that civil society groups in Pakistan are isolated
because of the absence/ weakening of national level networks / forums like
Pakistan NGO Forum and Pakistan Social Forum. The evolution of GCAP Coalition
has been filling up this gap and people as well as CSOs are gradually taking
interest in this process. Therefore this opportunity must be given due
attentions to further strengthening this process.
The challenges of growing poverty and
extremism, the present crisis in energy and agriculture sectors, the war against
terrorism and increase in number of IDPs are also demanding greater attention of
governments and civil societies to play their greater role to bring poor people
in the mainstream to make sure that their voices are being heard. We will have
to act quickly and your timely support will help Coalition’s National
Secretariat to act more quickly and effectively.
For more information
about GCAP Pakistan please contact:
Organization: Awaz Foundation
Pakistan: Centre for Development Services (AwazCDS-Pakistan)
Contact person: Mohammad
Zia-ur-Rehman (National Coordinator and Chief Executive AwazCDS-Pakistan)
Telephone: +92-061-4784606 /
4577409 / Fax: +92-61-4584909
Address: H.No. 2440/N/8A, D-Block,
Shamasabad Colony, Multan – Pakistan
P.O. Box No. 141, 60000
Email:
zia@gcappakistan.net,
zia@awazcds.org.pk
Website:
www.gcappakistan.net
Sources:
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GCAP Global Reports 2007 and 2008
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Social Watch Reports 2003 and 2007.
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Document: National Strategy Planning Meeting
(Unedited Draft). Lahore, Pakistan.10th March, 2005
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Document: Pakistan Activity Example, 2006.
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GCAP Presentation: Review and planning 2005-2006,
by Insan Foundation Pakistan
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A Civil Society Perspective on the Millennium
Development Goals and the Poverty Reduction Strategy Paper: The Case of
Pakistan. Dr Ahmed Nawaz Hakro Department of Economics, QAU University and
Mustafa Talpur Senior Programme Officer, Water Rights, Action Aid Pakistan.
2005.d
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Diverse documents with information and feedback
about activities.
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