UNDEF is supporting an initiative implemented by the Citizens’ Commission
for Human Development (CCHD), aimed at reinforcing, in Pakistan, the
involvement of the main components of society in the political process,
with a focus on women’s political participation. The CCDH has
been encouraging attitudinal changes in the country for more than 20
years, focusing more recently on supporting the decentralization process.
As underscored by Syedia and Wasim, two political activists who took
part in a CCHD meeting organized last December in Kasur, "Democracy requires
public participation in democratic process; without it, the concept
of democracy remains colorless".
Political leaders, parliamentarians, journalists, women’s organizations,
local government officials and NGOs are the primary groups targeted
by the project because of their capacity to transform attitudes and
therefore enhance people’s involvement in the political process.
Launched in July 2007, in the challenging pre-electoral context, this
one year project has achieved impressive progress implementing a threefold
strategy aimed at:
transforming the apathetic attitude of targets groups into a participation
attitude,
reinforcing the capacity of key political actors,
strengthening the democratic dialogue with citizens and renewing the
social fabric.
Reinforcing the sustainability of this initiative, a symposium will
be held in Islamabad, on 27-29 May 2008, to focus on
the theme "strengthening democracy in South Asia".
250 participants from the sub-region, including senior government officials,
members of civil society and diplomats will assess sub-regional achievements,
share results and determine how to tackle the democratization challenge.
The project is being implemented in ten districts; Lahore, Multan,
Kasur, Vehari, Attock, Bhawalpur, Faisalabad, Sheikhupura, Muzaffargarh
and Rawalpindi.
Under this initiative, the CCDH has successfully conducted an intensive
program of raising political awareness at all levels of society and
developing a program of diversified training based on outreach materials
distributed throughout the 10 selected districts, therefore reaching
some 50,000 beneficiaries.
Dissemination of information
A fortnightly newsletter produced in Urdu containing an educational
series on democracy, seeks to disseminate and analyze significant domestic
news and monitors the situation of human rights.
Moreover, 5 booklets on rights-based advocacy have been published as
well as flyers.
This information is being imparted mainly through CCHD’s website
and also throughout the four provinces of Baluchistan, North-West Frontier
Province (NWFP), Punjab and Sindh, by postmail with the assistance of
1000 Union Councils (municipalities) and the support of local government
services.
Zeeba Hashmi, Program Manager& trainer (center) and Mazhar Jamil, Program Officer (3rd from Left) among the local journalists after the orientation & training session held in Kasur
Large scale awareness raising and educational curriculum
Through a series of meetings held with the support of Union Councils
in each of the 10 districts selected for the project, 10,000 citizens
have been given the opportunity to receive elementary civic education.
In the pre-electoral context, a strong focus was given to the responsibility
of voters including their registration and their participation in the
polls.
Furthermore, through a series of consultative meetings conducted in
each of the districts, more than 1600 political activists were mobilized
in support of the critical need to initiate internal changes within
their political parties.
Afterwards, political leaders carried out a series of advocacy forums
at district and provincial levels, with the goal of enhancing the dialogue
between grassroots communities and political parties and of promoting
the role of political manifestos as a democratic tool of citizens’
expression.
Leadership curriculum targeting major political actors
The primary targets of the training program were NGO activists and journalists
in recognition of their role as powerful agents for change and as future
trainers.
Firstly, two training sessions, held in the districts on Multan and
Lahore, for more than 40 trainers, 40% of whom were women, were held
on democracy institutionalization for local communities.
Simultaneously, during the period preceding parliamentary polls, 200
NGO representatives coming from a wide range of organizations took part
in a training curriculum designed around five issues: democracy promotion,
women’s rights, child protection, minorities and vulnerable groups.
Over the course of March and April, more than 200 local journalists
participated in a training and orientation workshop. Their role in the
democratic process was underlined. Their necessary commitment to respect
and promote professional integrity, ethics and excellence was also emphasized.
Central to this project is the focus on women’s participation
in the political process. Therefore, activities target a minimum of
33% women in each activity. As a result, 5000 women will have had access
to elementary civic education which will contribute to improve their
effective participation in the legislative and policy making process.
In addition, as a significant part of the local population lacks, unfortunately,
access to education, vulnerable groups are included within almost every
activity rolled out at district level.
Deepening the success of local activities which have contributed to
develop attitudinal changes within the country, the South Asia Symposium
will further disseminate democratic culture through the sub-region.
For more information on the Islamabad Symposium on 27-29 May 2008, refer
to http://www.cchd.org.pk
