HR Education

with special thanks to IHRO, to visit their website plz click:

http://www.ihro.org.pk/

Women

     * All citizens are equal before law and entitled to equal protection of law

     * There shall be no discrimination on the basis of sex alone (Constitution of Pakistan)

In the vein of all other developing countries in the world, Pakistan also has many motifs in its society, which portrays its culture and general behavior. When we talk about social conditions of women in Pakistan then it starts from HER BIRTH, generally the birth of the girl child is not considered blissful, because Pakistan is a developing country that has much higher poverty rate, girls are expected to get married at an early age and stay at home and raise children, not to work in a trade or profession, hence she would not be able to help in supporting the family, and because of the heavy dowry, which is the tradition of our society, parents are expected to pay when their female children are married.

Women are often denied the right to be HEALTHY, according to IHRO's 'progress of nation' Report for 2000, only 26 percent of women between 15 to 49 years of age are attended to by health personnel even once during pregnancy. Pakistan 's maternal mortality rate of 350 per every 100,000 Live births stood as one of the very worst in the world. The high birth rate, with an average of over six children per household, exerts a major strain on the welfare of women. The GENDER DESPARITY in term of infant mortality was also starkly visible, with 160 female children dying with in the first years of life for every 1,000 births, as against 100 males. Informal studies also reported that in most household, far greater importance was attached to the welfare of the male child than his female counterpart, contributing to the higher rates of death for female children under the age of 5, as family cannot afford proper health care for all of its children, parents often place a higher emphasis on their son's health because of their status in society. Women are also denied the rights to nutrition, If food is scarce, husband/father/brother are often given most of the food and women are left with very little to eat.

Women are often expected to do the WORKLOAD of family, they often work long days, sometimes 18 hours, working in the field, factories, market place or as maids and then they also have to fulfill their family requirement, household work, due to their long hours of work , they are often unable to have time for relaxation or recreation.

Women are also often denied their rights to EDUCATION, many families cannot afford to send all of their children to school, there is a continuing belief that there is no benefit to educating a girl child, when she could not be out working and earning money for the family, according to official data, just over 35 percent of women in the country are literate, while the government accepts enrollment rates for girls in primary education, standing according to official estimates at 62 percent, remain low. In this context, Pakistan ranks far behind other South Asian countries and indeed remains amongst the ten lowest-ranking countries of the world in terms of education for girls.

Worse still is the estimate by a number of international agencies that the female literacy rate in the country is in fact falling, with the limited capacity of the educational infra structure unable to meet the demands of a growing population. The gap between girls and boys too is widening, with 92 percent of boys now enrolled at schools.

The disparity opens up further at higher educational levels, translating in to discriminating in term of opportunity, for instance, over 28,000 girls in Karachi, the biggest city of Pakistan, clearing their matriculation examination in the sciences in August 2000 were unable to continue an education in science due to shortage of seats, available spaces in the 33 colleges and 13 higher secondary schools in the country's largest city offering further education in science stood at only 10,820 as compared to 38,569 female candidates who passed their matriculation in science subjects. The situation for boys showed a vast improvement, with seats unavailable only for 3,000 male matriculations in science. The illiteracy in women and society behavior towards it, is due to the concept that girls are expected to get married and not work in profession. Thus it is believed that educating boys is more important because they are considered to have more future responsibilities for the family's economical survival. The impact of tradition on women's lives is often extremely adverse. Considered as property, they are disallowed a choice in matters of great significance to their lives, including marriage, even among educated sections of society, girls are frequently given no say at all in matters of marriage.

The vast social issue of dowry also remains in place, acting as one of the reasons why families prefer the birth of a boy to that of a girl. In rural communities, families reported that one of the most acute financial pressures they faced was the marriage of their daughters. In many cases, the failure of a bride to bring in the kind of dowry her in-laws demanded led to cases of her being abused and mistreated by her husband and his family.

The tribal custom holds still enforced society in chain. Other examples also exist to protect their property from distribution; hundreds of girls each year from Sindhis families are still "married" to the Holy Quran (the holy book of Islam) under this law a woman has to live without a husband throughout her life. But this law is only applied among the class of landlords. They use this only to keep and grab the land of their sisters and daughters. According to a report by an Islamabad-based NGO, there are currently over 5,000 such women in Sindh.

A woman's right to liberty is restricted in the name of modesty, protection and patchiness of immoral activity. In rural areas 90% of women work in the fields, they work for the whole day with their male family members, but they still have to face their wrath. Male family members keep a strict eye on the female members in the name of "HONOUR". But one must understand the meaning of honor because in our society honor does not have the meaning of its true sense. Here it really means possession of women as a form of property, and they can be put to death if they lose their HONOUR

According to IHRO (2000) more women became victims of honor killings, including "karo Kari" than ever before, while the rate of all forms of violence against women soared. Every second Pakistani women is now believed to be a direct or indirect victim of VIOLENCE.

In urban areas of Pakistan, many out-dated customs have much less of an influence, because of the fact that women are playing a major role in the generation of family income, they do not carry out "unpaid labor" like rural women, but they are also facing daunting challenges and problems in the cities .

Children

Why Children ?

In June 2001, in anticipation of the original meeting date, United Nations Secretary-General Kofi Annan issued a progress report detailing what had been done toward the goals set in 1990 and what had been left undone. Entitled "We the Children," the report contains information from 135 national-level reviews, comprising the most comprehensive picture ever assembled of the global child. It has since been updated to reflect even more recent data.

"The world has fallen short of achieving most of the goals of the World Summit for Children," wrote the Secretary-General, "not because they were too ambitious or were technically beyond reach. It has fallen short largely because of insufficient investment."

The issue of how and why to invest in children has taken on greater significance since last September. Among the many measures needed to improve global stability and security, a consensus has grown that any such efforts must begin with building a world fit for children.

"I cannot imagine a truly better world that does not have at its foundation civilized treatment for up and coming generations," said Dr. Khalid Aftab Sulehri, President- (IHRO). "Quality basic education for all children, decent health care opportunities for positive participation in society, and protection from exploitation - these are basics that in too many places, for too many children, remain distant dreams."

"When nations have committed themselves to real investment in children, and made those investments in ways that promote the rights of children, real progress in human development has been achieved," "Where children's rights have been given only lip service and investments have been minimal, societies continue to struggle."

Challenges Facing Children Today

There are 2.1 billion children in the world, accounting for 36% of the world's population. Some 132 million children are born each year. Globally, 1 in 4 children lives in abject poverty - in families with income lower than $1 a day. One of every 12 children dies before the age of five, mainly from preventable causes.

According to statistics assembled for report, "We the Children," of every 100 children born today:

1. The births of 40 will not be registered at all.
2. 26 will not be immunized against any disease.
3. 19 will have no access to clean drinking water.
4. 30 will suffer from malnutrition in the first five years of life.
5. 17 will never go to school. Of these, 9 will be girls.
6. And of every 100 who begin 1st grade, only 25 will reach the 5th grade.

"We have the resources and the knowledge to overcome these challenges," "Our aim at the Special Session is to convince world leaders that investing in children is their number one responsibility - and that investing in children is the only lasting strategy for reducing poverty, stopping AIDS, and avoiding conflict."

That the Special Session on Children falls between two major gatherings on global development - the International Conference
on Financing for Development, and the World Summit on Sustainable Development in South Africa later this summer. The investment in children would be high on the agenda of both, "and appropriately so."

"We must never forget that we are our own keepers," "History will judge us harshly if we refuse to use our knowledge, our resources and our will to ensure that each new member of the human family arrives into a world that honors and protects the invaluable, irreplaceable years of childhood."

A series of summary fact sheets are now available, including "Short Takes on Progress "and" Who Is the Global Child."

What's Ahead: Over the next eight years, the IHRO Special Session media team will be issuing weekly press updates on the summit, including listings of who's coming, what the key issues will be, and what else is happening around the Special Session on Children 

Prison

A Research Officer of IHRO visited the Adyala Jail, Rawalpindi , Central Jail, Kot Lakhpat, Lahore and Central Jail, Peshawar and collected information from the prison officials and jail inmates on the conditions prevailing in jails. A Joint Secretary of this Secretariat also visited the Women Prisons in Lahore and Karachi and gathered information with regard to conditions inside such prisons and the treatment meted out to prisoners.

 On the direction of the Chairman, the Committee also conducted Public Hearing at Karachi on 14th May 2003 on the subject of jail reforms in which 21 prominent citizens, experts, advocates, journalists, professionals, NGO representatives and a retired High Court Judge, made presentations and suggested various proposals for reform of the prison laws/rules and improving the living conditions of prisoners.

 Based on the material received from various sources, information gathered through visits to jails, communications received from the public, experiences/observations narrated by citizens and recommendations received from relevant professionals, prepared a Report on Prisons which was thoroughly discussed/deliberated and with appropriate changes/modification, approved the same.

 IHRO decided that for effective enforcement and implementation of its recommendations, it would be desirable that the concerned officials are invited to the next meeting of the Commission with a view to get their input and hear their viewpoint on the Commission's recommendations, so as to devise appropriate steps for the full and effective implementation of the Report. Accordingly, it was decided that the Attorney-General for Pakistan , Secretary, Interior, provincial Secretaries, Home Department, all Inspectors-General of Police and Inspectors-General of Prisons should be invited to the next meeting of the Commission.

 IHRO again met at Murree on July 23, 2003 to finalise its Report on Prisons. This meeting was attended besides the members of the Commission, by the relevant public functionaries, mentioned in the preceding paragraph. The participants had detailed discussion/deliberations on various provisions of the Report, and suggested various improvements to it. Some such suggestions were accepted and incorporated in the Report. The Report as approved by the Commission follows:

 The main object of maintaining prisons is to keep the convicted prisoners in confinement so as to save the society from their evil influence. They are supposed to undergo their punishments in jail. Detents and under-trials are also kept in such jails. During their detention, the jail inmates are supposed to get proper accommodation, food and medical facilities. They are also supposed to be imparted education/training during detention, so as to be reformed, and on release, become useful and productive members of the society. As would be explained in the next pages, unfortunately our prison system seems to be failing in providing these basic facilities to jail inmates.

 With regard to the administration of prisons and rights and duties of prisoners/inmates, several statutes hold the ground. These include the Prisons Act 1894, the Prisoners Act 1900 and the Pakistan Prison Rules 1978, etc.

Minority - Rights

IHRO has been working since 2000 for the protection and development of Minority Rights in the light of UN Declaration on the right of persons belonging to National and Ethnic, Religious and Linguistic Minority.

On 19th July 2003 , Dr. Khalid Aftab Sulehri (President-IHRO) surveyed the demolished 23 family houses of Christian community at St. Thomas Church , Dera Ismail Khan. They were demolished by the local cantonment board on the advise of Peshawar Diocese, which was the total violation of every individual rights and that due to the efforts made by IHRO the local Court in Dera Ismail Khan gave orders that the heads of the 23 unfortunate families have all the authority to reconstruct their houses at St Thomas Church again. This was very difficult for they did not have any funds to do so. IHRO at the spot helped financially the unfortunate families and with the help of its partners managed and helped the 23 Christian families to build their homes again.

IHRO always remains keen to overcome every obstacle in the way to prosperity and uplift of every possible rights and will continue its efforts with an increased pace.

Freedom-Expression

Article XIX

" Everyone has the right to freedom of opinion and expression; this right includes the freedom to hold opinions without interference and to seek, receive and impart information and ideas through any media and regardless of frontiers."
Universal Declaration of human rights, 1948"

Article XIX

" Every citizen shall have the right to freedom of speech and expression, and there shall be freedom of the press, subject to any reasonable restrictions imposed by law in the interest of the glory of Islam or the integrity, security or defense of Pakistan or any part thereof, friendly relations with foreign States, public order, decency or morality, or in relation to contempt of court or commission of or incitement to an offence."
Constitution of Islamic Republic of Pakistan , 1973"

World Press Freedom Day

IHRO recognize World Press Freedom Day the sacrifices made in the struggle for freedom of the press and to put pressure on governments that continue to deny their citizens this basic human right. The 3 May message is that journalists everywhere must be granted the right to report freely and without fear. The date marks the anniversary of the Declaration of Windhoek, a statement of principles drawn up by journalists in 1991 calling for a free, independent and pluralistic media throughout the world. The declaration affirms that a free press is essential to the existence of democracy and a fundamental human goal. At a time when human rights and democratic development hang in the balance in so many countries, no one can be complacent. 3 May is the day on which the media can remind governments and the citizens of the importance of freedom of the press and of how the global battle to attain it, continues. In Pakistan on this day, each year since 1995, Green Press Pakistan brings out an annual State of the Media and Press Freedom report, an independent and informative document analyzing the state of media freedoms in the country in the past year as well as chronicling violations.