Capacity Development of Working Group on SDG 16.10.1 ...€¦ · Ch. Muhammad Shafiq from PCHR and...

CAPACITY ORIENTATION SDG 16.10.1 ACTIVITY REPORT SINDH

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Capacity Development of Working Group on SDG 16.10.1

Reporting, Coordination and Monitoring Mechanisms

(Sindh Capacity Session 5th December, 2019)


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On 5th December, 2019

Parliamentarians Commission for

Human Rights (PCHR) in

collaboration with National

Parliamentary Taskforce on SDGs,

PJN and UNESCO under the

Chairmanship of Honourable MPA

Pir Mujeeb Ul Haq, Convener

Provincial Parliamentary Taskforce

on SDGs Sindh and Minister of

Information Mr. Saeed Ghani

organized capacity orientation

session for the newly formed

working group on “Coordination,

reporting and monitoring

mechanism on SDG Target

16.10.1 Freedom of Expression and Safety of Journalist” at Committee Room, Provincial Assembly.

Agenda Annex A and Training Manual and Presentation Annex D

During the capacity orientation workshop a large number of parliamentarians (Provincial Parliamentary

SDGs Taskforce Members) and representatives from Home Department, Ministry of Human Rights,

Prosecution Department, Police Department, Law Department, National Youth Assembly, Planning

Department SDGs Unit, Media Associations and Union representatives, civil society organizations were

present. Attendance Annex B

At the end, parliamentary representatives also signed two resolution to ensure their commitment for

ensuring freedom of expression and journalist safety in Pakistan. Resolution Annex C

1) BACKGROUND:

Pakistan has been proactively pursuing Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) 2030 Agenda since it

signed it in 2015. On the one hand, the government is following a whole government approach and

corroborating it with whole nation approach to the SDGs. Pakistan National Framework on SDGs

approved by the National Economic Council declared SDG 16.10 as one of the priority target for

Pakistan. Sustainable Development Goal target 16.10 reflects the fact that freedom of expression and right

to access to information is the touchstone of all other human rights and underpins the achievement of all

SDGs.

Training on SDGs 16.10.1 Working Group consists of duty bearers (public institutions and

policymakers), media and relevant civil society will advance their knowledge on the topic and improve

Pakistan’s indicators on the importance of the three Ps (prevention, protection, and prosecution) for a

well-functioning democracy. Parliamentary Task Force on SDGs expects that these trainings will enable

stakeholders to be equipped in order to fulfill its ‘recording and reporting duties’ as well as the Voluntary

National Review of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDG16.10).


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2) SESSION PROCEEDINGS

Registrations & Participation:

The event comprised of 17 participants representing Provincial SDGs Parliamentary Taskforce and Home

Department, Ministry of Human Rights, Prosecution Department, Police Department, Law Department,

National Youth Assembly, Planning Department SDGs Unit, Media Associations, and Union

representatives, civil society organizations,

Ch. Muhammad Shafiq from PCHR and Syed Raza Ali from PJN open the session by explaining the

objectives of the capacity workshop which were:

To advance knowledge of federal and provincial duty bearers (public institutions and

policymakers) on SDG 16.10 to improve Pakistan’s indicators Freedom of Expression and Right

to Access to Information

To build a mechanism to record and report progress on Sustainable Development Goals Target

SDG 16.10

To develop an action plan from subcommittee based on findings of consultations

After explaining the workshop objectives, Trainers shared the expectation from the working group, which

were:


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1. Addressing legislative and policy gaps (new legislations and implementation of existing plus

review departmental policies and impunity issues)

2. Addressing data needs for SDG 16.10 reporting – Reviewing incidents reported to police focal

persons, FIA, NCHR, Missing Person Commission and National Police Bureau (Also action

taken to protect victims)

3. Strengthening coordination mechanism among departments/institutions as well as federal and

provincial committees on SDG 16.10 (Serve as High Level Forum on SDG 16.10.1 for

Coordination – Progress sharing)

4. Reviewing the progress of state mechanisms such as Helpline, Media Security Committee and

others including awareness raising of these mechanisms

5. Reviewing the progress on implementation of recommendation in international instruments

(UPR, ICCPR, HRC and others)

After setting the tone of workshop, trainers build participants understanding on gaps and challenges for

effective SDG 16.10 Response Mechanism and Reporting Framework. These were

Lack of data availability

Inadequate safety protocols or safety equipment at most of the media organizations

Lack of will to hold to account those who attack journalists. Pressure groups - impunity

Delays in the judicial procedure

Lack of training of criminal justice stakeholders on handling crime against journalists.

Inadequate record management

Poor job security

Absence of any specific legal framework concerning to the prevention and protection of crimes

against journalists

Media houses have a hands-off approach if and when a journalist comes under threat

Low wages force journalists to take on dangerous assignments

Dormant and/or ineffective protection mechanisms

No legal aid support mechanism

No clarity on the definition of journalist (online, bloggers and citizen journalist)

Online harassment mainly female journalist

Trainers also trained the participants on the role of different bodies and departments for ensuring freedom

of expression and safety of journalists as well as SDG 16.10.1 report. Following is the list of key

departments and bodies:

Legislators

1. Parliamentarians

2. Parliamentary Taskforces on SDGs

3. Committees (Law, Information and Human Rights)

Regulators

1. Press Council of Pakistan(PCP)


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2. Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority (PEMRA)

3. Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA)

4. FIA (Prevention of Electronic Crimes Act)

Implementers

1. Ministry of Information

2. Ministry of Interior/Home (Police, FIA Cyber Crime and National Police Bureau)

3. Ministry of Planning

4. Labour Department

5. Ministry of Law & Justice

6. NCHR

7. MoHR

8. Ministry of Professional Training and Federal/Provincial Judicial Academies etc.

Prosecution

1. Police

2. Prosecutor

3. Judicial Academy (Training of Judges on handling crime against journalist)

4. National Police Bureau (reporting)

5. Bar Councils (Lawyers capacity)

After explaining role and responsibilities, trainers trained the participants on Journalist Safety Law,

Journalist Definition, SDG 16.10.1 Framework and Pakistan International Obligations for Safety of

Journalist.

At the end, Dr. Muhammad Arif Convener Provincial Parliamentary Taskforce on SDGs appreciated the

efforts of PJN and UNESCO. He ensure his full support for the successful achievement of SDG 16.10.1

indicator.

Discussions & Recommendations:

Mr. Saeed Ghani Minister for Information and Broadcasting was the chief guest and Pir Mujeeb ul Haque

Convener Provincial task force on SDGs headed the event and started with a welcome note. Muhammad

Shafique Chaudhry Executive Director PCHR gave a brief introduction and background of the subject to

the participants followed by a presentation prepared by Syed Raza Ali Executive Director PJN. The

presentation comprised by all the relevant information i-e understanding gaps of SDG 16 response

mechanism and reporting, Pakistan’s perspective on SDGs, national constitutional legislative and policy

framework on SDGs, UN Plan of Action on safety of journalist and issue of impunity, available data

according to the cases reported to NCHR, causes of impunity and inaction and expectations from

subcommittee to strengthen SDG 16.10 on Monitoring and Reporting. After which floor was open for the

discussion and the participants were requested to give their input on the existing mechanisms and

problems, they are facing in operating the current systems and give suggestions to fill the gaps.


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Here are some suggestions/recommendation provided by the participants to improve or activate the

existing mechanism;-

- Convener provincial assembly taskforce told us that proposed draft of protection of

Journalists is under the process and will be introduced soon

- A political consensus is required for the formation of media society

- Labor courts should be activated for the prosecution and protection of journalists

- There must be labor inspector appointed to deal with the specific cases related to the safety

of journalists

- Media should play a positive role, for which media houses should be asked for the monthly or

quarterly reports

- Media should promote tourism and positive side of the state

- Press clubs and media house are suggested to have coordination meetings quarterly

- There has o be a permanent coordination mechanism between the departments

- Assembly has the mandate to ask questions to the organizations

- Member provincial taskforce on SDGs suggested that capacity orientation of journalist is also

required so that the journalists and their unions perform their roles well

- Pir Mujeeb ul Haque thanked the participants and appreciated the efforts of PJN.


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Annexure A – Agenda

CAPACITY ORIENTATION WORKSHOPS OF MEMBERS OF PROVINCIAL

PARLIAMENTARY SDGS WORKING GROUP ON SDG 16.10

STRENGTHENING COORDINATION, REPORTING AND MONITORING MECHANISMS

AGENDA

Date 5th

December, 2019

Time From 11 am till 1:30 pm

Venue Committee Room, Sindh Assembly

Session Plan

Time Topic of Discussion Facilitator

Introductions

11:00 – 11:10 am Participant registration and introduction (10 mns)

11:10 – 11:25 am

Agenda setting of the workshop - Journalists Safety and Freedom of

Expression and Sustainable Development Goal

National Action on Strengthening SDG 16.10 Coordination and

Reporting Mechanisms

(15 mns)

11:25 – 11:40 am State of Journalists Safety in Pakistan and causes of impunity

(15 mns)

Presentations

11:40 – 11:55 am Pakistan National Commitment and SDGs 2030 Agenda and Voluntary

National Review (VNR) Reporting SDG 16.10

(15 mns)

11:55 – 12:10 am UN Action Plan on Safety of Journalists and Issue of Impunity and

Pakistan’s International commitments – Sharing key findings

(15 mns)

12:10 – 12:25 pm UNESCO world trends reports on freedom of expression and Journalists

Safety Indicators (JSI) framework – Sharing key findings

(15 mns)


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Working Tea (12:00 pm)

12:25 – 12:40 pm

Legal Framework for Journalists Safety in Pakistan: Lacunas and

weaknesses

Journalists Safety Law:

- A tool to provide a specialized institutional mechanism

How appointment of a special prosecutor and specialized agency can help improve the situation

(15 mns)

Open Discussion

12:40 – 1:15 pm

Recommendations/Action Plan: Policy and operational action for Strengthening SDG 16.10 Coordination and Reporting Mechanisms

How public service departments could create and ensure safety of

journalists for strengthening coordination and monitoring mechanism.

(35 mins)

Key Note Speaker/Conclusion

1:15 – 1:30 pm Concluding Remarks and Way Forward – Setting Action for Committee

on SDG 16.10

(15 mns)

1:30 – 1:40 pm Two days’ workshop Resolution Signing and Group Photo

Lunch (1:40 onward)


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Annexure B – Attendance


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.


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Annexure C – Resolution


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Capacity Development of Working Group on SDG 16.10.1 ...€¦ · Ch. Muhammad Shafiq from PCHR and...

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