Capacity Development of Working Group on SDG 16.10.1 ... · Pakistan. Sustainable Development Goal...

CAPACITY ORIENTATION SDG 16.10.1 ACTIVITY REPORT BALOCHISTAN

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Capacity Development of Working Group on SDG 16.10.1

Reporting, Coordination and Monitoring Mechanisms

(Balochistan Capacity Session 20th December, 2019)


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On 20th December, 2019

Parliamentarians

Commission for Human

Rights in collaboration with

National Parliamentary

Taskforce on SDGs, PJN and

UNESCO under the

Honourable MPA Ms.

Bushra Rind Member

Provincial Parliamentary

Taskforce on SDGs

Balochistan and Adviser to

Chief Minister and former

Minister of Information Mr.

Zahoor Buladi (currently

Finance Minister) 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 Directorate General of Public Relations,

Ombudsman Secretariat, Planning & Development Department, Balochistan SDGs Unit, Education

Department, Information Department, Social Welfare Department, Lawyers, Media and Civil Society

were present. Attendance Annex B

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

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


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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).

2) SESSION PROCEEDINGS

Registrations & Participation:

The event comprised of 25 participants representing Provincial SDGs Parliamentary Taskforce,

Directorate General of Public Relations, Ombudsman Secretariat, Planning & Development Department,

Balochistan SDGs Unit, Education Department, Information Department, Social Welfare Department,

Lawyers, Media and Civil Society.

Ch. Muhammad Shafiq from PCHR, Ms. Aamna Kiani 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


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

were:

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 the 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 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


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3. Committees (Law, Information and Human Rights)

Regulators

1. Press Council of Pakistan(PCP)

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, Ms. Bushra Rind Member Provincial Parliamentary Taskforce on SDGs Balochistan and

Adviser to Chief Minister 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. Zahoor Buladi former Minister of Information (currently Minister of Finance) was the chief guest and

Bushra Rind Member Provincial Parliamentary Taskforce on SDGs Balochistan and Adviser to Chief

Minister 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 Ms. Aamna Kiani, National Program Coordinator 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


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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.

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

existing mechanism;-

- Parliamentarians ensured full support for steps for improving journalist safety in Balochistan

as well as enacting RTI law.

- Participants agreed on establishing a strong coordination mechanism.

- There is a need for more printing press so that media circulation should be enhanced in every

part of Balochistan as currently there are only two printing points.

- Media capacity building should be the main priority. Media Academy has been approved.

- Mainstream media is not giving proper time to cover news in Balochistan.

- Balochistan government is playing its role for strengthening the media industry in

Balochistan and established multiple funds.

- There is a need for strong coordination.

- Media should promote tourism and the positive side of the state

- Ms. Bushra Rind 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 20th

December, 2019

Time From 11 am till 1:30 pm

Venue Committee Room, Balochistan Assembly

Session Plan

Time Topic of Discussion Facilitator

Introductions

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

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 mins)

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

(15 mins)

Presentations

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

National Review (VNR) Reporting SDG 16.10

(15 mins)

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 mins)

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

Safety Indicators (JSI) framework – Sharing key findings

(15 mins)


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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 the 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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Annexure C – Resolution


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Capacity Development of Working Group on SDG 16.10.1 ... · Pakistan. Sustainable Development Goal...

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