Press Statement <Download in PDF format>

The Justice and Peace Workers moot demands addressing key human rights issues in Pakistan

The 6th Justice and Peace Workers meeting of Asia was held in Rawalpindi from the February 6 to 11, 2005 under the auspices of the Catholic National Commission for Justice and Peace of Pakistan. Besides visiting village communities, slums and organizations working for education and human rights, the participants were part of discussions on the main theme "Pakistan in the Changing Global Scenario". The participants of the meeting hailing from Hong Kong, South Korea, Japan, Sri Lanka, Singapore, Afghanistan, Philippines and Pakistan joined by representatives of Justice and Peace Commissions from Oceania, Europe and Pax Christi International.

The participants from different countries had opportunity to exchange views with relevant government bodies during meetings at the Ministry of Religious and Minority Affairs, as well as with the National Commission on the Status of Women of Pakistan.

We were encouraged to note that the government had introduced certain initiatives with regard to the human rights. However, considering that implementation of human rights standards remains a big challenge due to customary practices, obscurantism and stringent laws made in the past.

At the conclusion of our meeting we would like to recommend the following steps in order to improve human rights conditions in the country.

We call upon the government of Pakistan to control violence and discrimination against women, improve conditions for the labour and political participation of the masses of Pakistan and take concrete steps to meet the Millennium Development Goals, e.g. quality education for all, safe motherhood and elimination of extreme poverty by 2015.

We also urge the government to seek by all means a peaceful resolution of ongoing conflicts, including the current tension going on in Baluchistan. Besides these general recommendations we urge the government to take following concrete steps for the protection and promotion of human rights:

a) We call upon the government of Pakistan to restore joint electorate for local bodies elections and ensure preparation of joint and common electoral list to eliminate religious discrimination in the political order.

b) Regarding the status of women we call for the implementation of all recommendations made by the National Commission on the Status of Women in 2003, including repeal of Hudood Ordinances that are responsible for enhanced violence against women.

c) Regarding Blasphemy Laws we call upon the government to repeal Sections 295-B & C, 298-A, B & C of Pakistan Penal Code, which have been evidently misused and are cause of human rights violations.

d) We stress upon the need for instituting a Permanent and Independent Commission for Minorities, which should be empowered to address the complaints and provide speedy redress.

e) We encourage the government to formulate a concrete program for the elimination of bonded labour and implementation of broad based agricultural reforms, including fixing minimum wage for the agricultural workers, providing land to tillers and landless peasants the opportunity to own land through government schemes.

f) We are concerned about the plight of women domestic workers who are often exploited and harassed. We call for an appropriate legislation to protect their rights.

In our commitment with people of Pakistan, the civil society and in particular the National Commission for Justice and Peace, we encourage all efforts for a more just and peaceful society.


Archbishop Lawrence J. Saldanha February 10, 2005
Chairperson
National Commission for Justice and Peace

The 6th Justice and Peace Workers Meeting of Asia was held in Rawalpindi from February 6-11, 2005 under the auspices of the Catholic National Commission for Justice and Peace of Pakistan.

The Participants came from Hong Kong, South Korea, Japan, Sri Lanka, Singapore, Afghanistan, Philippines and Pakistan and were joined by representatives of Asian Center for the Progress of Peoples (ACPP), Justice and Peace Commissions from New Zealand/ Aotearoa, Netherlands, the Conference of European Justice and Peace Commissions and Pax Christi International. The participants were encouraged by the participation of Archbishop Lawrence J. Saldanha, the Archbishop of Lahore and Chairperson of the National Commission for Justice and Peace.

The participants were able to exchange views and listen to Mr. I.A. Rehman, the Director of Human Rights Commission of Pakistan on the first day and met with members of the civil society in Lahore. Visiting NCJP office at Lahore and seeing a bit of Basant was also part of the program of the first day. Exposure to village communities, slums and Catholic Board of Education of Lahore Diocese was the next activity.

Assembling at Rawalpindi, the participants met, the Minister of Religious and Minority Affairs, as well as the Chairperson of the National Commission on the Status of Women of Pakistan.

The experience of exposure was shared in plenary sessions. A day was reserved for discussions on the main theme "Pakistan in the Changing Global Scenario". The presentations were given on the Pakistani model of human rights work, and civil society by Mr. Mazhar Arif, Fr. Bonnie Mendes and Mr. Peter Jacob.


Country Reports
The country reports began with a presentation from the representative of Misereor from Afghanistan who gave an over view of the challenges and the civil society response in the country. In the country reports the participants identified the following issues and concerns:

• Militarization- US Military presence in the region
• Impact of the globalization
• National Security Laws
• Human Rights violations
• Freedom of thought/ expression
• Democracy
• Environment
• Impact of Tsunami
• Armed Islamic Militancy
• Leadership for human rights activism
• Migrant workers

Plan of Action
The participants discussed the possible activities in sub-regional groups and identified actions requiring solidarity by all members and try to involve the Justice and Peace workers in the countries who are not represented. A plan of action was discussed and agreed upon.


Press Conference at Islamabad
The participants worked on the draft of the statement and presented it in a press conference on February 10, 2005 highlighting the key human rights issues in Pakistan along with the recommendations to improve human rights conditions in the country. The press conference was presided over by the Archbishop Lawrence John Saldanha and was attended by a large number of media persons from Islamabad.


Who we are?
The participants discussed the aims, the structure, the membership and the future course of action of the meeting. This leads to a following understanding:

The Justice and Peace Workers Asia-Pacific Forum is a proactive network of solidarity among women and men working with Catholic Justice and Peace organizations and affiliated groups and organizations in the region. The forum meets periodically to reflect on Justice and Peace work to share experiences and information and to organize a common action plan to meet the needs of the time. Those organizations working for Justice and Peace outside the region can be invited to the forum for the meeting and solidarity action.

It was agreed that the Forum will continue inviting Catholic Bishops in the region to be involved and advise the Forum.


Next Meeting
First choice is to hold the meeting in Bangkok in September 2006 before or after the Pax Christi International Consultation and the second choice is India on the invitation of National Justice and Peace Commission in Delhi. The coordinating body will follow-up on this.


Rawalpindi- Pakistan

Date: February 11, 2005