Annual

Report

2014 -15

G

Page | 2

Acknowledgement

PCSC acknowledge this work to communities, civil society

organizations and people’s movements that struggle to address the root causes of human rights violation and socioeconomic

injustices.

We are also grateful to our youth volunteers, activists and human

rights defenders who take actions & contribute their time and

energies to mobilize and educate others to up bring the cause of

human rights values, civil liberties, democratic inclusion, peace

and social harmony in society.

Acknowledging our funders

Peoples Common Struggle Center (PCSC)

acknowledges and expresses its gratitude

& thanks to XminY solidarity Fund,

Netherland for the project of food

democracy campaign.

Beside this, PCSC is also highly thankful

for organizations and individuals to

support and participated in our programs

and campaigns.

G

Page | 3

+

Contents

Acknowledgement 2

Forward 4

About us 5

Vision, Mission, Objectives 5

Outreach, Programs, Strategies 6

Program Interventions 7

Peace and Interfaith Harmony 7

Human Rights and Gender Justice 9

Democracy and Governance 10

Climate Change & Food Security 11

IEC Material 13

Media Coverage 13

Picture Gallery 14

Financial Summary 2014 16

Financial Summary 2015 17

Auditor Report – 2014 18

G

Page | 4

Forward

Since the start of our PCSC initiative from January 2011, based on volunteer actions, we have tried every possible effort to maximize our program at gross root level as well as strengthen relations with likeminded for the support of our initiatives of engaging with youth, communities and civil society actors to attain peace, human dignity, civic liberties, democratic governance as well as social and cultural rights through research, advocacy, campaigns mass mobilizations & capacity buildings Actions.

Perhaps, in 2015, accompanied with our dedicated youth at PCSC, we have started the program of mass mobilization against women violations through our campaign “Say NoTo Early Child Marriage” in Northern parts of Sindh as well as organized the events with women's’ groups to support their socioeconomic empowerment, and organized youth education programs over human rights values and democratic governance.

Working towards the ends of protection of agroecology and climate extremes, in 2015 with the support of XminY Solidarity Fund, Netherland we have organized farmers mobilization campaigns against the violations farmers’ food rights through “Seed Act Amendment Bill – 2014”

In addition to this, we also had carried out the position papers on the state of human rights, domestic violations against women and the way forward for good governance in local language. Beside this we published a couple of wall poster and flyer material for the promotion of interfaith harmony, stop honor killing, domestic violence and education awareness.

Believing in power of unity, our youth activist at PCSC have also joined local human rights forums and enthusiastically participated in the campaigns for the cause of promoting peace, human rights values as well as democratic governance and cultural harmony.

Beside this we also write our membership request to various likeminded networks and movements, and obviously this would take time because of procedural restrictions, in spite of this, the support of various local forums and individuals, & friends was quite encouraging in 2015.

Dear Friend, with meager financial resources and limited opportunities of capacity building, we couldn’t be able to expand our cause of peace and harmony, perhaps your generous involvement and support would enable us to make a vibrant movement for this global cause of defeating extremism, cultural discriminations, and socio-economic disparities.

Irshad Soomro General Secretary

G

Page | 5

About Us Peoples Common Struggle Center (PCSC) is a youth centered nonprofit organization, came

into being on January, 2011 by a group of progressive youth activists to address the root

causes of human rights violations, cultural and interfaith disharmony, climate change

extremes and to promote civil liberties as well as democratic governance at gross root level.

Registered under Societies Act XXI of 1860, from January 2014 we formally began to

initiate our programs to promote local, regional, and international peace, cooperation and

solidarity for the attainment of peaceful

progress & stand for the reinforcement of laws

and polices backed by maximum resources

based on just, fair and equitable distribution for

less advantaged groups of society, without any

discrimination of race & religion.

Vision PCSC envisions a progressive &

pluralistic society for the attainment

of equitable, sustainable and

democratic development.

Mission Catalyzing and capacitating a cadre of

vibrant youth and civil society activists

we strive to struggle for the promotion

of peace, civil liberties, cultural

harmony, climate change &

democratic Governance.

Objectives

Document and disseminate progressive research &

analysis in a popular and understandable manner,

focusing on the root causes of human rights

violations, peace and cultural disharmony, socio-

economic disparities as well as climate change &

ecological degradations.

Based on our research and analysis, PCSC foster

the culture of constructive dialogue and debate,

with youth and civil society actors to be actively

involved in advocacy and campaigning of defending

human rights values, promoting peace and cultural

harmony as well as to participate in democratic

governance and the conservation of agroecology.

Seeking the support, ways forwards and the better

understandings of the impacts of human rights

violations, cultural disharmony, democratic

governance and climate change; we organize,

network & collaborate with local, regional and

global human rights campaigns, democratic

networks and people’s movements.

G

Page | 6

Outreach

Programs

Peoples Common Struggle Center (PCSC) is one of the

organizations which primarily believe that Human Development

could only be achieved by ensuring human dignity accompanied

with peace, cultural harmony & democratic governance based on

fair and just policies.

Working towards such a sustained, equitable and democratic and

peaceful development we engage through following programs and

strategies:

1. Human Rights and Gender Justice

2. Democracy and Governance

3. Peace and interfaith Harmony

4. Climate Change & Food security

Strategies

- Publish fact findings of human

rights violations, research and

opinions on peace, harmony and

democratic governance.

- Conduct education, awareness

trainings, workshop, seminars

& symposiums.

- Advocacy and Campaigning to

put pressure on governments

and authorities for the

reinforcement of laws to ensure

human dignity and development

through just and fair policies.

- Coordination and network with

human rights and democratic

forums and networks for the

support of strengthening the

cause of solidarity of peace and

human prosperity

G

Page | 7

Peace and Interfaith harmony

Sensitizing & capacitating youth around the areas of religious tolerance, cultural harmony,

and cooperation for peace and development, Peoples Common Struggle Center (PCSC)

organized workshops with youth and civil society activists on “Impacts of Fundamentalism and Religious Extremism on Peace & Development”

The workshops were conducted with

youth of the Rustam and Chak city of

District - Shikarpur. Focusing around

the issues of current rise of religious

Program Interventions

Patriarchal taboos & religious fundamentalism are some of the major components

of violations against women, children, and minorities in Pakistan. Girls and

women are denied for their basic rights of health, education, dignity and property

and are subjected to rape, honor killing, forced marriage, forced to religion

conversion and domestic violence. Beside this, attacks & harassment of

minorities by religious fundamentalists is fueling in social disharmony.

On the other side, Pakistan is still trapped in poverty eradication, democratic and

development governance issues, hindering the cause of people access to free and

fair justice, women and minorities are restricted their right to vote, freedom of

speech and thought, and practicing their religious and cultural rituals as well as

lowering the wages & diminishing the social protections

PCSC accompanied with its vibrant youth activist and civil society actors since

the year of 2014 & 15 have intervened at various levels for the cause of gender

justice, peace, religious harmony and universal human rights of health,

education, municipals, food, shelter, security, decent wages and social security’s for formal and informal labor and working class societies

Secular Sindh This should be worth mentioning that

the province of Sindh in Pakistan is

called the land of “Sufisim” the mystics’. Throughout the centuries, Sufi

scholars have sown the seeds of love,

tolerance and cultural harmony.

However, since last 2-3 decades this

secular land of love and human dignity

have been exploited by religious

fundamentalist and feudalist entities.

G

Page | 8

extremism & its impacts on secular

communities of Sindh and their

socio-economic conditions.

Giving critique on policy issues

speakers during the workshops said

that our policy making institutions and

law enforcement agencies must have to

ensure the rule of law and keep alert

the watchdog bodies on religious

fundamentalist elements”. Beside this,

the discussion over the conditions of

rural agriculture communities

(especially the women farmers) and

their rights exploitation through biased

policies was also criticized.

Citing the examples of agriculture labor

wages of women speaker said that the

wages of women agriculture laborer are

highly discriminated and this is the

clear violation of human rights,

government must have to come forward

with clear laws and policies for the

agriculture labor force of Pakistan that

ensure their dignity of survival and

basic human rights.

G

Page | 9

Human Rights and Gender Justice

Moblizing the communities in Sindh around the issues of human rights and gender

justice, Peoples Common Struggle Center (PCSC) organized the campaign on the issue of

“Early Child Marriage” with youth, women and religious groups in six districts of North

Sindh i.e., Sukkur, Shikarpur, Kashmore, Jacobabad, Khairpur and Ghotki. The objective

behind this campaign was to develop the values of human rights and gender equality, and to

initiate a collective struggle against the cruel customs of women violations.

Moving ahead towards such a campaign PCSC

is planning to organize a series of capacity

building trainings for youth and civil society

groups. Through these trainings youth

communities and other civil society actors not

only understand the ways forward of human

rights and gender injustices but also

contribute for international solidarity, peace

and cooperation

Campaign

Say No To Early Child

Marriage

Catalyzing such a vibrant struggle, PCSC

have formally launched a campaign “Stop

Early Child Marriage” through an

approach extensive sensitizing, mobilizing

and connecting other likeminded

movements that could enable them to

understand the importance gender

equality in the context of humanity gender

rights.

G

Page | 10

Democracy & Governance

Pakistan, since its inception was always been at the crossroad of multidimensional

issues, among these the issues of good governance; democracy & development

effectiveness are considered the most critical due to lack of responsiveness, abuse of

discretion, corruption, favoritism and weak accountability on the part of public

officials and bureaucrats.

Keeping in view of Pakistan’s situation of mal-governance, rampant corruption & lack

of responsiveness for social services delivery, Peoples Common Struggle Center

(PCSC) strives to initiate ‘Social Accountability’ interventions with youth and civil society actors

focusing on the areas of: participatory budgeting,

public expenditure tracking surveys, monitoring

of public service delivery, citizen report cards,

investigative journalism, public commissions and

citizen advisory boards.

Youth Trainings on Right to Information (Article 19-A)

Achieving good governance, democracy &

development effectiveness for people’s empowerment, PCSC has initiated the capacity

building trainings of youth regarding the

importance of social accountability and the

implementation of Article – 19 - A (Right to

Information).

Promoting the rights based understandings;

PCSC had organized sessions with youth

groups (Male and Female) as this would enable

them to engage with government officials and

political leaders to ensure the effective & timely

service delivery.

G

Page | 11

Civil Society Dialogue

On the occasion of May Day (Labor Day) Peoples Common Struggle Center (PCSC) organized “Civil Society Dialogue on Seed Act (amendment) Bill – 2014 & Agriculture Labor Force of Pakistan” objective of the event was to strengthen the struggle of agriculture labor force of Pakistan for reclaiming their rights on natural resources i.e., land, seed, water and forests.

Fostering the demand of agriculture laborer as formal laborer, Peoples Common Struggle Center (PCSC) accompanied with civil society members and farmers exchanged the grim conditions of small and landless agriculture labor force of Pakistan which is exacerbating day by day through maneuvering of local laws with the collusion transnational agriculture corporations.

On this occasion, participants in the event were also briefed about the role of ineffective government policies regarding the labor and agriculture sector of Pakistan which paves the ways for their rights and resource violations.

Climate Change &

Food Security

About 75 % of the households own no land

in Pakistan. Moreover, the increased climate

extremes have exacerbated the situations of

devastating forests and mangroves causing

sea intrusion, floods, expelling the peasants

and fisher folk communities from lands &

waters, unleashing massive unemployment

and food insecurity.

Focusing on such massive human and

environmental catastrophes, we advocate for

peoples’ control over land, water and forests, practicing their right of food democracy that

guarantees to produce food according to

their cultural traditions.

Beside this, we defend & promote

ecologically sustainable agriculture &

traditional seeds to ensure food democracy

as well as reduce dependency on corporate

food producing patterns which are

ecologically, socially & economically

harmful for societies already in worse

conditions.

G

Page | 12

Campaigning with Defenders

Moving ahead towards defending the right to food of the most marginalized and vulnerable groups of agrarian society, Peoples Common Struggle Center (PCSC) with the generous support of XminY Solidarity fund Netherland organized campaign against the Seed Act Bill – 2014 from the National Assembly of Pakistan.

Making this more effective, PCSC at the first instance engaged with peasant communities in five districts of Sindh to sensitize them about the worse impact of bill and the socio – economic as well as agroecolgical impacts by criminalizing farmers.

In the second move PCSC sensitized the issue through social activist and human

rights defenders and started campaign to stop the Seed Act Bill – 2014. Through

their generous time and support PCSC took start and organized a rally and

demonstration at press club – Sukkur to record the concerns and grieves of the

peasant society

G

Page | 13

Media Coverage

IEC Material

For the purpose of community mobilization and developing peasant’s basic

understanding towards the immediate policy issues, Peoples Common

Struggle Center (PCSC) also published the IEC material highlighting the

impacts of Seed Act (amendment) Bill – 2014. The material was disseminated

during the peasants mobilization campaigns “Promote food sovereignty – Resist Seed Piracy” The IEC material was based on pictorial & narrative

information on presentation, wall posters and flyers.

G

Page | 14

Picture Gallery

Community engagements on Peace and interfaith

Harmony

Community Seminar on Honor Killings

G

Page | 15

Gender Equality and Domestic

violence programs

Youth workshops on Right to

Information

G

Page | 16 Financial Summary 2014

Assets Philanthropy

Income (Rs)

Consultancy

Income (Rs)

Donation In

Kind (Rs) Total (Rs)

Balance as on 31-12-2013 -

- - -

Income During 2014

150,000

200,000

113,500

463,500

Expenditure During-2014

150,000

200,000

102,600

452,600

Balance as on 31-12-2014 -

-

10,900

10,900

G

Page | 17

Financial Summary 2015

Assets Funding Philanthropy

Income (Rs)

Consultancy

Income (Rs) Total (Rs)

Balance as on 31-12-2014

- 10,900 10,900

Income During 2015 115, 000 180,000 225,000 520,000

Expenditure During-2015 115,000 180,000 215,000 510,000

Balance as on 31-12-2015

- 10,000 20,900

G

Page | 18

G

Page | 19

G

Page | 20

G

Page | 21

G

Page | 22

B

PEOPLES COMMON STRUGGLE CENTER

Bashirabad Colony, North West Canal,

Military Road (Sukkur) Sindh

PH # + 92- 3312652219

Email# pcsc.org@gmail.com

Blog# pcsc4org.wordpress.com