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)
CAPACITY ORIENTATION SDG 16.10.1 ACTIVITY REPORT BALOCHISTAN
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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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