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Newsletter – April 2010 Prime Minister Yusuf Raza Gilani Represents Pakistan at the Nuclear Security Summit in USA The Prime Minister Yusuf Raza Gilani and Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi paid a brief visit to London on 10 April on their way from Pakistan to the United States to attend the Nuclear Security Summit 12-13 April 2010. Heads of State and Government from 47 countries attend the Nuclear Security Summit in the Convention Centre, Washington DC, which focused on ways to enhance nuclear security around the world. Pakistan held out assurance to the world that its nuclear program was secure and that foolproof arrangements had been made for its safety. Communiqué stated the need for capacity building for nuclear security and cooperation at bilateral, regional and multilateral levels for the promotion of nuclear security culture through technology development, human resource development, education and training; and stress the importance of optimising international cooperation and coordination of assistance. The United Kingdom was the only official nuclear weapons state (as recognised under the NPT) not to be represented by its Head of Government. British Prime Minister Gordon Brown did not attend as the summit took place during the 2010 General Election Campaign in the UK. The summit was instead attended by Foreign Secretary David Miliband. Sir Michael Barber co-chairs the In this issue: Pakistan Education Task Force Please Renew FCO Report on HR P2 Your Annual HRCP Report 2009 P3 The Fourth meeting of The SME Credit Scheme P4 Pakistan Education Task Membership Photo Exhibition P5 Force was held in April. The Iqbal’s Plaque P6 meeting was co-chaired by News in Pictures P7 Pakistan Day P8 Shahnaz Wazir Ali (Special The annual Membership fee for 2010 is now due. Obituary P9 Advisor to the Prime Minister Announcements P9 on the Social Sectors) and Ordinary Members £30, 11th SAF Games P10 Sir Michael Barber (former Students and Overseas Recent Events P11 head of the UK Prime Members £10. Forthcoming Events P11 Ministers Delivery Unit). Other Events P12 Please note that annual Annual Dinner Form P13 The objective of the task force is to increase the capacity of the subscriptions runs for one st _____________________ federal and provincial governments to implement the education year from 1 January to 31st December. The Next Event: The Pakistan reforms set out in the National Education Policy. The meeting was Society 57th Annual preceded by three days of school visits and consultations with the Membership Renewal Dinner on Wednesday, 26 Government and NGOs. Meeting focused on the results of a provincial Form and Bankers Order Form were attached to May 2010 at Lincoln’s Inn, implementation monitoring tool for the National Education Policy. The London. Task Force also discussed the textbook sourcing process by the Newsletter January 2010. Provinces and focused on textbook quality, development, production and distribution in light of the National Policy. 1 United Kingdom Foreign & Commonwealth Office Annual Report on Human Rights 2009 Degrading Treatment, and conventions relating to This is the 12th FCO Enforced Disappearances and to Refugees. Annual Report on Human Rights. The Independent Assessment of Human Rights report sets out the UK’s Key to any effective democracy is independent work and policy on oversight of state activities. In 2009, UK continued human rights in 2009, to press for the establishment of a National and explains the Commission for Human Rights. A draft bill for such importance of human a commission was approved in late 2008 by the rights across UK foreign Cabinet and is currently with the National Assembly policy goals. The report Standing Committee for Human Rights. addresses FCO activity in 22 countries of Minority Rights particular concern Pakistan must uphold the rights of all its citizens, including Pakistan. including religious and other minorities. At federal level there are ten reserved seats out of 340 in the The UK engages with Pakistan on human rights National Assembly for minority representatives. It is issues in a variety of fora. In April 2009, the Prime vitally important that work is undertaken by the Minister initiated the UK–Pakistan Strategic Pakistani government to ensure that the blasphemy Dialogue with the Pakistani government. This laws – which are designed to protect all faiths – are provides for regular summits covering the whole properly applied. The Pakistani government have range of issues that concern the UK and Pakistan, appointed the Minister for Minorities as a member including human rights. UK also works closely with of the Cabinet, implemented a five per cent quota partners in the EU to raise human rights with the for minority employment within government offices Pakistani government, such as in the bi-annual EU (two per cent more than the actual percentage of demarche on human rights. the population), and are working on amendments to blasphemy legislation. The government has also UK also engages through the EU Third Generation created a National Day for Minorities on 11 August. Cooperation Agreement, which outlines the terms of reference for the relationship between Pakistan Women’s Rights and the EU and looks at the whole range of issues The World Economic Forum Global Gender Gap where the EU and Pakistan have mutual interests. Report for 2009 ranks Pakistan 132 out of 134 The EU–Pakistan Summit held on 17 June 2009 countries in terms of the division of resources and underlined the critical importance of a stable, opportunities between men and women. The UK prosperous and democratic Pakistan to the EU. continues to urge the Pakistani government to The Summit established a Sub-Group on Human implement the recommendations of the CEDAW Rights and Governance to meet regularly with the Committee, particularly those concerning the Pakistani government. A follow-up Summit under overhaul of all legislation that discriminates against the Spanish Presidency will take place in 2010, women. The national legal framework does, where human rights will be discussed. however, offer increasing protection to women. In This direct dialogue is supported by substantial EU 2009, the government introduced the Bill for financial commitments. Between 2007 and 2010, Protection Against Domestic Violence and the Bill €200 million of general assistance will fund projects on Protection against Sexual Harassment in the focused on specific themes, including humanitarian Workplace, both of which should, if properly assistance, democracy and capacity-building for implemented, significantly improve women’s rights. local governments and NGOs. Further support is provided to local NGOs by the European Children’s Rights Commission. The UK also strongly supports the EU Following its ratification of the UN Convention on the in requiring that Pakistan sign and ratify all major Rights of the Child (CRC), the Pakistani government UN treaties related to human rights, prior to any is implementing a National Plan of Action to address further trade agreements between the EU and children’s rights. However, serious human rights Pakistan. problems remain, including the employment of children in hazardous industries from a young age. Highlights Despite legislation dating from 1991, no employer has been successfully prosecuted and only small fines UN Human Rights Treaties are paid. Many children are also born into or become UK continue to urge the Pakistani government to bonded labour (slaves) to repay family debt. UNICEF ratify the International Covenant on Civil and estimates that in 2009 there were over three million Political Rights (ICCPR) and several other key children working in this way. Government sources international treaties, including the Convention admit it is likely to be higher. Against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or 2 Pakistan is also a source, destination and transit country for child prostitution and trafficking, Human Rights Commission of although the government, through specially created Pakistan Annual Report on the antitrafficking units, continues to work closely with State of Human Rights in 2009 NGOs and regional partners, such as the United Arab Emirates, to tackle this problem. This has resulted in the repatriation of hundreds of children over the last Human Rights Commission few years. of Pakistan (HRCP) launched its annual Progress on access to education for the poorest report “State of Human remains a significant challenge. Enrolment has, Rights in 2009” on however, increased sharply over the past few years, 22 March 2010. The press with 20 million children now attending primary conference was addressed school. The UK is providing a £250-million by Ms Asma Jahangir, programme for education and skills training over the Chairperson, HRCP and next five years. A UK---Pakistan Education Task Force Mr I. A Rehman, Secretary was set up in late 2009, headed by education reform General, HRCP expert Sir Michael Barber. This is working with the Pakistani government to improve educational Highlights delivery, as one of the commitments made under the The misuse of blasphemy laws continued to UK---Pakistan Strategic Dialogue. increase, laws promulgated in 2002, including the Freedom of Information Act, were not enforced and Death Penalty proposed new laws to regulate NGOs were seen by In 2009, the death penalty was applicable to 27 activists as a potential threat to their autonomy. different crimes. According to the UN Office on Drugs and Crime, 7,046 prisoners are currently on The report said there was no evidence of a death row, where the detention regime is harsh and decrease in violence against women, with cells severely over-crowded. An influential NGO, the reported 600 losing their lives to honour killings. Human Rights Commission of Pakistan reports that 106 people were sentenced to death in 2009. In According to the report, over six million children October, President Zardari sought the views of across the country did not attend schools, many provincial governments on commuting all death being engaged, instead, in working conditions that penalty sentences to life, apart from offences related were often extremely hazardous.

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