Islamabad Resolution
by National Consultation of Civil Society Organizations
(September 05, 2013 Islamabad)
ISLAMABAD: Arepresentative forum of civil
society organisations from across Pakistan met today in Islamabad to discuss
ways for effective engagement with federal and, provincial governments and
state institutions, civil society and concerned citizens for strengthening a
representative democracy, citizenship, and social and economic justice through coordinated
and focused lobbying and actions.
The national consultation held at the Aurat Foundation's office was convened by
South-Asia Partnership- Pakistan and participated by leading civil society
organizations endorsed the following resolution :
We
RECOGNIZE the significance and importance of this assembly in the back drop of present
scenario where the country is faced with serious problems of bad governance
including terrorism, lawlessness, rising poverty, energy crisis and other
economic challenges. We also note with pleasure the smooth transition of power
from one elected government to the other. However, we consider it important to
stress on the newly elected government to take the democratic traditions forward
and address to the urgent and important issues of public ensuring people
centered governance.
We BELIEVE that neither the country's development nor its policy
making adequately involves public participation. As a result of the top down
development, the implementation gaps notwithstanding, issues of ownership,
ecology, access to resources stand majorly compromised. We emphasise that planning
and development must be a bottom-up approach and the state must make an effort
to make people's involvement in their own development and future possible.
We
NOTE with concern a gradual indiscernible reversal of devolution through the
Constitutional Reforms (18th Amendment) that will deprive the people
of Pakistan of a landmark gain through a democratic process. Ambiguities in the responsibilities and
authorities of the federal and provincial institutions demand clarity and
reconstitution of roles. We believe the constitution and 18th Amendment must be considered as guiding
principles to determine the role of the federal government and provincial
governments. Federal government's obsession with trespassing into provinces'
domain will have far reaching ramifications. This approach has intensified a
deep rooted distrust among federating units and must be refrained forthwith. There
is a need to take devolution process from provinces to district level with
substantive institutional reforms and genuine representation of the public.
We
are also TROUBLED with issues of gender discrimination, growing intolerance
against non-Muslims and the rising trends of ethnic and sectarian violence all
over the country.
We are HUMBLED with the contribution and gains of civil society organizations
in upholding citizens' rights, relentless struggle for fundamental freedoms,
free judiciary and democratic development. This assembly concludes with this
resolve to continue its struggle for further deepening democratic processes and
traditions through coordinated and focused actions among diverse civil society
groups and institutions.
We RESOLVE forming the Pakistan Civil
Society Forum as a joint platform of action, coordination and engagement
with government, national and international institutions. We believe this
platform will be instrumental in promoting joint actions for citizens' rights and
bridge the gap between government and people, advocate issues of fundamental
importance to people and reemphasize important issues in the national agenda.
THE Forum REAFFIRMS its commitment for continuing its struggle for citizens'
rights and democratic, human and social development in the country.
We
REASSURE our constituents to become a viable and effective platform for
coordination, collective actions, lobbying and engagement with diverse actors
including political parties, federal and provincial governments, media,
national and international institutions.
A national level core committee has been formed comprising representatives of all
federating units and rights-based organizations. The committee will engage
other CSOs,public
representatives, state institutions and concerned citizens for further
diversifying its support base.
Senior
representatives of the following civil society organizations participated in
the meeting and endorsed the resolutions:
Aurat
Foundation, South Asia Partenership Pakistan (SAP-PK), Human Rights Commission
of Pakistan (HRCP), Strengthening Participatory Organisations (SPO), SUNGI
Development Foundation, Sindh Agriculture, Water and Forestory Cooperative
(SAWFCO), Institute of Development Pratices and Services (IDSP), Seemorgh,
Sustainable Development Policy Institute (SDPI), Khwendo Kor, Pakistan
Institute for Labour, Education and Research (PILER), Management &
Development Centre (MDC), Women Rights Association (WRA), Bargad, Pakistan
Fisherfolk Forum (PFF), Interactive Resource Centre (IRC), Rozan, Bedari
(Sialkot), Development
Action for Mobilization & EmancipatioN (DAMEN), Awaz CDS, Cholistan
Development Council (CDC), Potohar Organization for Development Advocacy(PODA), Acid Survivors Foundation (ASF),
Insan Foundation, PAIMAN, Society
for Alternative Media and Research (SAMAR),
Social Awareness & Development Organization (SADO), Jobs Creating Development Society (JCDS),
SEHER, Christian Study Centre (CSC).