This E-Newsletter is based on the activities of Bargad done during the months of November2009 - March 2010 to promote Peace, Justice and Cooperation among youth in Pakistan.

Supported by Heinrich Boll Stiftung

This brochure is based on the project Empowering girls-Transforming Communities. A new project has been launched exclusively for young girls of Gujranwala to foster a culture of equal opportunities for them. This is a 3-year project where first year of the project revolves around Life Skill Education comprising of life skills and social empowerment competencies. However second and third year of the project are designed to impart Economic Empowerment Skills so that the young girls get comprehensive understanding with economic development, rules of small scale business and perform an active role in economic development of their families. The project has been initiated with support of World Population Foundation and funded by The David and Lucile Packard Foundation. It aims to benefit 21000 young girls and 25000 parents of district Gujranwala.

Supported by World Population Foundation(WPF)& the David&lucile Packard Foundation

PAKISTAN: NATIONALISM, PROVINCIAL AUTONOMY AND DECENTRALIZATION – A HISTORICAL ANALYSIS
2009, pp. 34.

This booklet is a valuable and informative historical resource on the issue of provincial autonomy and has traced tendencies of centralization since the colonial times. It argues for embracing the diversity of Pakistani regions and instigates a dialogue that is informed by detailed historical evidence on centrist forces in the country. Some of the information given in the booklet challenge many generally held assumptions about the political history of Pakistan

The booklet would start a new dialogue with youth who are expected to unload historical baggage of parochial assumptions about the issue.

Preface of the booklet has been written by Prof. Aziz-uddin Ahmad.

This booklet was launched during the ALL PAKISTAN STUDENT LEADERS’ CONFERENCE ON PEACEBUILDING IN CAMPUSES (19th-24th July 2009) organized by BARGAD.

Supported by HBS/ Written by Aamir Riaz

MANIFESTOS OF STUDENT ORGANIZATIONS IN PAKISTAN
2009, pp. 20.

This is a unique compilation of manifestos, constitutions, aspirations and aims and objectives of student organizations working in Pakistan. This booklet will not only inform students and interested public about the student organizations, but it also facilitates a flow of basic information among activists of various organizations, which include Islami Jamiat-e-Talaba, Imamia Student Organization, Anjuman-e-Talaba-e-Islam, Insaf students Federation, All Pakistan Muttahida Students Organisation, Baloch Students Organization - Bijjar, Pukhtunkhawa Students Organization, Pukhtun Students Federation, Peoples’ Students Federation, Jamiat Talaba-e-Islam, Jammu Kashmir Peoples’ Students Organization, Jammu Kashmir Students Liberation Front, Jiye Sindh Students Federation, Punjab Students Council, Baloch Council, Pukhtun Students Council, Students Action Committee, Sindh Taraqi Pasand Students Federation, National Students Federation, and University Students Federation.

This booklet was launched during the ALL PAKISTAN STUDENT LEADERS’ CONFERENCE ON PEACEBUILDING IN CAMPUSES (19th-24th July 2009) organized by BARGAD.

Supported by HBS / Compiled by Aamir Riaz

It was a refreshing to see more than 88 student and youth leaders belonging to all mainstream student organizations, existing student councils and provincial youth assemblies (UNFPA) deliberated on the national youth policy and made recommendations.

The present report is a welcome note on interaction of student leaders with policy issues that may have direct bearing upon their national lives but are general obscured in the heat of party politics. On the other hand, it may also urge the donors and policy makers to create due need of political will for public good.

Supported by United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA)

((2)REPORT: PROVINCIAL AUTONOMY AND THE SOURCES OF INTERNAL CONFLICT IN PAKISTAN
July 2009/ Lahore, pp. 12.

(1) YOUTH AND EXTREMISM: This report narrates proceedings of a 1-day session on Youth and Extremism as part of the All Pakistan Student Leaders Conference on Peacebuilding in Campuses (19-24 July, 2009). The key objective of this session was to contribute to the political support against radicalisation of organised youth in Pakistan. It was an exclusive case in point where more than 88 student and youth leaders belonging to all mainstream student organisations and existing student councils discussed a very imperative subject of youth and extremism, Pakistan has to put up with all through its subsistence.

(2) PROVINCIAL AUTONOMY AND THE SOURCES OF INTERNAL CONFLICT IN PAKISTAN: This report narrates proceedings of the consultative session held on 23 July 2009 during the All Pakistan Student Leaders’ Conference on Peacebuilding in Campuses (19th-24th July 2009). This proved to be one of the most contested sessions, which aimed to provide platform for the student leaders from all corners of the country to promote nation building through cooperation

Supported by

BARGAD organized an ‘All Pakistan Student Leaders Conference on Peacebuilding in Campuses’ for six days (19-24 July) in Lahore. This was a rare occasion to build political support against youth violence and extremism that has been one of the main reasons to ban student politics in Pakistan in 1984. It was also a historic event in which more than 80 student leaders belonging to all mainstream student organizations and existing student councils from every province and Azad Jammu and Kashmir participated.

Before this conference, it was deemed unthinkable that student organizations could get together under a single platform because many have known enmity with each other which also has caused the loss of deaths of student activists. However, BARGAD was successful to convince the student organizations ranging from Islami Jamiat Talaba, Peoples Students Federation to Jiye Sindh Student Mahaz to Pukhtun Students Federation and Baloch Student Organization and many others to publically talk to one another.

During this historic conference, the student leaders could chalk out a code of conduct for prospective student representative bodies on campuses; discussed youth and extremism issues; deliberated on the sensitive issue of provincial autonomy as a source of internal conflict and mapped out an action plan to turn the national youth policy into reality.

It is hoped that the Pakistan Student Leaders Conference on Peacebuilding in Campuses’ would go a long way to contribute to student-centred, pro-peace and women-friendly campuses in Pakistan and has been instrumental in building blocks for national reconciliation.

Supported by

Highly innovative and stimulating: this book provides a wide range of developmental perspectives to the study of student politics in Pakistan – a clear departure from traditional examination limited to political and ideological contexts of student action in campuses.

REVISITING STUDENT POLITICS IN PAKISTAN combines rare chapters in history, analysis and documentation of student politics.

This book deciphers patterns of key student movements in Pakistan through extensive historical information and fresh analytical approaches. Readers are provided with additional evidence through interviews of 24 past student leaders and a detailed chronology of events.

The author argues that a fundamental transition in student politics of Pakistan is in the making due to changes in the academic environment, socio-political variations and shifts in resource building and motivational stimulus for students of the nation.

The book maintains that all stakeholders of student politics will have to readjust to new realities; including the need to reform governance structures of the higher education for multi-stakeholder participation in the system.

Useful for those who are concerned over youth violence and sensitive to women participation in Pakistani campuses, this highly original study will be of interest to students, educationists, political activists, researchers, civil society and public interest leaders, media persons, policy makers and the government functionaries.

This report documents a rare interaction in Pakistan between the higher education and the civil society practitioners to forge a multi-sector alliance for ensuring pro-peace and women friendly campuses in Pakistan. Participants and resource persons of the NATIONAL CONFERENCE ON PEACE-BUILDING &WOMEN LEADERSHIP DEVELOPMENT IN CAMPUSES were mainly the Vice Chancellors (VCs) and senior faculty members from Pakistani Universities and higher education institutions.

The proceedings, papers and discussions of the national conference have been synthesized here. This report reflects high-valued input from an august house to also offer strategic depth to the political support against youth radicalization in our country

It is hoped that discussions, action plans and recommendations made by worthy participants of the national conference would help the higher education planners to chalk out their future strategies and facilitate to aggregate interests of all those who believe in a peaceful and thriving Pakistan.

Supported by Quilliam Foundation / Report by Iqbal Haider Butt

A RESEARCH STUDY UNDER THE PROJECT “BRIDGING SKILL AND PERCEPTION GAPS IN WOMEN EMPLOYMENT”

The present study by Ali Salman reveals that a resounding 80% people express their view that in terms of communication skills, there are no significant gender based differences. A similar favorable opinion exists in case of perception on the confidence level, where 76% believe that women and men fare equally well on the issue of confidence level. It further says that 71% people believe that there are no significant gender differences in the analytical ability while 48% people believe that the gender differences in leadership skills are significant.

These studies helped BARGAD to implement training on communication, prepare a manual on communication, compile an Employers’ Directory and organize a Job Festival in Gujranwala in collaboration with the Gift University, in which thousands of young graduates benefited from skill training programs like CV writing, job interviewing and communication and were also able to submit their CVs to the employers present there.

“BRIDGING SKILL AND PERCEPTION GAPS IN WOMEN EMPLOYMENT” was a skill mapping project aimed at bringing out skill gaps in the job market i.e. differences between expectations of the employers and capacity and skills level of young and fresh graduates. It also looked into the perception and cultural barriers against young female graduates wishing to enter the labour market. The organization undertook the challenging, yet rewarding task of creating an interactive network between employers and the potential employers. During this process, two research studies were conducted among other key tasks: 1. SKILL GAPS IN LABOUR MARKET (Ali Salman), 2. REPRESSED RESOURCES: A RESEARCH STUDY ON GENDER GAP IN LABOUR MARKET - ISSUES AND CHALLENGES IN THE FORMAL SECTOR (Nasira Habib)

Supported by Canadian International Development Agency - Programme for Advancement of Gender Equality (CIDA-PAGE)
Lead Researcher and Author: Ali Salman

REPRESSED RESOURCES: A RESEARCH STUDY ON GENDER GAP IN LABOUR MARKET - ISSUES AND CHALLENGES IN THE FORMAL SECTOR has been undertaken in one of the booming industrial hubs of Pakistan, Gujranwala. This survey research demonstrates an overwhelming majority of the selected industrialists, educationists and community members normatively affirms that women should work in offices and factories which have been seen until recent times an arena unsuitable for women.

REPRESSED RESOURCES …….. identifies the gaps in demand and supply in terms of educational and management skills and analyzes the perceptions of the employers, educational institutions, students and the community about the capabilities of women as managers and why there is a huge gender gap at those positions.

REPRESSED RESOURCES …… also offers detailed recommendations as well to cope with the issues and challenges of women employment in the formal sector.

It is hoped that results of study will pave ways for linking education with labour market for inclusion of an emerging female youth workforce in Pakistan.

Supported by Canadian International Development Agency - Programme for Advancement of Gender Equality (CIDA-PAGE)
Lead Researcher and Author: Nasira Habib

By reviewing past policies in Pakistan, this book presents several insights and ideas about youth policy process and also suggest an alternative paradigm for Pakistan.

The book was prepared to contribute to the on-going national youth policy formulation and to give a comprehensive model of the national youth policy in Pakistan.

The book concentrates on four areas of change: understanding youth situation in Pakistan, articulating concepts of youth development, reviewing national youth policies of the past, and presenting an alternative youth policy of Pakistan.

It unfolds the debate on youth policy and information processes. It also offers several recommendations for youth development and youth empowerment, by creating nexus of youth and the society at large.

Farrukh Moriani, UN Advisor for Corporate Governance, has written its foreword and congratulated the author “for this engaging effort at providing a voice to youth issues in public policy.” Mohammad Tahseen, Executive Director, South Asia Partnership (SAP) Pakistan, in his appreciation note thinks this document will serve as an important building block to come up with a comprehensive youth policy in Pakistan.

William D. Angel, Secretary General, International Council on National Youth Policy (ICNYP) – Austria, has commended this work as “wonderful book, which covers many aspects of the question of a national youth policy in Pakistan…………It is a book well worth reading on the roles of youth in the present and future national development of Pakistan.”

It is hoped that this book will prove an important work in Pakistan to better understand youth issues, to enhance policy and analytical capacity, and to improve quality of the youth related national policies.

Supported by BARGAD/ Author: Ali Salman

Conducted by youth from Gujranwala, this comprehensive study shows alarming evidence of street harassment inflicted upon girls in the district. 96% of the female respondents of this study confided that they have been victim of street harassment. The study observes that street harassment has caused a major hindrance in public and social mobility of girls.

To run successful campaigns against street harassment, activists and policy makers need to focus upon conflicting perceptions of the issue between boys and girls. According to data collected by this study, there was a vast contrast on how boys and girls take the incidence of street harassment. For 52% boys, it was “enjoyment and fun” and majority of male respondents (76.0%) are of the view that boys feel good, take pleasure and gain satisfaction after harassing girls. On the other hand, 72% girls felt extremely bad and became angry on such events.

It is the most comprehensive survey of community trends on the issue. It provides empirical data on tendencies, techniques, reasons and sources of street harassment. It also informs whether boys are aware of the feelings and damage that it causes within girls. Some other questions answered are: At what age boys start harassment? Do they feel guilty? What type of girls they prefer to harass? What can be the possible measures to stop it? Who is responsible? What is the frequency and percentage of girls suffering from harassment? What should be their reaction and strategy to eliminate this evil?

In tracking and validating data on the issue, the study examines three major areas: causes of street harassment, social and psychological impact of the phenomenon, and the preventive measures.

The study provides data that can help the civil society to prevent abuses against women. Without such trend data neither civil society nor policy makers can do much about transforming our polity into a modern and progressive regime in Pakistan.

Supported by Gender Equality Project (GEP)

Published report of a seminar, where experts and youth are concerned over expansion of militarist mindset especially amongst youth in Pakistan. They are apprehensive that decisions are being increasingly made on the basis of balance of power in Pakistan.

Dr. Kaiser Bengali, Mr Irfan Mufti, Mr. Sohail Warraich, Mr. Zafar ullah Khan, Mr. Azam Nazeer Tarar, Ms Fareeda Sher and Ms Neelum Hussain take on the issue from different disciplinary and professional backgrounds to resist militarization of the society.

Supported by HBS/ Report by Zahoor Ahmed

Brochure in English and Urdu introducing vision, mission, values, key qualification, programme and thematic areas, partners, staff, BoD and contacts of the organization.

Supported by