IN THIS ISSUE

VISIBLE BORDERS & HIDDEN BORDERS
Pakistani fishermen at the forefront of a new social movement

MOBILISATIONS OF SOLIDARITY AND CITIZENSHIP
Pakistani NGOs on the earthquake front

PAKISTANI WOMEN ARE NOT SUBMISSIVE !
Lifting the veil on Pakistani women

CULTURES & SOLIDARITY
Cultural events form part of the WSF

A GLIMPSE OF THE KARACHI WSF
WSF in Karachi postponed
 ISSUE N°1
12 January 2006


EDITORIAL

Pakistan, is an impoverished backwater overrun with gun-toting lunatics and fundamentalists ! That’s the way this country is repeatedly derided by the international media.
Actually, there is a very vibrant hidden and unreported side of Pakistani society whom we never speak about. A whole spectrum of progressive, open minded, secular and democratic forces that have been fighting hard for the last 25 years to craft and remake another Pakistan.
Recently in Pakistan, a large number of NGOs, independent groups and social movements joined hands to embark on the ambitious project of hosting one part of the World Social Forum.
This dynamic project, supported especially by our Pakistani partners whom, we, Frères des Hommes, have been engaged with since the 1990’s, is an extraordinary surge of hope for all these grassroots movements, fighting against poverty and exclusion. A great perspective for the creation of a social, democratic and secular forum which we naturally decided to join.
This newsletter is a modest effort to tell the story of this other modern and forward looking Pakistan, and of the struggle of all these civil society movements who contribute to the fight against poverty and to supporting the most vulnerable organizations. It also aims to inform how the issues affecting Pakistani society are also ours, and lastly, to encourage exchanges as well as the active participation of the largest number to the upcoming World Social Forum.


Frères des Hommes


Frères des Hommes
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75006 PARIS
+33 1.55.42.62.62
www.fdh.org

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Pakistani fishermen at the forefront of a new social movement
Among the underprivileged social classes, fishermen occupy a place apart in Pakistan. Beyond the Indo Pakistani frontier, and in unison with their counterparts in India, Pakistani fishermen have been fighting for their basic rights for many years. Having paid a heavy price due to the continued conflict between India and Pakistan, the fishermen have organised themselves, and are today at the forefront of a new type of trade unionism in the region. This movement is led in Pakistan by the Pakistan Fisherfolk Forum (PFF). PFF represents some 125000 fishermen and a population of about 15 million; PFF has led a series of struggles against social injustice that have shaken Pakistan, which have at times perilous been for its members.

 

Pakistani NGOs on the earthquake front
On October 8th, Kashmir and North West Province Frontier (NWPF) areas in Pakistan were hit by a very violent earthquake, the most destructive disaster in the history of the country. More than 79 000 dead, thousands of injured and no less than 3 million homeless. A calamity which has required the quick setting up of emergency aid and support programs for victims and at the same time, which has brought to the reconsideration of the role and status of non governmental organizations and other local associations in Pakistan.

 

Lifting the veil on Pakistani Women
Victims of honour crimes, scorned and assaulted by their husbands, fathers or brothers, unfairly put in jail, excluded from the political life, … this is the image usually conveyed about women’s status in Pakistan.
A negative description, which is certainly realistic, but restrictive, since another, often unrecognised side of women in Pakistani society exists...

 

Cultural events form part of the WSF
At the beginning of October, the Youth and Culture Committee presented some events planned by Pakistani civil society organizations (Alaap, Youth Alliance for Human Rights, SPARK, Bargad, Maqsad, etc.) as part of the preparation of the World Social Forum in Karachi:
Youth competitions (song writing and composition), Punjab Writer's Conference on WSF themes; Seminar on "Role of Youth in making peace in South Asia", launching of publication on "Peace Breaking Borders", Concert for Peace; Child Labor Free Week, Youth theatre festival, Mural on WSF themes, etc.

 

WSF in Karachi postponed
Last November 19th, the National Steering Committee (NSC) of Pakistan and the Organizing Committee (OC) of WSF 2006 Karachi met in Lahore, Pakistan. The hundred OC and NSC members who participated in this meeting shown general satisfaction on the progress made in difficult circumstances and conditions. During this meeting, the members were informed that the WSF Secretariat in Karachi was now functioning full time, that all the task groups were holding their regular meetings and above all, that on the 15th of November about 240 activities had been registered.