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The South Asian Partnership Pakistan (SAPP) has launched anti-hate speech campaign "Bolo Zimaydari Se" in 45 districts of the Punjab and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa to mark the International Peace Day. The campaign attempts to educate 0.5 million people in Pakistan through the short message service about the negative impacts of hate speech in Pakistan.
The launching ceremony was held in a hotel on Monday and was attended by people hailing from different walks including politicians, media, lawyers, community members and leading civil society organisations. SAPP has launched this campaign under "Awaz Accountability Programme" in collaboration with its partner organisations - AF, SPO and Sungi Development Foundation.
This campaign will create awareness among messages regarding responsible citizenship, bring amendments in laws affecting religious minorities, strictly ban hate speech and hate material available in all forms including in curriculum. All speakers declared this campaign as need of the hour to create a real democratic and pluralistic society. Appreciating the government's move under National Action Plan, they also demanded all points of this plan, particularly regarding hate speech and material, be implemented with letter and spirit.
In a speech, human rights activist from the Human Rights Commission of Pakistan (HRCP), IA Rehman said, "Bolo Zimadari Se campaign is more important than any other campaign because it will help make people choosy and responsible for their words." He said that using hate words even by children keeps them away from real progress and fruits of life.
He said that since in the presence of hate speech healthy and real democracy can never flourish, therefore it must be discouraged and all of its form should be banned completely to create a peaceful society. He further said that although there are many laws available regarding the mater in question, but originally such laws were framed during colonial era and were used to snub the voice of the people.
The National Commission for Justice and Peace executive director emphasised media to play its role for discouraging hate speech. He said, "The media plays an important role in making and breaking the opinions of the people, therefore it must also focus on discouraging hate speeches. Any kind of irresponsible reporting can make the situation otherwise. He urged media organisations to help other civil society organisations to create awareness among the masses regarding the negative impacts of hate speech."
Member of the Punjab Assembly and Punjab Minorities Advisory Council Chairperson Mary Gill said in her speech, "All available laws discouraging hate speech should be implemented with letter and spirit." She also paid tribute to the Supreme Court of Pakistan for its landmark verdict regarding the protection of religious minorities and for directing the authorities concerned to take necessary action against all such acts that are causing disturbance in society.
She also appreciated the launching of this campaign in words that it was direly needed that civil society organizations of Pakistan should take a joint action to discourage hate speech and hate material as it was largely affecting the religious minorities. SAPP Deputy Director Irfan Mufti while highlighting the objectives of this campaign said that it aims at the revision of curriculum, training of teachers and religious scholars, amendments in laws affecting religious minorities, ban on hate speech and hate material and review of education policy. He said that since teachers and religious scholars can play a pivotal role in creating a balanced society in Pakistan, therefore training programmes should be conducted.
He also said that similarly education policy and curriculum plays a major role in national building, therefore curriculum from hate material should be cleaned while the educations policy should reflect all regardless of caste and religion.

Copyright Business Recorder, 2015

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