Youth Parliament launches ‘Know Your Rights’ programme

[Naveed Yaseen]

It is definitely going to be an eventful year for youth as another Youth Parliament of Pakistan (YPP) with more than 70,000 members from across the country launched a national level human rights education programme on Wednesday for young people titled ‘Know Your Rights.’

In this regard, a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) was signed here with Ministry of Human Rights, Government of Pakistan. Both Human Rights ministry and Youth Parliament of Pakistan mutually conceived the project in consultation with Youth Alliance for Human Rights.

Under the leadership of eminent singer and social activist Abrarul Haq, the Youth Parliament of Pakistan is going to be the largest youth network to work and deal on youth issues. It has already established offices in 11 districts of the country and by the end of this month 8 more will be establish in some other districts.

Speaking at the signing ceremony, Federal Minister for Human Rights Syed Mumtaz Alam Gillani, said that it was a milestone step in the history of Pakistan that a project aimed at creating awareness among young about human rights issues had been launched by government. “It is a widespread perception that only NGOs take up human rights issues,” he said

He said that the present government’s policy of democratic governance and promotion of culture of peace and tolerance in the country would provide support to the project. “The Human Right Ministry assures maximum support from the government side.”

Chairman Youth Parliament of Pakistan Abrar ul Haq said that four years ago when they started the concept of Youth Parliament of Pakistan, they faced number of challenges to initiate the project at national level. “We received huge number of applicants for YPP membership, but by the grace of Allah almighty we have established YPP, as a branded organisation for youth of Pakistan,” he added.

He said that the YPP adheres to Universal declaration of Human Rights and designs and develops all its programmes in alignment with this declaration. “In Pakistan, young people were not given priority in human rights work and this innovative project would gather attention and support of youth masses from around the country,” he said.

“In the pilot phase we will focus all the districts where YPP has its offices and staff to initiate and manage this project and will replicate in other districts of the country,” he pointed out.

Project Coordinator YPP and Chairman Youth Alliance for Human Rights Rana Bilal Ahmad described the methodology of the project. Under this MoU, the Youth Alliance for Human Rights is responsible for translating COMPASS in agreement with Council of Europe in Urdu and will be responsible for providing HR expertise and technical support to the project.

http://www.thenews.com.pk/daily_detail.asp?id=191656