LAHORE: A regional conference was held at the Human Rights Commission of Pakistan (HRCP) on Saturday during which speakers from Pakistan, India, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Afghanistan and Maldives spoke on topics ranging from youth politics, communalism, online harassment of women to regional connectivity, flood relief and more.

Organised jointly by AGHS Legal Aid Cell, Voicepk.net and South Asians for Human Rights, the hybrid conference with international speakers joining online was attended by hundreds of students, activists, journalists and lawyers.

The first session, ‘Challenges to youth participation in politics in South Asia’, was moderated by Prof Dr Ammar Ali Jan. Pashtun Tahaffuz Movement chairman Manzoor Pashteen and student activist Sadia Baloch said the state and establishment had drawn red lines for youth participation in politics, which, if crossed, was met with violence, enforced disappearances and oppression.

Historian Sumail Singh Sidhu from India and activist Prabodha Rathnayaka from Sri Lanka participated through a video link.The second session, ‘Digital witch-hunts: who is the churail?’, was moderated by lawyer Reema Omer.

Journalist Nidhi Razdan from India said online harassment of women was common among South Asian nations, adding the ruling BJP was behind a troll campaign against her.

Journalist Gharidah Farooqi said online harassment was not limited to trolling, but could turn into real-life violence, and accused the formerly ruling PTI of organising campaigns against her. Activist Ahmed Tholal from the Maldives mentioned impunity for those responsible for online harassment of women.

Journalist Munizae Jahangir sought accountability for those spreading hate speech.Activist Damith Chandimal from Sri Lanka and Bangladeshi anchor Naznin Munni also spoke through video links.

Senior lawyer Saroop Ijaz moderated the session, titled ‘Role of the state in communalism’. Activist Dev Desai observed despite India being the largest democracy, it had different laws for its minorities.Dr Ayra Indrias Patras from the FC College said women from the minority communities had to convert for the sake of their husbands’ lives in ostracisation.

Maheen Paracha from HRCP said Pakistani state had since its inception systematically alienated minorities, and noted a worrying rise in communalism in the last four years, especially against the Ahmadi community.Activist Shreen Saroor from Sri Lanka and lawyer Mohammad Tajul Islam from Bangladesh also participated in the discussion.

The session, ‘Closed borders, open websites’, was moderated by digital rights activist Usama Khilji. Activist Muhammad Tahseen called for continued efforts to open borders in South Asia. Bangladeshi lecturer Muhammad Saimum Reza Talukder believed the state, citizens and digital platforms shared a responsibility when existing in online spaces.

Seerat Khan from the Digital Rights Foundation talked about limited access to the internet, especially for women. Digital rights activist Aisha Sarwari held that only a tyrannical government would resort to restricting the freedoms of its citizens.Journalist Munizae Jahangir moderated the session titled ‘Digital education in the age of the Taliban’.

Activist Dr Orzala Ashraf Nemat from Afghanistan said the Taliban remained unmoved by international pressure over the ban on girls’ education, adding working women were not being paid to systematically exclude them from the workforce.Young Afghan activist Pashtana Durrani said girls were protesting in Herat against the ban on them going to school.

Educational rights campaigner Ibrash Pasha from Lower Dir recalled how during the Talibanisation in 2005, community school teachers were afraid of going for training, adding now there was an uprising by people against the reemergence of Taliban in Swat.

Joining online from the UK was education activist and one of the two girls shot at alongside Malala Yousufzai in Swat, Kainat Riaz, while South Waziristan activist Shad Begum also spoke.The last session, titled ‘Disaster relief through digital platforms’, was moderated by Usama Khilji.

Activist Bushra Mahnoor narrated how along with fellow panelist Anum Khalid she used social media to launch a campaign for provision of sanitary pads for flood-affected women. Kahlid also suggested removal of import duty from sanitary pads.

Talking about the Progressive Students Collective’s flood relief activities, its president Qaisar Javed shared how they used Facebook and Twitter to connect with flood-affected people across the country.

(The Dawn)