ISLAMABAD: “The Pakistani government’s final report to the United Nations on Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) reads like a masterful piece of fictional literature,” said human rights activist Tahira Abdullah at the launch of Uks research centre’s annual diary for 2015.

Every year Uks publishes an annual diary with a specific theme. The theme for this year’s diary is ‘Women of Pakistan: Missed Millennium Development Goals (MDGs), Must Achieve Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)’.

The articles, graphs, photographs and cartoons included in the dairy are aimed at generating debate over MDGs and how they represent a missed opportunity. The diary also discusses the SDGs which are seen as a successor to the MDGs. It highlights the importance of SDGs and how they present another opportunity which must not be missed.

Uks’s diary further discusses how the MDGs were covered in the Pakistani media, focussing more specifically on the gender aspects.

Speaking at the launch Tahira Abdullah, the volunteer editor of the diary, appreciated the work of those journalists who have raised their voices against government performance regarding the MDGs and specifically discussed development from a gender perspective. Ms. Abdullah read out extracts from her article titled ‘What did the MDGs mean for Pakistani women? And now the SDGs?’

She discussed the need for increased political will and commitment, honest and accurate data in government reports (especially on poverty), moving towards gender mainstreaming at the initiation of the forthcoming SDGs, and linking them with today’s pressing needs.

Uks also presented its initiative of Mother Schools to audience members and shared stories and experiences of some mothers trained under the project.

Under the project Uks in collaboration with Mothers without Borders and Sisters against Violent Extremism established five schools in Rawalpindi and Islamabad and trained around a hundred mothers on how to play an active role in their children’s upbringing. The media presentation put together by Uks producer Nabeela Aslam highlighted how mothers need to keep a vigilant eye on children especially boys to protect them from becoming involved in activities that can be harmful to them as individuals as well as to society.

In a patriarchal society boys often “become bigger than their mothers”, and mothers need special skills to be able to guide young boys and protect them against social evils such as drugs, crime and extremism, the presentation pointed out.

If a mother can prevent her son from becoming involved with extremist elements, it is a great social service.

Trainers at Mother Schools also spoke at the event and said that mothers who had received the training found it extremely helpful and expressed a desire to expand the project.

Published in Dawn, January 8th, 2015

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