LAHORE: An anti-hate speech campaign was launched in 45 district of Punjab and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) in connection with the International Peace Day on Monday.

Titled “Bolo Zimadari Se,” the campaign is aimed at creating public awareness through the short message service (SMS) of the negative impacts of hate speech in Pakistan.

About 0.5 million Pakistanis would be educated through the campaign launched by the South Asia Partnership-Pakistan (SAP-Pakistan) under its “AAWAZ Voice and Accountability Programme” in collaboration with Aurat Foundation, Strengthening Participatory Organisation and the Sungi Development Foundation.

The campaign was formally launched in a ceremony at a local hotel.

Speaking on the occasion, Human Rights Commission of Pakistan Secretary General I.A. Rehman said “Bolo Zimadari Se” campaign was more important than any other campaign because it would help make people responsible for their words. He said using hate words even by children could keep them away from real progress.

Rehman said although there were a plenty of laws available on the issue but such laws were framed during the colonial era and were used to snub the voice of the people.

He stressed that such colonial era laws should not be used to make the people voiceless rather they should be used against hate speech.

Punjab Minorities Advisory Council Chairperson MPA Mary Gill called for implementation of laws discouraging hate speech in letter and spirit. She said the Supreme Court had passed a verdict for protection of religious minorities and directed the authorities to take necessary action against all acts causing disturbance in the society.

She said that civil society organisations of Pakistan should play their role to discourage hate speech and material because it was affecting the religious minorities.

Highlighting the objectives of the campaign Deputy Director SAP-Pakistan Irfan Mufti said that to check hate speech and material the government should revise the curriculum, religious scholars and teachers should be trained, the laws which were affecting religious minorities should be amended, all type of hate material and speech should be banned and education policy should also be reviewed.

Published in Dawn, September 22nd , 2015

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