Sungi Development Foundation is working mainly in KPK most conservative districts, for the last 20 years, and contributed significantly in challenging the patriarchal system and conservative culture for people empowerment. In addition, it had been striving to influence policies, in partnership with the people and civil society from all over Pakistan.

Pakistan, struggling for good governance and democracy is a diverse society with a multitude of cultures and ethnicities. Successive governments over the last 64 years of have shown slow progress to address issues facing the nation in a meaningful manner. Over time, the poor have become ultra poor while the middle and lower middle classes face the worst economic and financial crises.

The crises Pakistan is facing today, owes its relevance to successive martial laws with intervals of short pseudo- democracy, lack of democratic culture and values amongst political forces, irresponsiveness of state institutions to the rights and needs of the people, lack of culture of accountability, social, cultural and religious intolerance, non participation of common men and women in policy and decision making processes and continuity of colonial period institutional systems and structures.

Low level of interest of elected representatives in the formulation, amendment and enforcement of people friendly policies, minimum consultation by the ER with its constituents in the formulation of policy, if any, contributed to people alienation in the political process in Pakistan. The eight year dictatorial regime from 1999 to 2008 has seen the deliberate and continuous violation of human rights and judicial and institutional disintegration.

Lack of interest of present government and its allies in the restoration of Local Government Ordnance 2001 (LGO) that empowers a common person socio-politically at the grassroots and delayed justice in the country is still a big question for the elected and judicial institutions in Pakistan?

In this context Sungi Development Foundation, Khwendo Kore, Aurat Association, SPO, SAHARA Development Foundation, Human Development Organization, Omar Asgahr Khan Center for Development and Benazir Shaheed Women Center organized one-day annual conference of human rights activists in Sungi head office Abbottabad on Dec 09, 2011.

250 men and women human rights activists, lawyers, Ex-LG elected representatives, journalist, members district steering committees of political parties and other notable from district Haripur, Abbottabad, Mansehra, Battagram, Muzaffarabad and Peshawar participated in the conference. Madam Sitar Ayaz Minister of Social welfare KPK was the chief guest at this occasion.

The prime objective of the conference was to bring together human rights activists who are struggling on various fronts to share their progress and challenges faced in their work. Samina Khan Executive Director Sungi welcomed all the conference participants and appreciated their struggle for the promotion and protection of human rights. Sheikh Asad Rahman Director Programmes Sungi gave key note address and beautifully described the situation of human rights in Pakistan and its links to various institutions. Sadaqat, Malik Akbar, Mohammad Taj, Rabia Zakeer, Qari Rashid, Fiza Haroon, Jalaluddin, Qamar Hayat gave presentation and represented HDO, Aurat Association, Sungi, Benazeer Shaheed Women Center, Consumer Rights Protection Forum, Khwendo Kore , SPO, and SAHARA respectively.

Sungi local theatre group presented 12 minutes theatre performance on women issue that was much appreciated by all.

Sitara Ayaz in her address appreciated Sungi leading role arranging a conference ion important theme and said that provincial government is keen to protect women rights and they first time celebrated 16-days of violence against women. She promised to raise voice in the assembly floor lobby for women bill and other recommendations given in conference declaration.

Mukhtar Javed Manager Human Right presented following points of conference declaration that was agreed by all unanimously;

• Parliamentarians should work on pass the “prevention of anti-women practice bill 2011” from senate of Pakistan
• Women should be given opportunity to be elected directly on reserve seats in the parliament.
• Election process of Pakistan senate should be changed and there should be direct election for this upper house.
• Conference demanded from KPK government to work on provincial labour legislation
• KPK government should restore Local Government system 2001
• Conference also demanded from KPK government to start work on pro-people policies in devolved department
• Government should allocate more budget in social sector development
• Government should work on jail reforms
• People of Gilgit and Baltistan should be given fundamental rights and liberties
• All the undemocratic article in 18th amendment should be abolished
• Government should work on UN CAT make it part of criminal laws
• Rights of differently able person should be ensured and government should abide by various national international the convention in this regard.
• Print media should play their role highlight human rights issues
• Religious leaders should talk on women rights in their Friday address
• Consumer courts should be established in all district of KPK
• Conference emphasized on voters to elect honest, committed and capable leadership in forthcoming general election
• Human rights chapters should be included in the curriculum of police, elementary schools of teachers and students
• There should be strict and functional monitoring system on the implementation of labours laws especially the working women should be given equal wage

Abdul Khayhe Gohar member Sungi general body concluded the conference with note of thanks. He emphasized on various elected and public institutions to play their role protecting human rights.