Peace building & Human Rights

Digital CVE storytelling in Karachi’s Universities 2022

IRC and Maati tv trained 80 students from Karachi university, Benazir Bhutto shaheed university and NED university. They were given virtual workshops and training on peacebuilding and digital storytelling by the directors of interactive resource centre and Maati tv. The students deconstructed the definition of peace and expressed it in their own unique ways in the scripts. The students produced 16 films on interfaith harmony, peacebuilding and tolerance under the Karachi storytelling network with the help and guidance of IRC and Maati tv. For the production of films, the participants were provided with media kits and technical assistance.

Creation of a Critical Mass By Engaging Youth Opinion Leaders in Digital Literacy and Cross Cultural Understanding- US Embassy- 2020

This project aimed to create a group of 50 Youth Opinion Leaders from across Pakistan through an 8-day intensive camp, which focused on sensitising them to digital literacy and various technical online tools, with a goal of promoting themes of gender equality, interfaith harmony, peaceful coexistence, and digital security. The project included two digital campaigns: Digital Haq (DH) and Connect Pakistan (CP). DH developed an app on digital security and rights in Pakistan, while CP was a digital campaign aimed at promoting communication and dialogue between different religious groups in Pakistan through a social media campaign and website featuring short films, podcasts, and blogs on themes of challenging norms, peace, and tolerance, as well as a series of short films showcasing interfaith harmony. The work of Digital Haq was also featured in a session organised by the US embassy.

Strengthening Student Media Societies- DAI- 2019

IRC partnered with DAI for a project which aimed to familiarise students with the peace narrative and train them to make sensitised films on cultural diversity, interfaith harmony, positive use of social media, and positive image of Pakistan. The films produced by the students were displayed in Punjab University and University of Education Lahore in a total of 8 screenings in front of more than 300 students.

6 CVE Films-US Embassy- 2016

The CVE carried out six CVE film screenings through film festivals within Punjab and KPK in partnership with the US embassy. The CVE documentary films aimed to portray a more positive image of Pakistan while creating awareness regarding the vulnerability of the marginalised community of Pakistan. The films were uploaded on the interactive web tv Maatitv.com.

Peace Building through Creative Expression- DAI- 2016

IRC partnered with DAI on a project called “Exploring Peace through Creative Expression,” which aimed to reclaim spaces for creative expression and critical thinking as a way to combat extremist ideology through the use of various art-based communication techniques. As part of the project, IRC oriented 300 university students.

DAI-Awaaz- Campus Radio Campaign- 2016

This campaign was inaugurated through the help of DAI AWAAZ which focused on CVE by creating spaces for the more marginalised members of the community such as religious minorities and women.5 students from each of the two universities,University of Bahawalpur and University of Peshawar, were engaged in a residential training on audio documentary production and radio broadcasting.They further developed 40 radio shows.The shows were broadcasted on the campus radios of both the universities.

Violent Extremism in Southern Punjab- Documentary Film- USAID Project/Creative- 2015

This project aimed to provide a counter narrative to violent extremism through the use of citizen journalism and documentary film, with the goal of promoting peace, tolerance, and cultural heritage. A total of 200 students from Islamia University Bahawalpur and Bahauddin Zakariya University in Multan were oriented in peaceful coexistence and human rights, followed by training in citizen journalism. Out of this group, 40 students received more extensive training in documentary film production, resulting in the creation of 20 short films covering topics such as women’s empowerment and interfaith harmony. These films were disseminated in southern Punjab through film festivals.

Interactive Theatre Plays on Interfaith Harmony and Peaceful Coexistence- United States Institute of Peace (USIP)-2015

IRC partnered with the United States Institute for Peace (USIP), in 2015, to develop 3 theatre plays on interfaith harmony and peaceful co-existence with community groups consisting of both Christian and Hindu minorities. This was followed by 30 community performances in front of a mixed minority crowd in Lahore, Multan and Bahawalnagar.

Interfaith Harmony Campaign- Church World Service- 2012

The interfaith harmony campaign, in collaboration with Church World Service (CWS), aimed to promote peaceful coexistence and interfaith community development by engaging 2500 religious leaders from different faiths. IRC worked to form peace committees and provide a platform for young religious leaders to initiate interfaith dialogue within their communities. Radio programs were organised and aired in cities throughout Sindh and Punjab, where local issues such as safe drinking water and education were discussed in the context of religious coexistence among various religious leaders.

‘Ye Taliban Kon Hain’ Play- 2009

In 2009, IRC initiated a campaign against Talibanization in Pakistan through the production of plays on the topic. The plays, including “Yeh Taliban Kon Hain,” were performed for diverse audiences in various cities with the goal of raising awareness about the issue and advocating for peace. The National Forum, held in Lahore, aimed to increase awareness about religious fundamentalism and its consequences, and included a theatre performance that exposed the Taliban’s actions of humiliating and terrifying people in their daily lives. The campaign also included the production of a documentary called “Burning Paradise.”