Breakthrough on our Pakistan textbook campaign

This time last year, as part of our Faith and a Future campaign, we asked you to campaign with us on the issue of religious discrimination in Pakistan textbooks. Well, we’re delighted to share some very pleasing results. We asked Joanne Collins, our Parliamentary Officer, to tell us more…

What’s the issue CSW has been campaigning on?Many textbooks in Pakistan include discrimination against religious minorities (for example, Hindus are described as ‘enemies of Pakistan’) which fuels intolerance and extremism. What’s more, the contributions of religious minorities to Pakistan’s history have been removed, which means that minority children grow up with the feeling that they’ve done nothing for their country and do not belong.

Our campaign calls on the Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) and the Department for International Development (DfID) to ensure that UK aid isn’t used to fund biased textbooks that promote prejudice.

What is the breakthrough?Over the last year our team steadily built pressure with the UK Parliament on this issue – through meetings with parliamentarians, parliamentary questions, a joint letter signed by 20 MPs, and of course our petition, which over 5,000 of you signed. This culminated in a meeting on the issue this January, between Siobhain McDonagh MP and Preet Gill MP, Lord Ahmad, Minister of State at the FCO and the Rt Hon Lord Bates, Minister of State at DfID. DfID representatives agreed to re-examine their position in light of the evidence brought to them by the Faith and a Future campaign, to ensure that no taxpayer money goes on funding discrimination or religious hatred. Over the next few months we’ll work with MPs, DfID and the FCO to achieve this aim. Why is this important?We rejoice when we see a prisoner freed as a result of our campaigning – and rightly so! But when we effect policy change, we can potentially change the lives of millions. It’s a big step in our vision of a Pakistan where future generations are taught about our common humanity, rather than taught to hate.

How should this change our thinking about campaigning?It’s an inspiring reminder that effecting real change takes time and concerted pressure from advocacy and campaigning. It’s all about the power of combining ‘people power’ (5,657 of you signed the petition and asked your friends to sign and write letters), with lobbying by CSW’s specialist advocates. If anyone asks you ‘What’s the point in petitions?’ remember this story!

Now join us in campaigning for change in Mexico In Mexico, children from religious minority communities are often excluded from school because of their faith or the faith of their parents. On 30 April 2019, Children’s Day in Mexico, we’ll be campaigning with affected communities there. At the same time, we’re inviting churches throughout Latin America and all over the world to join us in ‘solidarity parties’. Here young people can enjoy traditional Children’s Day festivities and also write letters to their local Mexican embassy, campaigning for all children in Mexico to receive an education, regardless of their religious beliefs.

Find out how you can join the campaign and also get your Sunday school class involved atfaithandafuture.com