EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

The meeting on Early Warning and Early Response was organized by the Program on Peace Studies and Conflict Resolution (PPSCR), Department of International Relations University of Karachi (UOK) in collaboration with Regional Center for Strategic Studies (RCSS) Colombo, Sri Lanka and Global Partnership for the Prevention of Armed Conflicts (GPPAC) the Hague, Netherlands.

The meeting was attended by renowned international experts and scholars of the field including Prof. Dr Imtiaz Ahmed, Department of International Relations, University of Dhaka, Bangladesh, Dr Amal Jayewardene, Executive Director, Regional Center for Strategic Studies, Colombo, Sri Lanka, Dr. William Tsuma, Program Manager Prevention Action, GPPAC/ECCP, The Netherlands, Prof. R.A. Ariyaratne, Associate Director, Regional Center for Strategic Studies, Colombo, Sri Lanka besides Prof. Dr Moonis Ahmar, Department of International Relations, University of Karachi and Member, Regional Steering Group, GPPAC.
The meeting after extensive discussion and deliberation concluded that the growing social and political issues in South Asia need to be addressed by the establishment of ‘Early Warning and Early Response (EWER)’, a mechanism that aims to alert and caution state authorities and societal forces to cope with man-made disasters in order to reduce human sufferings, causalities and ordeal.

The meeting in its concluding session gave several findings and recommendations for the establishment of EWER system in South Asia. It suggested the formulation of Regional Action Plan for EWER to deal with social and political issues.
The meeting suggested that proper awareness of EWER should be created among the youth by including such themes in the syllabi of students in schools, colleges and universities since youngsters are the most vulnerable segment of the society and exposed to extremism and militancy. It was suggested that a separate program of EWER should be introduced for them. “Students involvement in EWER programs can help deal with social disorder and political crises,” the participants maintained. The meeting also suggested that the marginalized social groups like minorities and women should be empowered and made capable to effectively deal with the challenge of violent conflicts in society.

Furthermore, the meeting took into account the effective role of civil society groups and state actors for building capacity for EWER as without proper expertise South Asians and their governments would remain exposed to social and political threats like militancy, terrorism, ethnic and class based conflicts, religious, caste and sectarian conflicts.

Potential issues in Pakistan and other South Asian countries which were covered by speakers and participants of the meeting included lack of good governance, election and post election violence, environmental pollution and health related issues, gender and youth based tensions particularly the phenomenon of unemployable youth., human rights’ violation including genocide and ethnic cleansing, political implications of Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) as a result of natural disasters and finally collapse of public utilities.

Prof. Dr. Moonis Ahmar
November 06, 2010.

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