Latest news with #DPOs
The Journal
30-06-2025
- Politics
- The Journal
Six former ministerial advisers sought to have their lobbying cooling off period waived last year
SIX FORMER MINISTERIAL advisers sought to have their cooling off period waived in 2024. The figure was revealed in the Standards in Public Office Commission's (Sipo) annual report . Under the Regulation of Lobbying Act (2015), anyone who communicates with a public official or politician – called designated public officials, or DPOs – about laws, policies and practices, or seeks to have them changed, must register as a lobbyist and file returns three times a year. These returns are then listed on the publicly accessible Register of Lobbying. On these, ex-government officials who engage in lobbying, must declare that they are former DPOs as well as the most recent public position they held. Former DPOs are subject to a mandatory one-year cooling-off period after leaving their government roles unless they seek an exemption from Sipo. The Commission did not say how many of the six exemption requests in 2024 – all from special advisers – were granted. Advertisement Someone may be granted a waiver if they want to take up a new role and can guarantee that they won't be involved in lobbying for the remainder of what would have been the cooling off period. Enforcing lobbying rules It was revelaed in December that Sipo pleaded with the government not to be in charge of proceedings where ex-ministers, special advisers or other public servants did not stick to rules around a 'cooling off' period. In correspondence with the Department of Public Expenditure, SIPO said plans to leave enforcement up to them instead of the courts were 'completely unworkable.' They warned that there was a 'high litigation risk' and that offences related to cooling-off periods would be better dealt with through the court system. The Department of Public Expenditure rejected this approach however, saying that dealing with it as a criminal matter could have a 'chilling effect.' Records showed how SIPO told the government that plans for amended legislation on the regulation of lobbying were fraught with difficulty. They said they were already struggling with a lack of resources and adding to their work would 'heighten the risk of under-resourcing, and of error, in relation to [their] portfolio as a whole.' SIPO also argued there was little reason to keep the process outside of the legal system as each case was likely to be appealed anyway. Readers like you are keeping these stories free for everyone... A mix of advertising and supporting contributions helps keep paywalls away from valuable information like this article. Over 5,000 readers like you have already stepped up and support us with a monthly payment or a once-off donation. Learn More Support The Journal
The Citizen
22-05-2025
- Politics
- The Citizen
Rethinking Disability Representation: The role and limitations of disabled people's organisations
Disabled People's Organizations (DPOs) are crucial vehicles for advancing the rights and inclusion of persons with disabilities globally. Broadly defined, a DPO is an organization controlled by and primarily composed of people with disabilities. This 'nothing about us without us' principle is fundamental to their legitimacy and effectiveness. DPOs serve as vital platforms for advocacy, mutual support, and the collective articulation of the disability community's needs and aspirations. Nationally, DPOs frequently contribute to policy direction, offering invaluable perspectives and lived experiences that shape legislation and programs. However, their contribution often manifests as a 'forum' rather than a 'council,' a distinction that significantly impacts their influence, particularly when engaging with government. Forums are typically informal platforms where ideas, experiences, and perspectives are exchanged. They serve as consultative spaces without formal decision-making powers. Forums are excellent for fostering dialogue and building solidarity among stakeholders but are not designed to enforce or implement policies. Councils, on the other hand, are formal decision-making bodies often recognized by law or policy frameworks. They are empowered to influence, develop, and oversee the implementation of programs and policies. Councils carry legitimacy and authority that forums inherently lack. The importance of a council in the disability sector, especially when partnering with or working with government, cannot be overstated. A council structure allows for a more structured and authoritative engagement. When DPOs participate as a council, their recommendations carry more weight; they can negotiate, hold government accountable, and jointly implement initiatives. This formalised partnership fosters a sense of shared ownership and responsibility, moving beyond mere consultation to active collaboration. Without the authority of a council, DPOs often find themselves in a reactive position, responding to government proposals rather than proactively shaping the agenda from a position of equal partnership. This often leads to a tokenistic engagement rather than a genuine collaboration that can lead to impactful change. A significant weakness of the current DPO landscape, both nationally and internationally, is the glaring omission of a dedicated focus on local government issues. Despite the critical impact of local policies on the daily lives of persons with disabilities, national and international disability policies rarely delve into the intricacies of local governance. This oversight means there are effectively no DPOs solely dedicated to addressing issues at the municipal or community level. The United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (UNCRPD), for instance, while a groundbreaking international treaty, primarily focuses on state parties' obligations at the national level. While its principles are universally applicable, it does not explicitly mandate or provide guidance on how local governments should implement these rights, nor does it typically inspire the formation of DPOs focused on local bylaws, accessibility of local infrastructure, or community-level service delivery. Take a look at its Article 19 which focuses on living independently and being included in the community. While it advocates for community integration, it does not provide guidance on how local governments can adapt infrastructure or services to meet the needs of persons with disabilities in rural or underserved areas. This creates a disconnect between grand policy pronouncements and the lived realities on the ground. The absence of DPOs dedicated to local government issues has profound consequences. Local governments are responsible for essential services that directly affect the lives of persons with disabilities, including public transportation, accessible infrastructure (sidewalks, ramps, public buildings), local employment initiatives, community health services, and recreational facilities. When DPOs are primarily focused on national policy, these critical local issues often fall through the cracks. For example, a national policy on inclusive education might exist, but without local DPOs advocating for accessible school buildings, specialized teaching resources, or inclusive extracurricular activities within a specific municipality, the policy's impact remains limited. This also means that disabled people at the grassroots often feel unheard and unrepresented, as the national DPOs may be too far removed from their immediate concerns. To bridge this critical gap and strengthen the overall disability movement, DPOs must map a way forward by establishing regional structures. These structures should include regional disability councils dedicated to addressing local issues, even within a national framework. These regional councils would serve as formalized bodies with a clear mandate to engage with local government entities, advocate for specific local policy changes, monitor the implementation of accessibility standards in public spaces, and ensure that local service delivery is inclusive and responsive to the needs of persons with disabilities within their specific geographic area. Such a decentralised approach would empower local disability advocates, foster stronger community engagement, and ensure that national policies are effectively translated into tangible improvements at the grassroots level. By forming regional councils, DPOs would transition from being mere forums for discussion to authoritative bodies capable of driving concrete change in collaboration with local authorities. This shift would not only enhance the effectiveness of DPOs but also significantly improve the lives of persons with disabilities by addressing the very real, day-to-day barriers they encounter in their own communities. (Lucky Tumahole is a Disability Advocate, this is his opinion) At Caxton, we employ humans to generate daily fresh news, not AI intervention. Happy reading!
Express Tribune
11-02-2025
- Politics
- Express Tribune
Lawmakers call for tougher measures against human trafficking
LAHORE: In the wake of the tragic deaths of 65 Pakistanis in Libya due to human smuggling, members of the Punjab Assembly have called for an intensified crackdown on traffickers and enhanced district-level monitoring to prevent such incidents. Speaking at a joint press conference on Tuesday, members of the Special Committee on Anti-Human Trafficking and Human Smuggling, including Uzma Kardar, Adnan Afzal Chattha, Aoun Hameed, Rifat Mahmood Zaidi, Rushda Lodhi and Syed Kausar Abbas, stressed the urgency of dismantling illegal migration networks. MPA Uzma Kardar, who heads the special parliamentary committee, reaffirmed the government's commitment to eliminating human smuggling. "Traffickers lure people with false promises of a better future abroad. Many families sell their assets and pay between Rs4 to Rs5 million to these mafias, hoping to reach destinations like Malaysia, Cambodia, or Europe. Instead, they end up stranded, imprisoned, or worselosing their lives," she emphasized that the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA), police, Deputy Commissioners (DCs), and District Police Officers (DPOs) were actively working to dismantle these criminal networks. She also announced the establishment of victim support units to assist affected families. Syed Kausar Abbas, executive director of the Sustainable Social Development Organization (SSDO), revealed that four major human smuggling cases had been reported in recent weeks. He urged the government to set up Anti-Human Smuggling and Trafficking Cells in every district and ensure their reports were directly shared with the parliamentary committee. "We need strict surveillance at the district level to dismantle these smuggling networks before they claim more lives," he said. MPA Adnan Afzal Chattha described irregular migration as a "tragic industry" that required urgent intervention, particularly in Gujranwala, Gujrat, and surrounding districtsareas known as hotspots for human smuggling. "The Punjab government has launched technical training programs to offer legal migration opportunities.
