The 50th radio program as part of the Center for Research and Security Studies’ (CRSS) counter-radicalization initiative Ulasi Taroon (Social Cohesion) was aired on January 04, 2019, on the theme of “Ulasi Taroon’s Journey at a Glance”. The show was a reflection on the journey of Ulasi Taroon initiative and its different components.
The first guest on show, Mr. Shams Momand, Project Manager, Ulasi Taroon, noted that the initiative was an attempt to strengthen cohesion among the people from diverse backgrounds; educating them in the virtues of unity, responsible citizenship and peaceful coexistence despite differences. It promotes the values of mutual respect, tolerance, acceptance, equality and rule of law. It’s a multilateral initiative with the core prongs like i) strategic communication: for sensitizing the communities at-large – through radio advocacy campaign – on the values of social cohesion and ii) youth development: for enhancing the capacity of future leaders – in the universities across Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province – to help them lead peaceful conflict resolution in their respective spheres.
The second guest on show, Mr. Shahab-ud-Din, a senior journalist and one of the hosts for Ulasi Taroon radio programs, said CRSS had been actively involved in the promotion of tolerance perspectives and positive messaging; to delegitimize the extremist ideologies and prevent radicalization. It has more than a decade of experience of working around several social issues of critical importance like rule of law, democracy, governance, peace and security, counter-radicalization; employing its expertise in strategic communication, youth leadership development and dialogue.
He added that the 49 radio programs aired so far as part of the initiative have covered a diverse range of issues critical to peacebuilding which, considering the commercial radio trends, is in itself a great achievement of generating such a unique and relevant discourse. We should cultivate and nurture the positive thinking and values as a measure of overcoming the negativities in the society. We may have a difference of opinions with other members of the society but social cohesion demands respect for and acceptance of the diversity of opinions and resorting to dialogue for a peaceful conflict resolution.
About Ulasi Taroon
Ulasi Taroon is a counter radicalization initiative of Center for Research and Security Studies that aims to address the radicalization challenges, extremist ideologies and foster social cohesion through a discourse anchored in the core constitutional values which are fundamentally essential prerequisites for social peace and harmony. The endeavor aims to cultivate and sensitize the people of KP in the core values in the Pakistani constitution and our social contract. It’s an attempt to highlight the criticality of abiding by these ideals – such as adherence to rule of law, primacy and sanctity of constitution, equal citizenry, responsible citizenship, respect for fundamental human rights, tolerance for diversity and different opinions, inclusive democracy and good governance – as a measure of fostering social cohesion and peaceful co-existence.