Faisalabad: March 30, 2015. (PCP) The government must take immediate action against hate speeches and writings towards any specific community for the promotion of peace and social coexistence, and devise effective monitoring mechanism for the implementation of job quota reserved for deprived groups. This was emphasized by the speakers during a public outreach training workshop entitled “Monitoring Hate Speech and Job Quota” held at Faisalabad on March 22, 2015. The workshop was hosted by the Association of Women for Awareness and Motivation (AWAM) in collaboration with the Rights of Expression, Assembly, Association and Thought (REAT) Network. Speaking on the occasion, the regional head of the Strengthening Participatory Organization (SPO), Salman Abid said, “Hate speech is a way of expression to disgrace any particular group on the ground of faith, sect, gender, nationality, ethnicity, race and color. Therefore, media regulation self created or government approved, along with responsible use of cyberspace, would be necessary to curb hate speech, so that it leaves a positive effect on the public.” “The government has approved several laws to create order in the society, but failed to implement them in letter and spirit, which cause frustration and deprivation among people. Peace in our society will prevail only if the government addresses the social, economic and political deprivations of the deprived groups,” he added. A human rights activist, Naseem Anthony said, “The women, minorities and persons with disabilities are among the marginalized sections of the society; therefore affirmative actions have been taken by the successive governments following the concept of social justice. In this regard, quota in education, employment and politics is reserved to ensure integration and empowerment of the weaker groups in Pakistan.” “The citizens must monitor the job quota to empower weaker groups economically; monitor and report hate speech to the concerned authorities for immediate action to prevent sectarianism,” he added. The director of the AWAM, Nazia Sardar said, “Education sector reforms are necessary however taking out the hate material in textbooks and discriminations in curriculum has become urgency, therefore Federal and provincial textbooks boards must be tasked to cleanse the textbooks, curriculum and education policy of hatred and religious discriminations.” The director of the Peace and Human Development (PHD) Foundation, Suneel Malik said, “Hate literature and propaganda to promote sectarianism, extremism and intolerance should not be allowed and effective action must be taken against newspapers and periodicals involved in such practices.” “Apart from administrative handling, the government should prepare for a proactive policy response to build a culture of peace, conversely, an ideological, political, social and cultural response to extremism,” he added. A peace activist, Faisal Rasheed said, “Religious leaders and seminary teachers need to be sensitized and the banned outfits should not be allowed to function in any garb, the rule of laws must take its course for ridding nation of hate speech.”