Ali Gohar's Page

Name

Ali Gohar

How did You find out about this Network/Resource?

PCDN

Please share a short bio for yourself. This should be no more than 3-4 short paragraphs.

I am Founder & Advisor of Just Peace Initiatives has a degree in International Relations from Quaid-E-Azam University, Pakistan. For thirteen years, served as Additional Commissioner Social Welfare Cell for Afghan refugees--a project of (UNHCR). During my tenure, I sought to make public the plight of street children, Drug HIV/AIDS awareness, community development and peace building in 258 Afghan Refugee camps. I wrote three Pustho plays for Pakistan Television Corporation on Drug HIV/AIDS awareness, Domestic Violence& restorative Justice. In 2002 completed my second Master’s in Conflict Transformation as a full bright Scholar from Eastern Mennonite University Harrisonburg, Virginia, USA. I was awarded a grant by United States Institute for Peace (USIP) to explore the principles of Jirga (a community based conflict transformation institution in the Pukhtoon belt of Pakistan and Afghanistan(the book can be downloaded from our website).Recently completed a research project for, UNICEF on Access to informal Justice system in Pakistan (Published by UNICEF).I am also the author of Pukhtoon code of life Pakhtoonwali, the book title is, who learns from whom?, Pukhtoon traditions in Modern perspective. Co-authored “The Little Book of Restorative Justice” in Pak- Afghan context, originally authored by Prof. Howard Zehr. I was also instrumental in the development of a peace story and song, "In your song, I hear my voice," sung in twenty languages with distinguished scholar for peace, John Paul Leaderach. (http://www.dreamthelight.com/).
MY article on peace, Restorative Justice and Jirga were published in international, local newspapers and journal. I recently developed a reference book and training manual on social work and train the first batch of trainer of trainers from eight Government ministries of Afghanistan as a Technical Advisor and training specialist to Ministry of social affairs Government of Afghanistan. The project was funded by European commission and implemented by Child right consortium (five international NGO’s) and government of Afghanistan. I also worked as campaign officer with Oxfam GB, to end “honor “killing and violence against women in the province of Khyber Pukhtoonkhwa of Pakistan. I was the national coordinator for Victim of torture, project implemented with EU and European perspective support, Dispute resolution project in Seven district a project funded by the Asia Foundation and Australian Embassy, ADR& community Policing Project in Five District of Baluchistan funded by British Embassy and the Asia Foundation. I am also anchor, resource person to different Radio and TV channels. Presently I also work as thematic expert on ADR/NGO-Paralegal to UNDP Pakistan on strengthening rule of law in Malkand Division seven Districts Project.
Further information can be visited on our website, www.justpeaceint.org
Recent International Publication on Pak-Afghan Conflict;
Jirga in Modern Days Afghanistan & Pakistan, published open Democracy.net UK
http://www.opendemocracy.net/opensecurity/ali-gohar/jirga-in-modern...
Non-violence in Khyber Pukhtoonkhwa; Article published by Peace Museum Bradford UK
http://www.peacemuseum.org.uk/2010/01/07/talk-on-abdul-gaffhar-khan/
Jirga and Restorative justice article published in Insight conflict UK
http://www.insightonconflict.org/2010/08/jirga-restorative-justice/

Project Completed under My supervision

Support to victim of torture, funded by EU
Dispute resolution through establishment of elders & police joint reconciliation committees at each Police station, The Asia Foundation & Australian Embassy
ADR/Community policing Baluchistan-The Asia Foundation, UK embassy
Divergen; Juvenile justice reform, UNICEF
Flood affected refugees and local rehabilitation; UNHCR
50 girls’ school rehabilitation, blown by militants; UNICEF
Rehabilitation of south Waziristan IDP's UNDP
Rehabilitation of Khyber agency IDP's ; concern worldwide, OFDA
The world is only one creature; EU, youth joint action
Research on indigenous institution of Jirga USIP
Access to informal justice system in Pakistan; UNICEF, EU, Law commission of Pakistan
Research on Hujra (indigenous community center) Pukhtoon code (PUKHTOONWALI)
Drama, short plays for Pakistan Television Pakistan; Waba(HIV/AIDS awarness), Asthazai(Domestic Violence),Pukhtoo dai tha waeyea(Restorative Justice),Shamkor rawaj(Honor Killing in pipe line with PTV Peshawar center)
Written more than 130 articles on different human, natural disaster, non-violence, indigenous way of peace building in local and international news papers magazine
Peace building, conflict transformation, working with print and electronic media for awareness raising, restorative justice, non-violence, Disaster management.
Peace builder, Trainer, drama writer, writer on social, human, natural disaster prevention, community mobilize, campaigner

Please list the countries and/or regions in which you have direct and significant expertise

Pakistan-Afghanistan

What is your current job (and organization) and/or where and what field are you studying?

Founder/CE,Just peace initatives

What are your main skills/expertise?

Peacebuilding-conflict transformation,Restorative justice,indigenious peacebuilding reserch

What are Your expertise areas/sectors when it comes to youth

Peacebuilding, Gender, Media, Humanitarian Relief, Development, Democracy, Protection, Refugees, IDPs, Psychosocia, Leadership

What are Your primary Skills, to compliment Your areas/sectors

Advocacy, Capacity Building, Program Management, Program Administration, Program Design, Public Relations, Research, Training