FULL-TIME professional work
AMNESTY INTERNATIONAL NEPAL
Presently working with Amnesty International Nepal as a consultant. Have been closely working with the AI Nepal’s communication team, besides doing research around some of the key human rights issues – particularly sexual violence and custodial deaths in the country; and domestic legal framework and Nepal’s international obligations on these issues. I am a part of the team working on the organisation’s webzine ‘The Candle’, which can be accessed at www.thecandle.amnestynepal.org
INSEC Nepal
Worked with INSEC (Informal Sector Service Centre), a Kathmandu-based human rights organisation, as a consultant. Main duties/responsibilities included:
– Support INSEC projects and initiatives that promote its human rights work and capacity development training.
– Carry out research projects on peace and development.
– Develop INSEC’s network building among national, regional and international
groups/organisations/institutions working on Human Rights Education.
– Organise and administrate programmes, activities, trainings and events.
– Develop organisational modules for research, campaigning, advocacy and capacity building.
Amnesty International (India)
Joined Amnesty International (India) as a consultant for its work in Jammu and Kashmir, India. In March 2016 started working as Senior Campaigner for its “Access to Justice” project. The programme involved research, advocacy, campaigning and reactives related to the human rights violations and abuses in the region witnessing armed conflict since 1980s, particularly in Kashmir region. My work in the organisation was mainly around human rights monitoring, investigations and reporting, which primarily included the issues of impunity provided to state forces under some laws, administrative detentions, use of excessive force against protesters (using weapons like pellet-firing shotguns, firearms, etc.), attacks on media and human rights defenders, human rights abuses by non-state actors, etc. Campaigns I planned and implemented include ‘Broken Families’, ‘Ban Pellet Guns’ and ‘Let Kashmir Speak’. Some of my works include:
REPORTS:
– DENIED: Failures In Accountability In Human Rights Violations By Security Force Personnel In Jammu & Kashmir
(Campaigning & Advocacy)
https://www.amnesty.org/en/wp-content/uploads/2021/05/ASA2018742015ENGLISH.pdf
– LOOSING SIGHT IN KASHMIR: The Impact of Pellet-Firing Shotguns
(Research, Campaigning & Advocacy)
https://www.scribd.com/document/558290064/Losing-Sight-in-Kashmir-The-Impact-of-Pellet-Firing-Shotguns
– TYRANNY OF A ‘LAWLESS LAW’: Detention Without Charge Or Trial Under The J&K Public Safety Act
(Research, Campaigning & Advocacy)
https://kashmirscholars.files.wordpress.com/2019/06/amnesty-report-tyranny-of-a-lawless-law-2.pdf
– SITUATION UPDATE AND ANALYSIS: Jammu & Kashmir after one year of abrogation of Article 370 andchange of status of the region (Two Reports)
(Research)
https://www.amnesty.be/IMG/pdf/jammu_and_kashmir_after_one_year_of_abrogation_of_article_370.pdf
DOCUMENTARIES:
– BROKEN FAMILIES
– THE CHILLING SILENCE THAT FOLLOWED ABROGATION OF ARTICLE 370
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XbqyXioc3Uk
REACTIVES:
Link to some of the reactive work can be accessed at;
https://zedwani.wordpress.com/category/in-media/
APDP (For UNOHCHR supported Project)
Worked as Project Manager for a United Nations Human Rights (under the United Nations Voluntary Fund for Victims of Torture) supported project at the Association of Parents of Disappeared Persons (APDP) in J&K, India. As the Project Manager of the project my tasks included:
– Legal documentation of the cases of enforced / involuntary disappearances and torture in Jammu and Kashmir, which primarily include research work.
– Legal Assistance to the families of the victims of Torture and Enforced Disappearances.
– Providing Medical, Psychological, Social, Edutional and Livelihood support to the victims and their families.
– Administrate, implement and follow-up the programme.
– Submitting annual applications and physical & financial reports to the United Nations Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR).
Care Kashmir International
CARE Kashmir International is an advocacy group set up by experts of different field in Kashmir and abroad. The organisation has been set up by a group of USA and UK based Kashmiris and started functioning since 2007. The organisation aims at social, educational, environmental and health related issues. Worked as Secretary & Executive Director in the organisation. During the period of my association with the organisation I had been involved in.
– Managing the emergency ambulance service programme of the organisation. The programme was run independently by the organisation as well as in collaboration with the
Sher-i-Kashmir Institute of Medical Sciences (SKIMS), Soura, Srinagar.
– Organising, managing and supervising organisational programmes, including medical camps.
– Organisational communications and report writing, both physical and financial.
HOPE
HOPE (Human Objective to Protect the Environment) is an environmental organisation based in the Kashmir valley. I had been associated with HOPE since it was established in the year 1999. Worked as Chairman of the organisation. Some key projects and achievements of the organisation include:
– The Solid Waste Management of the Dal and Nigeen Lakes, in collaboration with the J&K Lakes and Waterways Development Authority under the Dal-Lake Conservation Plan, which was supported by the Ministry of Environment and Forests, Government of India.
– A Solid Waste Collection Projects in the Srinagar City in collaboration with the Srinagar
Municipal Corporation. An innovative project, first of its kind in the state. It was a self-sustaining project
– Socio-Economic Survey of the Dal Lake to collect the primary data for the preparation of the Detailed Project Report for the Conservation Plan of the lake for the Ministry of Environment and Forests (Government of India).
– Successful implementation of the plantation project in Pir Panchal mountain ranges in
Kashmir, under ‘Greening India Programme’ of the Ministry of Environment and Forests,
Government of India.
– Adult Literacy Programme for Women in different areas within the Dal Lake.
– Plantation Programmes at different locations in the Kashmir Valley in collaboration with the Department of Soil Conservation, J&K.
– Wildlife Awareness Camps for the students of different schools, in collaboration with the Department of Wildlife Protection, J&K. These camps were organised in different Wildlife Sanctuaries, wetlands and Dachigam National Park.
– A survey for the available infrastructure and facilities in health sector in the state of Jammu & Kashmir for Indian Institute of Health Management Research (IIHMR), Jaipur, Rajasthan.
– Awareness Drives regarding AIDS and Hepatitis B and other health related issues in different schools of the valley.
Green Kashmir
Worked with Green Kashmir from 1996 to 1999, as Project Coordinator, under the headship of Mr Charles H Goschen, a South Africa born British environmentalist. During the period I was entrusted the job of looking after different projects of the organisation, which primarily include:
– A Solid Waste Management Project on the Dal Lake.
– Adult Literacy Programme for Women in different areas within the lake.
– Plantation drives and wildlife awareness camps, etc
freelance & volunteer work
Frontline Defenders (Ireland)
Worked as Trainer for a Digital Security programme for the Human Rights Defenders for Frontline Defenders, Ireland.
HELP Foundation, J&K
I was closely associated with the HELP Foundation, J&K, from 1997 till 2005. Apart from being a Trustee of the organisation, I had been its Joint Secretary for three years. During the period executed and managed many projects and activities of the organisation, which primarily include:
– In-charge for running of “Shehjaar”, an orphanage run by the organisation, for four years.
– Supervising the running of different schools of the organisation.
– Organising training/counselling programmes for teachers and children, particularly orphans and destitute, widows and other vulnerable groups.
– Carrying out surveys and research work.
– Communications and Financial & Physical Report writing.
unicef (through RGF new delhi)
Worked for a UNICEF’s Mental Health Programme, through Rajiv Gandhi Foundation (RGF), for two years as ‘Resource Person’ for Kashmir. Under the programme, received training on the subject. The work accomplished include;
– Conducted successfully several workshops/training programmes for the government recruited teachers, Village Level Workers (VLW’s) and Paramedics.
OXFAM
Worked with OXFAM as coordinator, during the 2005 Kashmir earthquake. Successfully implemented the Relief, Rehabilitation and Reconstruction Programme in five villages of Tehsil Uri of Baramulla District in Kashmir. During the period:
– Carried out damage assessment survey and provided relief to approximately 250
households in these villages.
– Organised interactive programmes, with the villagers and village heads, to make
sure their participation in the project.
– Provided construction material and supervising construction of the shelters for all the households.
Also, in the year 2002, carried out a detailed survey for identification of Widows and Orphans in three armed conflict-affected districts of Kashmir – Baramulla, Kupwara and Srinagar.
Down To Earth (Magazine)
Worked as freelancer reporter for Down To Earth magazine, New Delhi. The magazine is an undertaking of the Centre for Science and Environment, a New Delhi based research organisation. My work for the magazine can be reviewed here:
https://www.downtoearth.org.in/author/zahoor-wani-257
Centre for Human Development
Member of the Centre for Human Development, an NGO working towards upliftment of the rural populace besides the issues related to health, education, environment, human rights, etc. The organisation focuses on the education of the children in the rural areas, where the literacy rate is very low. Under the organisation’s “CARE” project, fully equipped schools were established in different areas. One such school operates at Chanapora, Tangmarg. Kashmir.
Writing for MEDIA
Since last two decades I had been contributing to some of the newspapers.
Zahoor Wani 