The government was urged on Thursday to ensure implementation on National Plan of Action on Human Rights to maintain Pakistan's GSP+ status and to present a better picture at the upcoming Universal Periodic Review. A diverse section of influential stakeholders, including civil society, parliamentarians, members of human rights institutions and political leaders called upon the government for implementing the National Plan of Action on Human Rights in order to fulfill its human rights commitments under Pakistan's Constitution and international commitments.
These views were expressed at Democracy Reporting International's national conference titled "Towards Human Rights Compliance; Pakistan's GSP+ Status and Universal Periodic Review 2017" here on Thursday. "Pakistan has made progress in the field of human rights. Nevertheless, considerable concerns and many challenges remain, for example with regard to children's, women's and minorities' rights," said German ambassador Ina Lepel, in her opening remarks.
She said that the GSP plus trade scheme with the European Union and the review process that is part of it as well as Pakistan's upcoming universal periodic review present unique opportunities to further implement international human rights conventions which Pakistan is a state party of.
She said that Germany would continue to support Pakistan in its efforts to meet the obligations stemming from these conventions for the benefit of all Pakistanis. Adding to these views, Ambassador of the European Union to Pakistan Jean-François Cautain said the GSP-Plus is an opportunity for Pakistan to promote economic and social progress for improvement in the rights of its citizens.
He said the status remains a win-win situation for Pakistan provided effective utilisation. Welcoming reform efforts undertaken by the federal government, he cited formation of the Treaty Implementation Cell (TIC) and submission of delayed treaty body reports by Pakistan as positive developments.
Reflecting upon the impending GSP+ review of 2018, he highlighted continued serious concerns on a number of human rights issues, including access to justice, the death penalty, freedom of religion or belief and rights of women and children, and stressed the need to achieve positive deliverables ahead of the 2018 review.
Giving the government's view point, Attorney General of Pakistan and Convenor of the Treaty Implementation Cell (TIC) Ashtar Ausaf Ali's statement recognised GSP+ as a catalyst that is needed for the systematic overhaul of our human rights regime. His statement pointed out that the government has approved and issued the National Plan of Action on Human Rights and some important legislation such as anti-honour and anti-rape laws enacted recently. He stressed that laws are of no use if implementation is neglected, and expressed the government's commitments to ensure implementation on all laws.
Chairperson Functional Committee of Human Rights, Senator Nasreen Jalil assured the stakeholders that her committee would stand by recommendations of the conference in order to ensure the deliverance of rights that are under threat and achieve progress ahead of impending reviews.
Hassan Nasir Mirbahar, Country Representative of Democracy Reporting International, concluding the conference highlighted that Pakistan's government has approved an important and ambitious National Plan of Action on Human Rights. He recognised that it covers important legislative and policy reforms on key human rights issues.
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