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European Union (EU) Special Representative for Human Rights (EUSR) Ambassador Olof Skoog during a week-long visit to Pakistan expressed his concern about the various issues in Pakistan, including human rights, in a bid to reap benefits from GSP+ status.
As per details, the European Union mission headed by EU Special Representative for Human Rights (EUSR) Ambassador Olof Skoog is on his week-long visit to Pakistan for assessment under the GSP+ trade scheme.
During the assessment, he laid stresses on addressing a list of issues in Pakistan, including human rights, in a bid to reap benefits from GSP+ status.
As per EU press release, the mission visited Pakistan with the purpose of addressing the most pressing human rights and labor rights issues in Pakistan and discussing Pakistan’s plans to address them.
During his visit, Ambassador Skoog met with military leadership, federal and provincial government ministers, United Nations bodies, senior officials, lawyers, human rights defenders, the business sector, media representatives, and civil society organizations
The special representative confirmed the EU’s commitment to supporting Pakistan in meeting its human rights obligations and, in this regard, “Pakistan remains a key partner for the EU in South Asia. Our relationship is built on shared values of democracy, human rights, and the rule of law, guided by the principles of the UN Charter and international norms. The EU welcomes the fact that Pakistan has become the largest beneficiary of GSP+, with Pakistani businesses increasing their exports to the EU market by 108% since the launch of the trade scheme in 2014”.
“As we approach the midterm of the current monitoring cycle, we encourage Pakistan to continue on its reform path as it prepares for reapplication under the upcoming new GSP+ regulation. The trade benefits under GSP+ depend on the progress made on addressing a list of issues, including on human rights, and tangible reforms remain essential,” he said.
In meetings with Pakistan’s senior discussers, including Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar, Federal Minister of Law, Justice and Human Rights Azam Nazeer Tarar and Federal Minister of Commerce Jam Kamal Khan.
During the meeting with said ministers, Ambassador Skoog point out areas of concern such as the application of blasphemy laws, women’s rights, forced marriages and conversions, enforced disappearances, freedoms of expression, religion or belief, independence of the media, impunity for rights violations, due process and the right to a fair trial, civic space, and the death penalty.
In the meeting with Chief Justice of Pakistan Justice Yahya Afridi the ,Ambassador Skoog focuses was on the judicial backlog as well as the integrity and independence of the judiciary.
He also met with the Punjab Chief Minister (CM) Maryam Nawaz Sharif and Minister for Minorities Affairs in Punjab Sardar Ramesh Singh Arora, as well as representatives of the Christian and Ahmadi communities. The discussions centered on freedom of religion or belief, the protection of minority rights, and accountability for violations and abuses of human rights.
It is worth mentioning here that throughout his visit to Pakistan, the EUSR acknowledged the important role of the National Commission of Human Rights and demanded the need to preserve its independence.
EU press release said that, “the special representative contributes to the implementation of the EU’s policy on human rights worldwide as well as to promoting compliance with international humanitarian law and supporting international criminal justice”.