ISLAMABAD: German Ambassador to Pakistan Ina Lepel has said that Pakistan has made considerable progress in the field of human rights but challenges persist with regards to children, women and minorities’ rights.
Speaking at the conference titled ‘Towards Human Rights Compliance; Pakistan’s GSP+ Status and Universal Periodic Review 2017 on Sunday in Islamabad, the ambassador said that a diverse section of influential stakeholders, including civil society, parliamentarians, members of state human rights institutions and political leaders called upon the government to implement the National Plan of Action on Human Rights in order to fulfil its human rights commitments under Pakistan’s Constitution and international commitments.
“The GSP+ 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. Germany will continue to support Pakistan in its efforts to meet the obligations stemming from these conventions for the benefit of all Pakistanis.”
European Union Ambassador to Pakistan Jean-François Cautain said the GSP+ was an opportunity for Pakistan to promote economic and social progress for improvement in rights of its citizens. Welcoming reform efforts undertaken by the government, he cited formation of the Treaty Implementation Cell (TIC) and submission of delayed treaty body reports by Pakistan as positive developments.
Ambassador Cautain highlighted concerns over a number of human rights issues, including access to justice, death penalty, freedom of religion or belief and rights of women and children, and stressed the need to achieve positive deliverables ahead of GSP+ review 2018.
Providing the government’s viewpoint, Attorney General of Pakistan and Convener of the Treaty Implementation Cell (TIC) Ashtar Ausaf Ali pointed out that the government had approved and issued the National Plan of Action on Human Rights and some important legislation such as anti-honour and anti-rape laws had been enacted. He stressed that laws were of no use if implementation was neglected and showed government’s commitments to ensure implementation of all laws.
Functional Committee of Human Rights Chairperson Senator Nasreen Jalil assured stakeholders that the committee would stand by recommendations of the conference in order to ensure deliverance of rights that were under ahead of impending review.
Summarising the conference outcomes, Hassan Nasir Mirbahar, country representative of democracy reporting international acknowledged that rights reforms would be crucial for democratic stability in the country.
