EU links GSP Plus status to human rights

Envoy tells moot compliance to help get trade preferences

KARACHI:

European Union representative reminded on Monday that trade preferences were linked to compliance issues particularly the human rights including abolishment of death penalty.

"GSP+ beyond 2023 is possible for Pakistan as the country's government has ensured the EU that all efforts to show compliance with the high requirements will be made," said Chargé d'Affaires of the European Union (EU) Delegation to Pakistan Thomas Seiler.

He was speaking at a conference on "Human Rights Reforms in Sindh - GSP+ and Beyond" organised by the Sindh government human rights department.

Sindh Minister for Labour and Human Resource Saeed Ghani was the chief guest while Special Assistant to Sindh Chief Minister Surendar Valasai inaugurated the conference, which was attended by human rights activists, government officers of various departments, public representatives, civil society and labour rights activists and minorities' representatives.

Thomas Seiler said in the next phase of the Generalised System of Preference (GSP- Plus) there would be more international conventions and covenants. These instruments would pertain to the recognition of the competence of the UN Human Rights Council to consider complaints from individuals, abolish the death penalty and the requirement to recognise the International Criminal Court (ICC) for hearing cases of genocide, crime against humanity, war crimes and crimes of aggression.

"The final regulation can be expected before the end of the year," he remarked.

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He reminded the employers of their duty towards providing human rights to labour and to combat climate change phenomenon.

"Employers will have to respect and implement human rights in their enterprises, and to play an active role in building a sustainable economy and society," the EU envoy said.

Speaking on the occasion, Saeed Ghani said the government of Sindh is leading all the provinces in making legislation for protection of rights of labour, women, minorities and people with disabilities. "We consider the protection of people's rights as our duty rather an obligation to an international commitment," Saeed Ghani said adding that the Sindh government has made all the laws on its own as the ruling Pakistan People Party is committed for this cause, he remarked.

"We need support from the international community to provide a favourable environment for the government and businesses to implement the laws," he said.

Valasai said Pakistan's exports to the EU have increased from 4.53 billion Euros in 2013 to 7.49 billion Euros in 2019, registering an increase of 65%.

He underlined the need for devising a strategy by all the stakeholders including the federal and provincial governments and civil society so that the country could continue benefiting from trade benefits beyond 2023.

Human Rights Secretary Noreen Bashir said the department has created Provincial Task Force on Human Rights, Provincial and District Human Rights Committees.

Noted social worker Faisal Edhi underlined the need to remove religious hate material from the school curriculum for interfaith harmony. He recalled that during his school days the teachers were encouraging discrimination against Hindu students.

Published in The Express Tribune, May 30^th, 2022.