GSP+ status: ‘Civil society can use incentive as tool to highlight HR issues’

EU official says GSP+ an incentive to contribute more in good governance.

ISLAMABAD: Civil society can use the Generalised System for Preferences (GSP+) status given to Pakistan by the European Union (EU) as a tool to highlight and improve the human rights situation in Pakistan.

EU Political Section head John Sorensen said this at a seminar on “Government and Civil Society Collaboration to fulfil GSP+ Requirements”, organised by the Potohar Organisation of Development Advocacy (PODA) in collaboration with the EU here on Wednesday.

“The advocacy for implementation of human rights treaties and the GSP+ is very important for economic cooperation in terms of the philosophy of ‘trade, not aid’,” he said

He said that GSP+ status was an incentive for the Pakistani government to contribute more in good governance, human rights and democracy.

“All segments of society will benefit from GSP+ status with the implementation of 27 human rights treaties,” he said.

“In terms of trade, Pakistan saw a 20 per cent increase in exports after getting GSP+ status, but the success of the scheme should be extended to implement 27 international treaties,” Sorensen said, adding that human and labour rights were very important for the EU.

“The EU has concerns about situation of freedom of religion, minority rights, access to justice and death plenty in Pakistan,” he said and emphasised that labour union leaders should also be aware of the GSP+ status and its requirements so that they could also benefit from it. Ministry of Commerce Deputy Secretary Fasih Ahmed said that Pakistan was committed to fulfilling its requirements with regard to the GSP+ and the country has ratified most of the international conventions. “After getting GSP+ status, exports have grown by more than one billion dollars.”

He said the government looked forward to enhancing cooperation with the civil society and the EU to comply with 27 international conventions in this regard.

“If we can protect human rights while doing good business for Pakistan, then, it is a win-win situation for everyone”, said PODA Director Sameena Nazir.

Ministry of Law, Justice and Human Rights Director General Hassan Mangi said that parliament was in the process of passing a law on women’s rights and torture.

He said that the law ministry was preparing a plan of action on human rights while the Ministry of Religious Affairs and Interfaith Harmony was also working on a plan for safeguarding minorities’ rights.

Democracy Reporting International Pakistan team leader Zulfikar Ali Shah said a lot of work on human rights was needed to be done.

Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa Provincial Commission on the Status of Women member Neelum Toru said the golden opportunity provided by GSP+ status should be extended to women by giving them access to EU markets to sell their wares.

Published in The Express Tribune, February 5^th, 2015.