EU Special Representative for Human Rights Olof Skoog undertook a week-long visit to Pakistan—which came to an end on Friday, 31 January—to discuss the most pressing human rights and labour rights issues as well as Pakistan’s plans to address them, particularly in the context of the assessment under the GSP+ trade scheme.
The ambassador met with government representatives, military leaders, United Nations organisations, civil society representatives, businesses, and the media; he emphasised the EU’s commitment to “supporting Pakistan in meeting its human rights obligations”.
A press release from the European External Action Service (EEAS) explains, “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 [...] new GSP+ regulation.”
Indeed, the trade benefits under GSP+ depend on progress being made in addressing a list of issues, notably concerning human rights and concrete reforms.
Pakistan has become the biggest beneficiary of this scheme—“Pakistani businesses [having increased] their exports to the EU market by 108% since the launch of the trade scheme in 2014”.
Consequently, discussions focused on blasphemy laws, women’s rights, forced conversions, media freedom, independence of the judiciary, the death penalty, and even freedom of religion and the rights of minorities. (Original version in French by Pauline Denys)