[{"bbox": [98, 150, 1136, 202], "category": "Text", "text": "robust implementation mechanisms and legislative amendments to bridge existing gaps and provide\neffective remedies to those adversely affected by business activity."}, {"bbox": [98, 226, 1136, 360], "category": "Text", "text": "The EU-adopted 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development ensures that the appropriate means of implementation (finance, trade, capacity building, and/or science, technology, and innovation) are given attention in formulating almost every Sustainable Development Goal. The means of implementation in the 2030 Agenda also include commitments to address systemic issues, including policy and institutional coherence, multi-stakeholder partnerships, data, monitoring, and accountability – all of which are addressed in the design of the present action."}, {"bbox": [98, 386, 1136, 572], "category": "Text", "text": "As a result of the EU's recent institutional support programme for human rights, the federal level, particularly the Ministry of Human Rights, has been able to raise awareness of key human rights issues. Future interventions must reflect the complex institutional structure of the human rights architecture in Pakistan based on lessons learned. Independent Commissions on Human Rights, beneficiaries of previous EU-funded interventions, have adequate monitoring mandates but are not operating in accordance with the Paris Principle. Moreover, the human and financial resources available are insufficient to accomplish their objectives. Therefore, the importance of providing targeted assistance to these Commissions cannot be overstated."}, {"bbox": [98, 597, 1136, 703], "category": "Text", "text": "Moreover, there has been considerable political momentum at the federal level regarding business and human rights, and this area shows good complementarity with other EU-identified priorities in Pakistan. Therefore, a greater chance of success is apparent through comprehensively addressing all aspects of GSP+, in addition to human rights interventions."}, {"bbox": [98, 729, 1136, 969], "category": "Text", "text": "Lastly, GSP+ has proven an effective instrument for encouraging the government to demonstrate its commitment to creating a more conducive normative environment for the national human rights mechanism to function effectively. Over 76% of Pakistan's exports, including textiles and clothing, enter the EU duty and quota-free as a result of GSP+⁶. This represents approximately 20% of Pakistan's global exports⁷. It is expected that the GSP+ preferences will also assist Pakistan in diversifying its exports. In this trade relationship, Pakistan and the EU must ensure that the benefits generated in the relevant economic areas and industries are appropriately achieved. In other words, the relevant EU standards that regulate the relationship between businesses and labour and the economic rights of individuals, communities, and groups (women, children, migrants, people with disabilities) should streamline the relationships in all industries that benefit from the trade agreement."}, {"bbox": [98, 995, 1136, 1155], "category": "Text", "text": "Pakistan's recent report submitted to United Nations (UN) Human Rights Committee was deemed unsatisfactory because it could not explain reported extrajudicial killings, enforced disappearance, and use of the death penalty in Pakistan. Moreover, according to the Human Rights Commission of Pakistan (HRCP) report, Pakistan has a poor record in implementing eight fundamental conventions it ratified. The report also points out poor enforcement of collective bargaining and failure to eliminate the worst forms of child labour, forced labour, and discrimination in employment."}, {"bbox": [98, 1180, 1136, 1315], "category": "Text", "text": "The EU granted the GSP+ status for Pakistan. In response, the Government was further encouraged to improve its human rights record and establish Treaty Implementation Cells (TICs) at the national and provincial levels to coordinate the implementation of treaty obligations among various line ministries⁸. Furthermore, the provincial governments have established their own Human Rights Departments and provincial Human Rights strategies. Therefore, compliance with GSP+ is a matter of political interest at the moment."}, {"bbox": [98, 1340, 1136, 1420], "category": "Text", "text": "Over the past few years, the Government of Pakistan has introduced several significant legislative measures supporting human rights. There has been notable progress in the country with regard to the protection of children, and the following legislation was passed during this period: the Transgender (Protection of Rights) Act 2018, the"}, {"bbox": [147, 1464, 1081, 1507], "category": "Footnote", "text": "⁶ See: EU trade relations with Pakistan. Facts, figures and latest developments. available at https://policy.trade.ec.europa.eu/eu-trade-relationships-country-and-region/countries-and-regions/pakistan_en <<last visited 13.02.2023>>"}, {"bbox": [147, 1507, 192, 1527], "category": "Footnote", "text": "⁷ Ibid."}, {"bbox": [147, 1530, 1081, 1633], "category": "Footnote", "text": "⁸ At the federal level, the focus of the TIC is on: i) the formulation of effective mechanisms for the implementation of the ratified conventions; ii) the development of protocols for provincial Line Departments to document the implementation progress; iii) the provision of support and guidance to the relevant Line Departments to formulate standardised reporting templates and to generate reports; iv) the coordination with the respective Line Departments to collect and compile reporting data; and v) the formation of a liaison mechanism with the relevant Federal Ministries (Ministry of Human Rights, Ministry of Law, Foreign Office) for reporting and monitoring."}, {"bbox": [1069, 1639, 1082, 1661], "category": "Page-footer", "text": "5"}]