EN Official Journal of the European Union CE 78/356

(2004/C 78 E/0375)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-0521/03

by Miet Smet (PPE-DE) to the Commission

(24 February 2003)

Subject: Women's rights in Pakistan

In 2001 the European Union and Pakistan signed a cooperation agreement. Article 1 of that agreement contains a clause relating to respect for human rights and democratic principles.

In spite of the fact that Pakistan subscribes to these principles, the rights of women in Pakistan are not always respected. AFP, Reuters and the New York Times report that some Pakistani women have been the victims of violence as a result of blood feuds, including rape, burning, murder etc. Blood feuds can be decreed by local councils.

Has the EU yet reacted to these grave infringements of women's rights? If not, does it intend to do so?

Is there any provision for a mechanism to systematically monitor and enforce respect for women's rights in Pakistan? Is there provision for the possibility of suspending cooperation between Pakistan and the EU if women's rights, and human rights in general, are continually violated in Pakistan?

If not, will the EU make provision in future for such possibilities?

If there is provision for the monitoring and enforcement of respect for human rights and for the possible suspension of cooperation between Pakistan and the EU, does this apply to all the countries which have signed a similar agreement (i.e. a 3rd generation agreement containing explicit references to human rights) with the EU?

Answer given by Mr Patten on behalf of the Commission

(26 March 2003)

The Commission and Member States Embassies in Islamabad remain seriously concerned by the human rights situation in Pakistan and continue to draw the attention of the Pakistan authorities to these issues at every appropriate opportunity.

On 7 February 2003 the Union Troika in Islamabad carried out an official démarche to the Government underlining Union concerns about a number of human rights related questions, including the situation of women in Pakistan. More specifically, the démarche emphasised that some pieces of legislation, notably the Hudood Ordinances, have an ‘obvious’ gender-biased nature. The same applies to laws on inheritance, custody of children and rules of testimony. Individual cases were also brought to the attention of the Government. The Union démarche also referred to practices in Pakistan that are clearly in violation of the Constitution of Pakistan, which forbids discrimination against women. Such practices include honour killings, difficult access to a fair trial and lack of respect for their legal security. The Member of the Commission in charge of External Relations also raised the matter of human rights with President Musharraf on the occasion of his visit to Islamabad last 23 May 2002.

The Commission also addresses human rights issues through its co-operation projects in the country. Women's rights remain a cross-cutting theme in all projects undertaken by the Commission in the social sector such as health, education, water and sanitation. Thus, when choosing the projects and during their implementation, the Commission pays particular attention to gender equity, women empowerment and participation, in particular through the European Initiative for Democracy and Human Rights (EIDHR) where women's rights remain a key concern. Furthermore, the Delegation of the Commission in Pakistan will be able in the near future to fund directly human rights micro-projects implemented by nongovernmental organisations (NGOs), where women's rights will be one of the priority areas.

With regard to provisions to monitor and enforce respect for women's rights in Pakistan, the Honourable Member may be interested to know that the Delegation of the Commission in Pakistan follows closely local initiatives intended to address women's issues.

Some of these can be summarised as follows:

— Pakistan has established a National Plan of Action, which was prepared by the Ministry of Women Development and Empowerment. A co-ordinator was also appointed to monitor the implementation of the plan and to co-ordinate the work between the different ministries, which are asked to address women-related issues within their own area.

— The Government of Pakistan has also set up a National Commission for the Status of Women, which is tasked to monitor the violations of women's rights and report directly to the Ministry of Women Development and Empowerment. This National Commission can also suggest reforms of the legislation.

— There is an important number of local NGOs working in the field of women's rights, which have proved to be particularly well organised. They have set up the Women Action Forum (WAF), which not only monitors the situation concerning women's rights but also plays an advocatorial role with the relevant authorities.