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Parliamentary question - E-001001/2018Parliamentary question
E-001001/2018

Pakistan's refusal to register INGOs in the context of GSP+

Question for written answer E-001001-18
to the Commission
Rule 130
Alessia Maria Mosca (S&D) , Christofer Fjellner (PPE)

At the end of November 2017, the Pakistani Ministry of the Interior informed around 30 international non-governmental organisations (INGOs) that their registration requests, under review since 2015, had been rejected.

The INGOs have been given no reason for their rejection. They were initially instructed to close operations within 60 days, with an appeal period of 90 days. According to the Pakistan Humanitarian Forum, which represents 63 INGOs, the work of these organisations directly benefits approximately 34 million people in Pakistan.

In its recent review of Pakistan’s implementation of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, the UN Human Rights Committee raised concerns about restrictions on INGOs in the country and called for a review of the policy for regulation of INGOs in Pakistan, in particular its vague language regarding cancellation of INGO registration.

In the light of the considerable emphasis placed on the involvement of civil society by the Commission communication of October 2015 on trade for all and the sustainable development objectives enshrined in the GSP+ programme under which Pakistan benefits from preferential access to the common market, has the Commission already adopted a strategy to address the abovementioned concerns?

What specific actions does it intend to take in this regard?

Last updated: 6 March 2018
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