In 2023, Pakistan experienced one of its worst economic crises with poverty, inflation, and unemployment reaching new heights. The Human Rights Watch reported that millions of people’s rights to health, food, and an adequate standard of living were in jeopardy. The International Monetary Fund’s insistence on austerity and removal of subsidies without compensatory measures only added to the hardships faced by low-income groups in Pakistan.
The country also faced significant vulnerability to climate change, with extreme climate events becoming more frequent and intense. The report highlighted increasing repression by governments in Asia, negatively impacting human rights locally and internationally. The lack of a meaningful human rights charter or regional institution in Asia was also noted, something that sets the region apart from Europe, Africa, and the Americas.
Other issues highlighted in the report included threats and attacks against the media, intimidation and surveillance of various groups by government authorities, and violence against women and girls. The report also pointed out a lack of awareness about mental health, discrimination against transgender women, and food insecurity impacting a large percentage of the population.
Despite these challenges, Pakistan continued to deepen its economic and political ties with China, and the European Union proposed extending Pakistan’s Generalised Scheme of Preferences Plus status for another four years. Elaine Pearson, Asia director at HRW, emphasized the need for bold new approaches to address the threats posed by abusive governments in Asia to human rights.