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human rights

European commission found guilty of maladministration for EU-Vietnam Free Trade Agreement
3-Mar-2016 FIDH
European Ombudsman concluded that the Commission’s refusal to carry out a human rights impact assessment constituted maladministration.
Indigenous Peoples’ land and resource rights in Latin America
29-Feb-2016 IC Magazine
The impacts of free trade agreements.
Negotiations kick off on a binding treaty on business and human rights
15-Feb-2016 IISD
The UNGPs set out a three-pillar framework: the state duty to protect human rights, the corporate responsibility to respect human rights, and access to remedy for victims of business-related abuses.
Al-Jazeera sues Egypt over crackdown and harassments which caused $150mn in losses
29-Jan-2016 Lawyer Herald
Pan-Arab TV Network Al-Jazeera is taking legal actions against Egypt over the closure of the Qatar-owned broadcast network and the harassments of its journalists has led to $150 million worth of losses.
HRW: "Western Sahara products should not be labeled as Moroccan"
20-Jan-2016 WSRW
Human Rights Watch states that "countries should not import goods produced in Western Sahara labeled as Made in Morocco or under preferential tariff agreements with Morocco".
AEC ‘ignoring human rights’
7-Jan-2016 The Jakarta Post
Upholding human rights and democratic values is not in the interests of the ASEAN Economic Community (AEC), since member states are driven only by market-oriented goals.
LATEST: European Court annuls EU trade agreement with Morocco
11-Dec-2015 WSRW
The European Court of Justice has this morning ordered the annulment of a trade agreement between Morocco and the European Union since it includes the territory of Western Sahara.
Call to action: Protect human rights, Stop TPP! on Dec10
5-Dec-2015
Join the action on 10 December 2015, International Human Rights Day
Zero chance’ of Thailand FTA under junta, Commission official says
24-Nov-2015 EurActiv
The suspended Free Trade Agreement with Thailand will “never be ratified” whilst the country is under a military dictatorship, a top aide to EU Trade Commissioner Cecilia Malmstrom admitted
Behind pomp of APEC summit, crushing poverty endures
20-Nov-2015 Charlotte Observer
Opponents argue the APEC agenda of liberalizing trade further strengthens wealthy nations at the expense of developing countries, who largely can only compete in low wage industries such as garment manufacturing.
Roundup: Civil society groups demand to be heard in building ASEAN
20-Nov-2015 Global Post
Civil society organizations are complaining that they are being shut out of the official process during a pivotal stage of ASEAN’s development, as it seeks to develop the ASEAN Economic Community
Israel fumes over planned EU labelling of ‘settlement’ products
12-Nov-2015 EurActiv
Few issues have caused more friction between Israel and the European Union than EU plans to impose labelling on goods produced in Jewish settlements on occupied land.
International trade: UN expert calls for abolition of Investor-State dispute settlement arbitrations
28-Oct-2015 OHCHR
Trade must be made to work for human rights and development and not against them,” the United Nations Independent Expert on the promotion of a democratic and equitable international order, Alfred de Zayas, has said
UK Court refers Western Sahara imports case to EU Court
23-Oct-2015 WSRW
In refering the case on the questionable legality of UK imports from Western Saharan products to the European Court of Justice, the UK Judge stated that "there is an arguable case of a manifest error by the [European] Commission in understanding and applying international law relevant to these agreements.”
Lack of local land rights harms fight against poverty, climate change - researchers
5-Oct-2015 Trust
Indigenous people and local communities lack legal rights to almost three quarters of their traditional lands, sparking social conflict and undermining international plans to curb poverty, hunger and climate change.
Canada’s foreign policy fails to support human rights in Colombia
25-Sep-2015 CNW
A new report Colombia in the Shadow of Human Right Abuses confirms that human rights violations have not abated over the four years since the implementation of the Canada-Columbia Free Trade Agreement
UN expert says ’no’ to free trade deals ignoring Human Rights treaty obligation
18-Sep-2015 RTT
United Nations Independent Expert Alfred de Zayas Thursday urged the UN system and Governments across the world to radically reform the international investment regime
HR standard and investor liability in the new model of Indonesian BITs
9-Sep-2015 Indonesia for Global Justice
The Government plan to reassess the 64 Bilateral Investment Treaties (BITs) that have been signed by Indonesia immediately.
Opposition mounts against regional trade pact threatening human rights
1-Sep-2015 Third World Network
Less well known than the notorious Trans-Pacific Partnership, the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) is engendering growing opposition because of its similar oppressive provisions.
Disposable people: Obama, the TPP, and the betrayal of human rights
1-Sep-2015 OB Rag
The neoliberal regime that the TPP perpetuates has not made the world flatter for slaves, it has only made the elites richer and the poor more disposable.