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human rights

Rejecting TPP a matter of human rights
14-Aug-2015 The Tyee
Trade deal would put Canada in consort with nation plagued by trafficking, aggressive corps.
TPP in trouble: why we can win this fight!
14-Aug-2015 Friends of the Earth
Time is running out for a congressional vote on a completed TPP deal during President Obama’s term of office.
TPP, TTIP et TiSA – «des accords politiques visant de supprimer le modèle démocratique»
13-Aug-2015 Euro-synergie
Alfred de Zayas, spécialiste renommé de droit international, présente toute la complexité de ces soi-disant accords de libre échange du point de vue du droit international.
In hurrying trade deal with Vietnam, the EU is bypassing its human rights obligations
10-Aug-2015 FIDH
FIDH and the Vietnam Committee on Human Rights said that if finalised without conducting a human-rights impact assessment and without introducing the necessary human rights safeguards, the EU-Vietnam Free trade and investment agreement would be concluded in violation of EU law.
Blocked from trade pact by its failure on slavery, Malaysia suddenly gets a passing grade
28-Jul-2015 The Intercept
The State Department on Monday took Malaysia off a list of countries with particularly egregious human trafficking records, clearing the path for the country’s participation in the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) negotiations, one of the top political priorities for the Obama administration.
Thai seafood products could be banned, warns MEP
23-Jul-2015 EurActiv
A prominent lawmaker from the European Parliament’s Committee on Fisheries told EurActiv he would support giving a “red card” to Thailand, meaning banning the import of its fisheries products, if illegal fishing isn’t curbed, and if the practice of using slave labour is not abandoned.
Abuse and exploitation of migrants ignored in exchange for TPPA
20-Jul-2015 Asia Pacific Research Network
The recent Reuters report on Obama’s move to upgrade the human rights status of Malaysia to allow the continuation of the negotiations of the TPPA gives a taste of what is to come, especially for migrants’ rights, if the trade deal will be signed.
TTIP and UN treaty: the EU must stand up for human rights
17-Jul-2015 FIDH
Adopting an ’empty chair’ policy in Geneva instead of engaging in a productive debate, next to the strong trans-institutional push for the Commission-backed TTIP, paints a grim picture of a Europe that puts corporate interest ahead of human rights and companies before people.
TPPA: Human rights experts identify human rights risks
24-Jun-2015 Scoop
Prominent human rights voices in Trans-Pacific Partnership Agreement countries have sounded the alarm on Human Rights implications of the agreement.
Valle de San Quintín labourers: a reflection of shame and demands for justice
13-Jun-2015 Alai Net
San Quintín is a credible, contemporary sample of the different processes that make up the contemporary system of labour exploitation
UN experts voice concern over adverse impact of free trade and investment agreements on human rights
3-Jun-2015 OHCHR
A group of UN experts have issued the following statement to express concern about the secret nature of drawing up and negotiating many of these free trade and investment agreements, such as TPP and TTIP, and the potential adverse impact of these agreements on human rights.
UN calls for suspension of TTIP talks over fears of human rights abuses
6-May-2015 The Guardian
Alfred de Zayas said the UN will publish a report in August to illustrate the flaws in current plans for the TTIP.
Trade first, then talk human rights, with Saudi Arabia — Key
27-Apr-2015 NBR
New Zealand’s John Key has defended his upcoming trip to Saudi Arabia, saying a free-trade agreement with the kingdom will allow the two parties to talk about a ‘range of issues’ including human rights abuses.
UN expert says secret trade deals threaten human rights
24-Apr-2015 Reuters
Secret negotiations on international trade deals threaten human rights, an independent United Nations expert said on Thursday in comments that appeared aimed at agreements the United States is seeking with the European Union and Pacific nations.
EU Commission’s refusal to conduct a human rights impact assessment in the context of trade agreement negotiations constitutes maladministration, says EU Ombudsperson
16-Apr-2015 FIDH
The EU Ombudsperson has found that the European Commission’s failure to carry out a human rights impact assessment in the negotiations for a trade and investment agreement with Vietnam constitutes "maladministration".
International investment law and the [human right to] land
1-Apr-2015 HIC-HLRN
In many cases, international investment agreements have the purpose and/or effect of hijacking the international human rights system.
WPF motion on TNCs and human rights violations
31-Mar-2015 World Parliamentary Forum
The World Parliamentary Forum calls on national and regional Parliaments to reject both free trade agreements (FTAs) that benefit corporations and major international investors, as well as abusive bilateral investment treaties (BITs), that some governments have already cancelled.
LGBT members of Congress object to free-trade deal with countries criminalizing LGBT people
19-Feb-2015 BuzzFeed News
Five out LGBT members of Congress objected to the inclusion of two countries with anti-LGBT laws in a free trade deal that the Obama administration is currently negotiating and seeking to fast-track it for adoption.
Trade agreement with Colombia and Peru tests our commitment to human rights
29-Jan-2015 Irish Times
The first significant test of Ireland’s reputation as defender of human rights comes today as the Dáil debates ratification of the EU Free Trade Agreement with Colombia and Peru.
Human rights in investor-State arbitration: The human right to water and beyond
26-Jan-2015 SSRN
This article analyzes the restrictive approach adopted by investor-State arbitration tribunals to human rights arguments raised by host States, as exemplified in the case of the human right to water