PHA-Exchange> Food for an overlooked thought

[Claudio]

Human Rights Reader 150

 

FREE TRADE AGREEMENTS, MILLENNIUM DEVELOPMENT GOALS, AND HUMAN RIGHTS: WORKING AT CROSS-PURPOSES?





                                    Who will live and who will die

                                    has already been decided 

                                    by the economic structures

                                    brought about by globalization.

                                    (P. John)

 

1. These days, bilateral free trade agreements (FTAs) are totally bypassing the World Trade Organization (WTO). This is because rich countries think that multilateralism is for weak players and is based on long-winded processes with decisions that are typically based on the lowest common denominator arrived at with a one-country-one-vote system. So these rich countries (or the EU) seek their own way through these (often imposed) bilateral FTAs that bypass the WTO. Therefore, WTO critics are, in a way, partly misled when they demonstrate (only) against the WTO in the streets.

 

2. But, as experience has shown, in FTAs the cost:deception ratio has been high. FTAs pursued by hegemonic powers, despite being nefarious, find developing countries to be complacent, "behaving like animals being blissfully led to their slaughter". (J. Bhagwati). 

 

3. We cannot overlook the proven fact that trade (as much as foreign aid) is just an opportunity (often missed) and certainly not a guarantee. This is true, not only from an economic development perspective, but particularly from the perspective of human rights (HR). (G. Kent)  Unfortunately, in the case of aid, if one aid program misses its opportunity to deliver what it promised (whatever its expected impact was supposed to be), the next one is as sure to come along as day follows night; unhealthy donor competition ensures that. This is dramatically seen in current-day aid directed at 'helping' poor countries achieve the MDGs.

 

4. Few people know the MDGs actually comprise only two (of 30!) paragraphs of the full Millennium Declaration --which calls very strongly for democracy and human rights as the route to achieving the stated millennium goals! Actually, RR

 

HRdespite the fact that paragraphs 25 and 26 of the Millennium Declaration specifically call to apply a HR-based approach, the ongoing Millennium-Development-Goals-drive has become a global action program without such an orientation.  

 

5. Moreover, when one looks at budgets, at management bodies and at related things that need to go with a full-fledged program, one finds that, at the global level, there is practically nothing there on HR. MDG-directed programs are mainly advocating better-work-at-the-national-level. Paradoxically, this assumes capacity and political determination at the national level. when the problems we are trying to solve occur precisely because of shortfalls in technical and political capacity at the national level. [It is not, as so often touted, a lack of political will; most of the cases, it is a deliberate political laissez-faire decision of the national leadership in power]. 

 

6. Still as of today, there really is no global MDG-directed program that we can hold accountable. Come to think of it, there never were any solid global commitments made by any international actors against which we can hold them accountable for. So far, a Millennium Development Program at the global level is an illusion. (G. Kent)

 

7. Furthermore, the Hunger Task Force Report of the Millennium Project (220 pages) also totally neglects human (people's) rights and more specifically the right to health and to adequate food and nutrition. (So much for Jeffrey Sachs being one of 'us'.).

 

8. To add insult to injury, global targets cannot simply be imposed on each and every country, independently of their specific situations. The quantitative MDG targets must be translated into nationally agreed targets that balance desire and reality. One is left to wonder whether we should not call for a 'customization of MDGs' setting customized targets, as well as specific goals and processes that ultimately respect, protect and fulfill HR. (U. Jonsson)

 

9. As can be seen, much needs to change for trade, aid and the setting of development goals to work synergistically with HR goals. We all need to contribute our own share to progressively make this a reality.

 

Note: Not being facetious, if we provide sandwiches for all who are hungry in the world on the first day of 2015, will we have fulfilled the MDG of ending hunger by 2015? (G. Kent)

 

Claudio Schuftan, Ho Chi Minh City

claudio at hcmc.netnam,vn

­­­_____

Adapted from D+C, Vol. 33, No.5, May 2006; Carlos Fuentes, La Silla del Aguila, Santillana Ediciones, Madrid, 2005 and F+D,  Vol.43, No.1, March 2006.
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