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<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 face=Arial><span lang=EN-GB style='font-size:
10.0pt;font-family:Arial'>** Apologies for cross-postings**<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 face=Arial><span lang=EN-GB style='font-size:
10.0pt;font-family:Arial'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 face=Arial><span lang=EN-GB style='font-size:
10.0pt;font-family:Arial'>Dear Colleagues, <o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 face=Arial><span lang=EN-GB style='font-size:
10.0pt;font-family:Arial'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 face=Arial><span lang=EN-GB style='font-size:
10.0pt;font-family:Arial'>I am forwarding you a press release from Thai NGOs regarding
a letter sent to the UN Special Rapporteur on the right to health, Mr. Paul
Hunt, urging him to raise the alarm with the Thai government about the human
rights risks of <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:country-region w:st="on">Thailand</st1:country-region></st1:place>’s
Free Trade Agreement (FTA) negotiations (see below).<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 face=Arial><span lang=EN-GB style='font-size:
10.0pt;font-family:Arial'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 face=Arial><span lang=EN-GB style='font-size:
10.0pt;font-family:Arial'>The Thai NGOs are concerned about the impact of
proposed strict intellectual property (IP) rules in FTAs on access to
affordable medicines and the right to health. They are also concerned that FTA
negotiations lack transparency and consultation. They would like <st1:country-region
w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Thailand</st1:place></st1:country-region> to be
reminded of its human rights obligations of which the obligation to ensure access
to information and participation in public affairs, including trade
negotiations. <o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 face=Arial><span lang=EN-GB style='font-size:
10.0pt;font-family:Arial'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 face=Arial><span lang=EN-GB style='font-size:
10.0pt;font-family:Arial'>Thailand is negotiating FTAs with a number of
countries, such as the United States (the fourth round of US-Thailand FTA negotiations
will start on the 11<sup>th</sup> July 2005) and the European Free Trade
Association (EFTA – is composed of Switzerland, Liechtenstein, Iceland
and Norway).<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 face=Arial><span lang=EN-GB style='font-size:
10.0pt;font-family:Arial'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 face=Arial><span lang=EN-GB style='font-size:
10.0pt;font-family:Arial'>Best regards,<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 face=Arial><span lang=EN-GB style='font-size:
10.0pt;font-family:Arial'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 face=Arial><span lang=EN-GB style='font-size:
10.0pt;font-family:Arial'>Davinia<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 face=Arial><span lang=EN-GB style='font-size:
10.0pt;font-family:Arial'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 face=Arial><span lang=EN-GB style='font-size:
10.0pt;font-family:Arial'>Davinia Ovett</span></font><span lang=EN-GB><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 face=Arial><span lang=EN-GB style='font-size:
10.0pt;font-family:Arial'>Programme Officer</span></font><span lang=EN-GB><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 face=Arial><span lang=EN-GB style='font-size:
10.0pt;font-family:Arial'>3D -> Trade - Human Rights - Equitable Economy</span></font><span
lang=EN-GB><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 face=Arial><span lang=FR style='font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:Arial'>15, Rue des Savoises</span></font><span lang=FR><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 face=Arial><span lang=FR style='font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:Arial'>CH-1205 Genève</span></font><span lang=FR><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 face=Arial><span lang=FR style='font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:Arial'>Switzerland</span></font><span lang=FR><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 face=Arial><span lang=EN-GB style='font-size:
10.0pt;font-family:Arial'>Tel: +41 22 320 21 21</span></font><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 face=Arial><span lang=EN-GB style='font-size:
10.0pt;font-family:Arial'>Fax:</span></font><span lang=EN-GB> </span><font
size=2 face=Arial><span lang=EN-GB style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial'>+41
22 320 69 48</span></font><span lang=EN-GB><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 face=Arial><span lang=EN-GB style='font-size:
10.0pt;font-family:Arial'>Email: <a href="mailto:dovett@3dthree.org">dovett@3dthree.org</a></span></font><span
lang=EN-GB><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 face=Arial><span lang=EN-GB style='font-size:
10.0pt;font-family:Arial'>Website: <a href="http://www.3dthree.org">www.3dthree.org</a></span></font><span
lang=EN-GB><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span lang=EN-GB
style='font-size:12.0pt'> <img border=0 width=110 height=48
id="_x0000_i1025" src="cid:image002.jpg@01C572A5.DC9798A0"><o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span lang=EN-GB
style='font-size:12.0pt'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span lang=EN-GB
style='font-size:12.0pt'>***************************************************************<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span lang=EN-GB
style='font-size:12.0pt'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span lang=EN-GB
style='font-size:12.0pt'> </span><span lang=EN-GB><o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoBodyText><b><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span
style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman"'>FTA Watch and allies
sent an appeal to the Special Rapporteur, urging for monitoring the Thai
government’s violation of right to access to medicines of Thai people
through FTAs <st1:country-region w:st="on">Thailand</st1:country-region>-the <st1:place
w:st="on"><st1:country-region w:st="on">US</st1:country-region></st1:place><o:p></o:p></span></font></b></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span lang=EN-GB
style='font-size:12.0pt'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span lang=EN-GB
style='font-size:12.0pt'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<h1><b><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:12.0pt;
font-family:"Times New Roman"'>April 15, 2005<o:p></o:p></span></font></b></h1>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span lang=EN-GB
style='font-size:12.0pt'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span lang=EN-GB
style='font-size:12.0pt'>Today the FTA Watch and allies submitted an urgent
appeal to Mr Paul Hunt, the Special Rapporteur of the commission on Human
Rights on the right to the highest attainable standard of physical and mental
health, expressing a concern especially over the bilateral trade negotiations
between <st1:country-region w:st="on">Thailand</st1:country-region> and the <st1:place
w:st="on"><st1:country-region w:st="on">US</st1:country-region></st1:place> in
the fourth round of the talk. The negotiation is due to be held on July 11,
2005 in <st1:State w:st="on">Montana</st1:State>, the <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:country-region
w:st="on">United States of America</st1:country-region></st1:place>. The
letter addressed the <st1:country-region w:st="on">US</st1:country-region>
demand on expansion of Intellectual Property (IP) rules, which will undermine <st1:place
w:st="on"><st1:country-region w:st="on">Thailand</st1:country-region></st1:place>’s
ability to access to medicines. Moreover, it is likely that some other
countries including <st1:country-region w:st="on">Japan</st1:country-region>
and EFTA countries (consisting of <st1:country-region w:st="on">Switzerland</st1:country-region>,
<st1:country-region w:st="on">Norway</st1:country-region>, <st1:country-region
w:st="on">Iceland</st1:country-region> and <st1:country-region w:st="on">Liechtenstein</st1:country-region>)
will use the <st1:country-region w:st="on">US</st1:country-region> demand as
their benchmarks in their trade negotiations with <st1:country-region w:st="on"><st1:place
w:st="on">Thailand</st1:place></st1:country-region>.<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span lang=EN-GB
style='font-size:12.0pt'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span lang=EN-GB
style='font-size:12.0pt'>The FTA Watch and allies requested the Special
Rapporteur to monitor and remind the Thai government of its obligations to
protect the right of people to have their highest attainable standard of
physical and mental health, which should not be undermined by economic
interests in FTA negotiations. Moreover, it is highly important that the Thai
government be reminded to ensure accessibility of information and texts of the
negotiations, public participation, comprehensive assessment of the effects of
TRIPS-plus rules on the access to affordable medicines and the realisation of
the right to health before making any trade commitments. (See details in the
letter)<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span lang=EN-GB
style='font-size:12.0pt'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span lang=EN-GB
style='font-size:12.0pt'>The undersigned organisations are Thai human rights
advocates, people living with HIV/AIDS and civil society groups that are Access
Foundation; Alternative Agriculture Network, Biodiversity and Community Rights
Action Thailand; Center for Aids Rights; Confederation of Consumer
Organization; Drug Study Group; Focus on the Global South (Thailand);
Foundation for Consumers; FTA Watch; Medecins Sans Frontiers-Belgium
(Thailand); NGO Coordinating Committee On Development; Thai Action on
Globalisation; Thai Network of People Living with HIV/AIDS; Thai NGO Coalition
on AIDS; The Assembly of the Poor; The Rural Reconstruction Alumni and Friends
Association; The Strategic Policy on Natural Resources Base Project, National
Human Right Commission.<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span lang=EN-GB
style='font-size:12.0pt'> <o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span lang=EN-GB
style='font-size:12.0pt'>The submission of the letter to the Special Rapporteur
is in accordance to the United Nation’s human rights monitoring process
that each member country has committed to international obligations on human
rights. In 2002, the UN commission on Human Rights appointed a Special
Rapporteur, whose mandate focuses on the right of everyone to the enjoyment of
the highest attainable standard of physical and mental health, reflected in
article 25(1) of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR), article 12
of the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights (ICESCR),
article 24 of the Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC) and article 12 of
the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women
(CEDAW), as well as on the right to non-discrimination as reflected in article
5 (e) (iv) of the International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of
Racial Discrimination (ICERD). The process allows a submission of individual
complaint. If the Special Rapporteur deems the issue important, he may
undertake country visits, request necessary information and seek
clarification. If there is right violation, he will communicate with the
government and remind it of its obligations under international law in relation
to the right to health.<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span lang=EN-GB
style='font-size:12.0pt'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span lang=EN-GB
style='font-size:12.0pt'>Mr Paul Hunt, the present Special Rapporteur of the
Commission of Human Rights on the right to health, comes from <st1:country-region
w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">New Zealand</st1:place></st1:country-region>.
In the past, <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:country-region w:st="on">Thailand</st1:country-region></st1:place>
was requested only once by a Special Rapporteur on extrajudicial, summary or
arbitrary executions for a country visit in 2003. However, the Thai
government’s response to the visit was defensive, which created a
negative image of the country as a UN member. <o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span lang=EN-GB
style='font-size:12.0pt'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span lang=EN-GB
style='font-size:12.0pt'>Press release by FTA Watch<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span lang=EN-GB
style='font-size:12.0pt'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
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style='font-size:12.0pt'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
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style='font-size:12.0pt'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
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style='font-size:12.0pt'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
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style='font-size:12.0pt'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
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style='font-size:12.0pt'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
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style='font-size:12.0pt'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
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