ISDS Case Map
human rights
Several Swedish parliamentarians from one of the parties in the Swedish government, have motioned that the Swedish Government should work to prevent the EU from signing any new agreements or agreements of advanced status with Morocco "as long as the country occupies Western Sahara".
"The EU-Israel Association Agreement should be suspended until Israel complies with international law. It was only last week that I personally met with the fishermen whose boats were illegally water-cannoned and fired upon by Israeli gunboats as they peacefully fish in Gaza waters."
Colombian U'wa indigenous leaders visit US, urging investors and US Congress to respect human rights
The U'wa called attention to indigenous mobilizations in Colombia where some 15,000 are marching to Bogota -- to protest their government's backsliding on indigenous land rights in attempt to make way for the US-Colombia Free Trade Agreement.
Ratification by the United States Congress of the Free Trade Agreement (FTA) with Colombia appears to be further away than ever, due to the victory of president-elect Barack Obama, who has declared his opposition to the treaty, and to the effects of the financial crisis.
At least one person was killed and more than 130 were wounded during indigenous demonstrations last week in several departments in Colombia. But with multiple press freedom violations being committed, you would be hard-pressed to find out what's going on.
In Colombia, thousands of indigenous people are staging a week long march. Marchers plan to march through 70 miles of Colombia's countryside. They say they want to change economic policies that are impoverishing their nations. And they reject the presence of US corporations on their lands. Manuel Rueda joined the march as it passed through Colombia's Cauca Province.
I have seen first-hand the effects of “free trade” in several countries, and it is not the fairy tale that the mainstream politicians would have us believe. I have seen men, women and children working 20 hours a day in deplorable conditions to keep up with the influx of foreign goods. I have seen farmers who used to trade corn for clothes struggle because they do not have the cash to participate in the new “free” economy.
The Philippines and the European Union have agreed to start formal talks in February for a political cooperation agreement (PCA) that will govern political and economic relations and lead to an EU-ASEAN free trade deal. Human rights, intellectual property rights and climate change will be among the areas covered by the agreement.
The Philippines has expressed serious concerns on the proposed PCA because it requires commitment to sign the Rome Statute. Manila has not ratified the statute owing to concerns of military and police authorities they may face possible harassment suits from rights groups at the ICC.
Two activists from TradeJustice New York City Metro disrupted a Council of the Americas-sponsored reception for Colombian President Alvaro Uribe Velez to denounce Uribe's support for a free trade agreement between the US and Colombia that critics believe will exacerbate human rights and environmental catastrophes in the war-torn South American nation.
