INTERNATIONAL HUMAN RIGHTS DAY: Human Rights Must Not be Abandoned at the WTO Door
Hong Kong – December 10, 2005 – Governments must respect their human rights obligations as they participate in negotiations at the World Trade Organization's (WTO) Sixth Ministerial Conference, Rights & Democracy and other civil society organizations said in a joint statement issued today, International Human Rights Day. The WTO Ministerial meeting will begin on December 13, 2005 in Hong Kong.
“Trade must be seen as a means to end, not an end in itself” said Jean Louis Roy, President of Rights & Democracy” “If the Doha Development Agenda is to meet its promise, then WTO Members must take the appropriate steps to ensure that human rights are served – not compromised – by the rules governing international trade.”
More than 50 civil society groups are part of an international network working together as a "human rights caucus" at the WTO Ministerial Meeting. In their statement, the groups urge WTO member states to honor their Doha commitment by making special and differential treatment for developing countries an integral part of the negotiations, by allowing the flexibility necessary for developing countries to protect the livelihoods of their poor, and by providing all governments the capacity to regulate in the public interest.
Through a series of events planned on the margins of the official WTO conference, Rights & Democracy, and members of the human rights caucus, will highlight how trade rules limit the ability of governments to meet specific human rights obligations, including the human right to an adequate standard of living, the right to food, the right to health and labour rights.
Information about the human rights caucus, its events and events organized by Rights & Democracy is provided on the Rights & Democracy website, http://www.dd-rd.ca
Contacts:
Carole Samdup in Hong Kong , (cell) 852-6147-2258
Steve Smith in Montreal, 514-283-6073, ext. 255
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Rights & Democracy Events in Hong Kong
Forum: Speak-out! For Human Rights
Date: December 10 (International. Human Rights Day)
Time: 14:00 - 16:00
Location: Jesus is Lord Church, Room 201, 2/F Asian House, No. 1 Hennessey Road, Wanchai
Hosted by: Asia Pacific Research Network in collaboration with R&D and the FIDH
Meeting: Promoting Human Rights in Post-WTO China
Date: December 14
Time: 13:00 - 17:00
Location: Hong Kong Convention Centre, Room C, Wanchai
Hosted by: Rights & Democracy and Human Rights in China
Seminar: New Approaches for the Protection of Workers Rights in China
Date: December 15
Time: 10:00 - 13:00
Location: Novotel Century Hotel, 238 Jaffe Road , Wanchai
Hosted by: Rights & Democracy and China Labour Bulletin
Panel: The AoA and the Human Right to Food
Date: December 17
Time: 10:15-12:45
Location: Hong Kong Exhibition Center , Room 403, Wanchai
For More Information
Please contact Steve Smith (ext 255) or Louis Moubarak (ext 261) at Rights & Democracy, 514-283-6073.
