Trade
Franciscans International advocates for human rights to have primacy over all trade negotiations and decisions within and between countries. Countries have a responsibility to uphold the human rights treaties and conventions they have signed. Franciscans International works with grassroots Franciscans to provide advocacy and testimony at the international level on unjust global trade policies. We also monitor international organisations on trade issues, ensuring Franciscans remain informed on trade decisions.
Partnership with the Ecumenical Advocacy Alliance on trade justice
Franciscans International has partnered with the Ecumenical Advocacy Alliance's (EAA) Global Trade Campaign "Trade for People, Not People For Trade" since the campaign launch in 2002.
The EAA " is committed to working for justice in global trade. Trade is not an end in itself, but should be an instrument for the promotion of human well-being, sustainable communities and economic justice. We seek a world where global trade systems give priority to people who live in poverty."
Franciscans International joins the EAA in advocating for:
- Trade rules implementation that furthers the right to food , food security for all, and sustainable agriculture, and promotes greater self-reliance in developing countries;
- Global and national trade policies and rules oriented to guarantee access for all to essential services based on human rights principles;
- Transnational corporations regulated to ensure they contribute to poverty eradication, promoting human rights, and protecting the environment.
Franciscans International enthusiastically supported the acceptance of two Franciscans to the EAA's Trade Strategy Group as a way for the Franciscan family to get more involved in the alliance's advocacy campaigns. Brother Omar Fernandez, OFM from Colombia and Father Nithiya Sagayam, OFM Cap from India joined the EAA in February 2005.
Franciscans International animated Franciscans to participate in the March 2005 EAA campaign for a Global Week of Action on trade justice that called upon individuals to testify on local issues and to pressure their governments for social change. Franciscans International continues to follow the EAA's action alerts to address urgent trade issues.
World Trade Organization
As the 'only global international organization dealing with the rules of trade,' the World Trade Organization (WTO) creates and monitors trade policies between nations. The 150 members of the World Trade Organization meet to assure a fair, predictable, and smooth flow of trade. In so doing, however, the WTO has often supported policies that hurt developing nations' economies, such as the Organization's endorsement of an agreement on agriculture that allows such high subsidies to developed countries that developing countries cannot compete in an international market.
Franciscans International monitors the WTO's changing policies in relation to the local concerns of grassroots Franciscans, and advocates for a development focus within the Organization's negotiations. Using human rights language in trade negotiations allows Franciscans International to emphasise the need to honour existing human rights treaties.
At present, the WTO is completing its Doha Development Round of trade negotiations, which Franciscans International has been closely monitoring during the General Council meetings and Hong Kong Ministerial, advocating for a development-focus to policy. Franciscans International supported the EAA's planning of an NGO conference during the General Council in October and signed petitions prepared by the Human Rights Caucus and CIDSE-CI ( International Cooperation for Development and Solidarity -Caritas Internationalis ) in relation to the Hong Kong Ministerial.
Franciscans International works closely with grassroots Franciscans concerned with agriculture issues in their States. We are also following new initiatives and policies of the World Bank (WB) and International Monetary Fund (IMF) to ensure they too maintain a focus on human rights as the basis for negotiations.
Transnational Corporations (TNCs)
Transnational Corporations (TNCs) are expanding around the world and changing state-level economies, often with detrimental effects for the poor. Franciscans International receives updates from grassroots Franciscans on TNCs operating in local communities and supports policies that strengthen the inclusion of human rights standards in business situations.
During the 60th Session of the United Nations Commission for Human Rights in April 2004, Franciscans International joined a caucus statement endorsing the UN Human Rights Norms for Transnational Corporations with nearly 200 other NGOs, trade unions, businesses, and 175 individuals. Here too, Franciscans International emphasised corporate accountability and integrating human rights considerations in business situations.
Water
Franciscans International supports access to clean water and sanitation as a fundamental human right and opposes water privatisation as a threat to the needs of communities, and in particular the poor. Privatising water affects individuals, agriculture, industry and urbanization. Without correct control, water can become a source of conflict between individuals and communities. Privatizing water through public-private partnerships (PPPs) will especially affect the poor by limiting their access to water. The General Agreement on Trade and Services (GATS) does not consider water a public domain, opening water distribution to private investors, who raise water prices at the expense of the community. Governments should continue to ensure water is provided to all citizens as a fundamental human right and not enter trade policies that will inhibit this right.
Testimony from the field
Father Nithiya Sagyam, OFM Cap (India)
As the Executive Secretary of the National Commission for Justice, Peace and Development, Br Nithiya organises training programmes and action plans for 12 diverse regions of India. The Commission addresses the negative effects of globalisation on the poor, trade policies and their impact on people, alternative trade policies, human rights violations in Indian society, and conflict resolution and alternative solutions. Br Nithiya also has widespread experience mobilising national and regional ecumenical campaigns on trade justice, and coordinates national advocacy efforts and training on globalisation, especially the effects of trade policies on the rural poor and women. In Orissa state, Br Nithiya has worked with the Commission and other faith groups against trade-related exploitation caused by multinational corporations due to the privatisation of mines and dams.
Resources
- Ecumenical Advocacy Alliance The Ecumenical Advocacy Alliance, EAA, is a broad ecumenical network of over 90 churches and church-affiliated organisations. The EAA is "committed to working for justice in global trade" through its "Trade for People, Not People for Trade" Campaign. Their website contains many educational, liturgical, and action-oriented materials to use in understanding fair trade and educating others.
- Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, 2005 Publication: Human Rights and World Trade Agreements: Using general exception clauses to protect human rights
- "Talking Trade" The membership of the Ecumenical Advocacy Alliance, over 90 churches and church-related organisations, compiled a list of stories and testimonials on unfair trade. These testimonials illustrate the manner in which global trade affects individual States and the necessity for unfair practices to be abolished.
- KAIROS KAIROS examines the growing inequality between nations through the right to health, education, and clean water. " KAIROS believes that trade agendas and economic policy must serve the good of all peoples and the earth." KAIROS demands that national governments, international financial institutions and corporations be held accountable for their economic policies and the good of their people.
- 3D Trade, Human Rights, and Equitable Economy 3D focuses on the effects of trade rules, in particular those of the World Trade Organization, on the realization of human rights. 3D brings human rights language into trade negotiations to demonstrate the responsibilities of States to uphold their human rights commitments over trade rules.
- FIDH (International Federation for Human Rights) (FIDH produced a report on "Understanding Global Trade and Human Rights" for NGO participation in the 2005 Hong Kong Ministerial. The report analysed some important issues in trade and how to contextualize these with human rights language, international documents, and action.
- Oxfam Oxfam demands that the World Trade Organization's 'Development round' remain focused on development. Oxfam advocates for changing trade rules so " poor countries can have the power to decide trade policies that are right for their own development. A fair deal in Hong Kong could help millions of the world's poorest farmers earn a decent living."
- CIDSE (International Cooperation for Development and Solidarity) CIDSE, an alliance of 15 Catholic organizations, works on many trade-related issues, including ' trade and food security,' 'resources for development,' 'global governance,' 'EU development policy,' and 'security and development.' CIDSE co-published an informational booklet with Caritas Internationalis on agricultural issues during the World Trade Organization's Hong Kong Ministerial with a human rights and advocacy-for-the-poor focus.
- World Trade Organization Keep track of the World Trade Organization's activities by going to their website and reading about the Doha Development Round and news items.
How can I help ?
Franciscans International encourages the Franciscan family to work for just global trade by:
FI Publications
April 2005 Witness Statement on Water
FYI Toolkit on Free Trade vs. Fair Trade
 FI
Statements on Trade at the United Nations:
Franciscans International, as an NGO with General Consultative
Status with the Economic and Social Council, delivers
official written and oral interventions before United
Nations forums in New York and Geneva, Switzerland.
Listed below are Franciscans International statements
on Trade of People:
2005
"Summary Report." A written statement presented at the
Commission on Human Rights (61st Session) 2005. (2005-04-22)
"On Water, Sanitation and Human Settlements." An oral statement presented at the
13th Session of the Commission for Sustainable Development, On Water, Sanitation and Human Settlements.. (2005-04-12)
"Joint Letter on UN Norms for Transnational Corporations.." A written statement presented at the
Commission on Human Rights (61st Session) 2005. (2005-03-13)
2004
"Mission Coton (intervention orale)." An oral statement presented at the
United Nations,
Commission on Human Rights,
60th Session, UN Geneva,
15 March – 23 April 2004, . (2004-04-19)
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