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3D ->
THREE
Maison des Associations
15 rue des Savoises
1205 Genève
T +41 22 320 21 21
F +41 22 320 69 48
info@3dthree.org
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3D publications  Press Releases and Notes |
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Holding the actors involved in the global land grab to account: the Committee on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights urges action from Cambodia
Read the information note, June 2009
UN Human Rights Body Gives Credence to Costa Rica’s “No” Coalition: Government Advised to Assess the Impact of CAFTA-DR on the Enjoyment of Economic, Social and Cultural Rights, Information Note Number 8, November 2007
The Committee on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights has urged the Costa Rican government to seriously assess the impacts of implementing CAFTA-DR, particularly on traditional agriculture, labour rights, access to health, social security, and the intellectual property regimes protecting, inter alia, access to medicines, biodiversity, and the right of indigenous communities to these resources. These recommendations come amidst controversy about ratification of CAFTA-DR. As a party to the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights, Costa Rica is bound to ensure that it does not undermine enjoyment of human rights by adopting inconsistent policy in other areas, including trade.
Read Information Note 8
Human Rights Body Uneasy About Impacts of CAFTA-DR in Costa Rica, Read Information Note 7 in Spanish, in English
Malaysia – Attorney-General Defends Generic Medicines Before UN Rights Body, Information Note Number 6, February 2007
Malaysian Attorney-General Tan Sri Abdul Gani has publicly defended generic medicines over a Free Trade Agreement with the U.S., during the Committee on the Rights of the Child's review of children's rights in Malaysia. The Child Rights Committee has played a key role in holding government trade and Intellectual Property negotiators accountable to their human rights obligations. It has in recent years urged the governments of Botswana, Ecuador, El Salvador, Nicaragua and Thailand, amongst others, to ensure that trade agreements do not have a negative impact on children's enjoyment of their right to health, and particularly, that such agreements do not negatively impact the availability of drugs and medicines for children.
Read Information Note 6
Human Rights and the Establishment of a WIPO Development Agenda, Information Note 5, June 2006
For almost two years discussions on a World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) Development Agenda have provided a forum to challenge current trends in intellectual property policy-making. 3D published a note in view of the second Provisional Committee on Proposals for a WIPO Development Agenda from 26 to 30 June 2006. This note provides a brief outline of the human rights arguments that support proposals for a WIPO Development Agenda and encourages WIPO Member States to draft a decision on the future of the agenda that is consistent with human rights and development commitments.
Read Information Note 5
UN Committee on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights urges Morocco to evaluate impact of US-Morocco FTA on human rights, Information Note 4, June 2006
Morocco was recently reviewed by the UN Committee on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights. During this process the Committee raised concerns about the effect of the US – Morocco FTA on access to medicines and the right to health. They also recommended that Morocco undertake an impact assessment of these trade rules on economic, social and cultural rights. 3D published a note in June 2006 describing the Committee’s recommendations. These Committee recommendations can be used as tools to ensure that trade rules do not undermine access to affordable medicines and the enjoyment of economic, social and cultural rights.
Read Information Note 4 in English, in French
Thailand Warned by UN Children’s Committee - Thai Children Must Not Suffer from FTAs, Information Note 3, January 2006.
On 27 January 2006 Thailand was warned by the United Nations Committee on the Rights of the Child that Free Trade Agreements (FTAs) should not have a negative impact on the child’s right to health. Thailand is negotiating many bilateral and regional FTAs, including with the United States and the members of the European Free Trade Association (EFTA includes Switzerland, Norway, Liechtenstein and Iceland). 3D published a note in January 2006 describing the CRC’s recommendations and Thailand’s response. These statements can be used as tools to ensure that intellectual property rules in FTAs do not undermine access to affordable medicines and the child’s right to health.
Read Information Note 3
UN Children’s Committee Warns About FTA Threats, Information Note 2, June 2005.
The UN Committee on the Rights of the Child at its 39th Session warned that Free Trade Agreements (FTAs) may negatively affect children’s rights. It strongly recommended that countries ensure that FTAs do not undermine the enjoyment of children’s rights, including access to affordable medicines and social services. Countries directly warned at this session of the Committee include: Costa Rica, Ecuador, Nicaragua and the Philippines.
Read Information Note 2 in English, in Spanish
WTO Director General Candidates Seek to Woo Civil Society, Press Release, January 2005.
Oxfam International, the Institute for Agriculture and Trade Policy (IATP) and 3D -> Trade – Human Rights – Equitable Economy organized a public hearing with WTO DG candidates, on 26 January. The hearing was the first of this nature in the WTO’s history.
Read the Press Release on the Civil Society Hearing with WTO DG Candidates
UN Committee on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights Considers the Impact of Intellectual Property Rules on Human Rights, Information Note 1, December 2004.
The UN Committee on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights looked more closely at the impact of intellectual property (IP) rules on human rights during its 33rd session, from 8-26 November 2004, than in previous sessions. Of major concern to the Committee was the impact of strict IP rules on the ability of developing countries to ensure access to medicines for all. This issue was raised by the Committee during its monitoring of the human rights obligations of Chile and two European Union (EU) member states – Denmark and Italy. Also under scrutiny was the draft General Comment on article 15(1) (c) ICESCR which relates to the “protection of the moral and material interests” of authors. Discussions on the draft were very heated, as a number of Committee experts fear the dramatic consequences the text could have on policy work relating to IP and human rights.
Read Information Note 1
Access to Affordable Drugs: Victims of HIV/AIDS Should Not Suffer From Trade Rules, Press Release, October 2004.
Botswana was warned by a UN Human Rights Committee that the free trade agreement that Botswana, as a member of SACU, is currently negotiating with the US, should not impede Botswana’s obligation to ensure access to affordable HIV/AIDS treatment, especially for children.
Read the Press Release on Botswana
Access to Affordable Drugs: Children’s Health First, Press Release, June 2004.
The UN Committee on the Rights of the Child warned El Salvador that intellectual property rules contained in the Central American Free Trade Agreement (CAFTA), that El Salvador is about to ratify, must not undermine its human rights obligations towards children.
Read the Press Release on El Salvador in English, in Spanish
Access to Affordable Drugs: A Right no FTA Can Ignore, Press Release, May 2004.
Ecuador was warned by a UN Human Rights Committee that strict intellectual property rules in the up-coming US – Andean Free Trade Agreement (FTA) must not undermine Ecuador’s human rights obligations.
Read the Press Release on Ecuador in English,
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