Human Rights and the World Trade Organisation: Not Just a Case of Regime Envy

2008 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sarah Joseph
2007 ◽  
Vol 12 (1) ◽  
pp. 41
Author(s):  
Jenny Schultz ◽  
Rachel Ball

<p>Can the World Trade Organisation become a body for addressing human rights issues? As an international body the the WTO is growing in stature. However moves to encompass human rights concerns are unlikely to go unchallenged by developing nations, and the WTO’s internal rules add another layer of complexity. Trade sanctions can be a blunt weapon in human rights campaigns.</p>


2014 ◽  
Vol 3 (1) ◽  
pp. 97-121
Author(s):  
J. Ife Ogbonna

This article analyses the acceptance of the concept of ‘public morals’ as a legitimate objective grounded in the importance of internationally recognised human rights instruments and worthy of protection by a Panel of the World Trade Organisation (wto) in the case European Communities – Measures Prohibiting the Importation and Marketing of Seal Products. It analyses how the General Exception clause to the General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade (gatt) Article XX(a) was successfully used to defend a regulatory measure and concludes by endorsing a symbiotic relationship between wto Agreements and international human rights instruments.


Author(s):  
Jeroen Denkers ◽  
Nicola Jägers

The present article attempts to determine the role of principles of good governance in the discussion regarding the World Trade Organisation (WTO) and its human rights accountability. It shows that the WTO as an organisation cannot be compared to other international organisations that are more autonomous such as the International Monetary Fund (IMF) or the World Bank. This does not mean, however, that the WTO has no autonomous powers at all. This contribution attempts to make clear what these activities are and how they may affect the protection of human rights. The implementation of good governance principles in international organisations can be considered a sine qua non for the realisation of human rights. Therefore, it will be examined what role the principles of good governance plays within the WTO. More specifically, the focus will be on how the good governance principles of transparency and participation can contribute to sensitising the organisation for human rights considerations.


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