[1425] in peace2
Mary Robinson, on Globalization of Human Rights
daemon@ATHENA.MIT.EDU (Felix AuYeung)
Thu Feb 7 09:31:53 2002
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From: Felix AuYeung <FAuYeung@pittsburghfoodbank.org>
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Date: Thu, 7 Feb 2002 09:34:06 -0500
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Tell Leaders That Human Rights Aren't Optional
Mary Robinson
Thursday, February 7, 2002
http://www.iht.com/articles/47205.html
PORTO ALEGRE, Brazil The time has come to move beyond the arguments for or
against globalization. It is a reality; it is not new, and it is not going
away. It is within our power, however, to ensure that globalization becomes
a positive force for all the world's people.
Although globalization is not new, a globalized civil society movement, with
tremendous potential to effect change, is. I call on other global actors -
corporations, governments and the international financial organizations - to
join with globalized civil society and share responsibility for humanizing
globalization.
The tools to do so already exist, and they include the extensive body of
international human rights legal standards.
As part of the shaping of ethical globalization, we need to work together to
identify the steps at the local, national, regional and international levels
to make human rights part of the decision-making of governments,
international organizations, the private sector and wider civil society.
This has become all the more vital at this time of great uncertainty for
human rights. The aftermath of Sept. 11 has raised concerns about the danger
of limiting fundamental freedoms in response to the need to combat
terrorism.
It has also made the issues we addressed in Durban last September at the
World Conference against Racism even more relevant. We are one human family
on a small and integrating planet. What alternative have we but to promote
respect, tolerance and solidarity among all of us?
Building an ethical form of globalization is not exclusively a human rights
matter, but rights do provide a legal, analytical and procedural framework -
including the critical role of participation - to address the complex issues
raised. As they elaborate international trade and financial regimes,
governments should bear in mind their concurrent obligations to promote and
protect human rights, and the commitment made at the Vienna World Conference
on Human Rights that "human rights are the first responsibility of
governments."
It means, for example, that in discussing agricultural agreements, states
should be examining the impact of trade liberalization on the right to food
and the right to development. And when dealing with the intellectual
property rights of pharmaceutical companies, which are vital for innovation
and research, and the rights of people facing life-threatening diseases,
states should ensure the right of access to adequate health care.
Globalization as an economic process must be subject to the moral and
ethical imperatives to which the international human rights instruments give
legal expression. Human rights are more than just good ideas or distant
goals. States have freely accepted the obligations under human rights
treaties and have agreed to be held accountable for their implementation.
Human rights provide a rigorous framework to empower people from around the
world to harness the energies of the global movement and shape a new
globalization that benefits all people.
I would appeal to those who attended the World Social Forum in Porto Alegre:
* To take the debate where it counts, into the sphere of obligations
accepted by governments, and call for implementation in all contexts,
including the World Trade Organization.
* To engage other sectors of society, including the private sector, to
ensure that they respect human rights and are not complicit, directly or
indirectly, in violations.
* To encourage the private sector to work with local civil society to build
support for accountable and efficient governance.
An ethical globalization is our best hope for building bridges of respect
and understanding between people of different cultures, traditions and walks
of life. It is our best hope for shining the light of public scrutiny on
those who would violate the rights of individuals and groups. It is our best
hope for expanding freedom and democracy to every corner of the globe.
Mrs. Robinson is the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights. This
comment has been adapted by the International Herald Tribune from an address
delivered in Porto Alegre on Feb. 1.
