Trade Liberalization and Human Rights: A Case Study of a Rural Region in Atlantic Canada

Introduction: Globalization, as defined by United Nations (UN), consists of a multiple, complex and interrelated processes that can have dynamism of their own (OHCHR 2008). UNESCO described globalization, in a similar way, as a multidimensional phenomenon consisting of numerous complex and interrelated processes, resulting in varied and sometimes unpredictable affects (UNESCO 2003). It is noted that globalization is not new but has, nowadays, distinctive features such as new markets, new technological tools, new institutions, and new rules that permit groups and corporations to transcend national boundaries establishing global networks that permit real-time capital exchange operating 24 hours a day (UN 2000). Before going further, let us briefly put things in their proper historical context. 19th century is sometimes called The First Era of Globalization. Some researchers precisely consider 1870-1813 as First Era of Globalization (Obstfeld and Taylor 2004). This era is characterized by rapid growth in international trade and investment between European imperial powers and their colonies. First Era of Globalization broke down with First World War, and later collapsed during gold standard crisis in late 1920s and early 1930s. In Post Second World War era, modern globalization was not initiative developing countries either as they did not see in it an issue from their disfavoured economic and political situation. Thus globalization is from beginning to end idea and proposal of developed countries, particularly European imperial powers and later USA. Contemporaneous globalization yields to a growing number of government policy areas that involve deep societal and economical changes on society and national governments. Many of these policies and competences that are traditionally considered as domestic policy fields are transferred to international or regional institutions and are subject to multilateral discussions, and negotiations. One of central elements of globalization is trade liberalization. For many policy makers, government economists, trade liberalization creates jobs fosters economic growth and improve people's standard of living. Many people believe that free-trade is contradictory to human by dismantling traditional trade barriers and removal of domestic protections, while others believe that trade is solution to poverty problems and way to prosperity. This dilemma leads many institutions, organizations to increasingly pay attention to effects of trade liberalization on enjoyment of human rights. In this context, in August 2001, Sub-Commission on Promotion and Protection of Human Rights of United Nations adopted two resolutions concerning trade liberalization: Liberalization of trade in services and human rights (UNHCHR 2001a) and Intellectual property and human rights (UNHCHR 2001b). Besides this, in light of World Trade Organization's (WTO's) General Agreement on Trade in Services (GATS), a report treating on human impacts of liberalization of trade in services was submitted to international community. This report focuses on effects of liberalization of services trade on right to health, right to education and right to development (UN 2002). As illustrated in Figure 1, we believe that right of development is inclusive of all other human rights. None could conceive right to development without right of education or health or life. This obvious link between human in general and global development constituted focus of interest of United Nations deliberations for more than half a century. Declaration on Right to Development (UN 1986) states that the right to development is an inalienable human right by virtue of which every human person and all peoples are entitled to participate in, contribute to, and enjoy economic, social, cultural and political development, in which all human and fundamental freedoms can be fully realized World Conference on Human Rights, held in Vienna in 1993, reaffirmed by consensus right to development as a universal and inalienable right and an integral part of fundamental human (UN 1993). …

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