Guiding Principles On Human Rights Impact Assessments Of Trade And Investment Agreements

The Federal Council undertakes to ensure that the protection of human rights through coherence clauses is included in these contractual agreements and that the contractors` room for manoeuvre in fulfilling their human rights obligations is not restricted. It also implements targeted projects to promote respect for human rights among businesses in partner states. France has completed a comprehensive revision of the European manual used to draft these impact assessments. This could lead to progress in this area. Free trade agreements and thus human rights aspects are monitored through consultation mechanisms, in particular joint committees. Resolution 40/8 of the Human Rights Council, adopted by 31 March 2019, took note with appreciation of the guiding principles that invite Governments, relevant United Nations bodies, specialized agencies, funds and programmes, as well as other intergovernmental organizations, to consider taking into account the guiding principles in the formulation and implementation of their economic reform policies and measures, and encourages national human rights institutions, NGOs, 2000.2 per cent of the value of employment and employment in the private sector, and to take due account of the guiding principles in their work. – ensure that social and environmental clauses are incorporated and respected in these agreements; The primary objective of free trade agreements is to promote bilateral economic relations and improve the economic performance of the economies of the States Parties. When negotiating free trade agreements (and investment protection agreements, see below), Switzerland supports, in the interests of policy coherence, the inclusion of clauses that require consistency with human rights, labour and environmental standards. One of the functions of these clauses is to emphasize the obligation of the parties to respect and effectively implement the multilateral conventions and conventions in force of the International Labour Organization. At the same time, they refer to international human rights instruments and the principles of good corporate governance. Another clause in Swiss free trade agreements provides that they must not compromise or call into question existing obligations under international law – and therefore human rights. In the context of the negotiation of human rights, labour and environmental issues, the competent federal authorities are consulted, as with all other matters. These provisions have been contained in European trade agreements since 2008.

They are now systematically integrated into negotiated agreements, including TTIP. The European Commission can adapt commitments to social and environmental standards based on a country`s level of development. PI34 Coherence between investment protection agreements and the protection of human rights in 2012, SECO developed, in collaboration with interested federal authorities, new provisions that integrate sustainability aspects into APIs. . . .