Recommendations from the Multi-Stakeholder Expert Workshop on a Potential Human Rights Impact Assessment (HRIA) of the CFTA (2015-2017)

Abstract

In this paper, recommendations on ensuring transparency, consultation and participation in the CFTA negotiations are outlined and spelt out. In principle, trade and investment agreements should be elaborated within a democratic process which provides opportunities for parliamentary approval, participation by stakeholders and access to information.Transparency and participation are key human rights principles that can transform a trade negotiation from a secretive, exclusive process to an open, transparent and inclusive one that is acceptable to a wide range of stakeholders.