Colombian President Alvaro Uribe announced on Thursday that his government will accept an annual human rights review in order to move forward with a free trade agreement with Canada.
Speaking to a group of university students in the department of Cordoba, Uribe said that Canada’s Prime Minister, Stephen Harper, made the suggestion and asked him if he would accept a yearly human rights review, to which he responded “of course.”
The Canada – Colombia Free Trade Agreement was originally signed in November 2008. It now awaits approval from the Canadian parliament.
Peter Van Loan, Canada’s Minister of International Trade, noted last week in a press release that, “The Free Trade Agreement, along with its parallel agreements on labour and the environment, is but one of several Government of Canada instruments that support Colombia’s efforts toward greater peace, security and prosperity,”
According to a press release, “Under the Labour Cooperation Agreement, Canada and Colombia agree to respect and enforce internationally recognized labour standards and principles, such as freedom of association, the right to bargain collectively, and the elimination of child labour, forced labour and workplace discrimination.”