Women, Trade and Economic Justice
History
In 1999, Shelagh Day, chair of FAFIA’s Human Rights Committee, represented FAFIA at the Third World Trade Organization Ministerial Conference in Seattle, Washington. As well, a few papers were produced as a result of FAFIA’s engagement with this forum. In anticipation of the upcoming Summit of the Americas and the Sixth World Trade Organization Ministerial Conference, FAFIA is planning to convene, within a year, another gender and trade roundtable which will further examine/re-visit the continuing impacts on women of Canada’s trade liberalization agenda. FAFIA also continues to engage with other non-governmental organizations both domestically and around the world on this issue.Analysis and Actions
Revealing Clothing: Transparency Report Card 2006
The Ethical Trading Action Group’s 2006 Report Card shows that companies are opening up on labour standards, but tackling labour rights abuses requires more worker involvement.
Revealing Clothing assesses and compares public reporting on labour standards compliance by 30 top apparel retailer and brands selling clothes in the Canadian market, including Levi Strauss, Nike, adidas, H&M, and 26 others.
Turning Outrage into Action to Address Trafficking for the Purpose of Sexual Exploitation in Canada
In February 2007 the Standing Committee on the Status of Women released its report Turning Outrage into Action to Address Trafficking for the Purpose of Sexual Exploitation in Canada.
Letter to Prime Minister Paul Martin regarding Canada's participation at the Fourth Summit of the Americas
Common Frontiers, a multi-sectoral working group of union, human rights, environmental, faith-based, student, development and economic and social justice organization, has written Prime Minister Paul Martin regarding the Canadian Government Approach to the Fourth Summit of the Americas.
Despite the growing consensus on the need for fresh alternatives to policies of economic liberalization, Common Frontiers believes that Canada has missed the chance to make a positive contribution to the debate, and to establish positive alliances with other governments seeking alternatives.
Presentation at the November 2004 meeting of the US Gender and Trade Network, Washington DC
By Kalapi Roy, for the Canadian Feminist Alliance for International Action (FAFIA)
Mapping Our Place: Gender, the Global Economy, and Canadian Governments (FAFIA, 1999)
by Deborah Stienstra for FAFIA. This paper maps where commitments have been made by the Canadian governments on gender and the economy and who is responsible for policies related to them. This identifies some of the ways in which women in Canada can become aware of who makes decisions about the global economy, hold them accountable for these decisions and ensure that women’s situations and perspectives are part of all decision-making about the economy.
The World Trade Organization : Trade Is Not Gender Neutral (FAFIA, 1999)
The latest rounds of negotiations by the World Trade Organization and the Free Trade of the Americas Agreement form the current context for FAFIA’s research on trade and globalisation. Both of these grant strong rights to corporations and business at the expense of human and women’s rights.
Women and Globalisation: Focus on the World Trade Organization (FAFIA, 1999)
The “Millennium Round” of the World Trade Organization (WTO) occurred in Seattle, Washington, the week of November 29, 1999. While the WTO proclaims the virtues of free and globalized trade for all and claims itself as an impartial trade policeman, it is clear that WTO policies benefit the corporate interests of rich and industrialized countries at the expense of the social dimension of trade policies, human rights, environmental protections, and the fair and equitable distribution of the world’s wealth and resources.
