Recommendations from the Multi-Stakeholder Expert Workshop on a Potential Human Rights Impact Assessment (HRIA) of the CFTA
From 16-17 April 2015, the Economic Commission for Africa (ECA) in partnership with the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) and the Friedrich-Ebert-Stiftung organized a multi-stakeholder expert workshop on a potential Human Rights Impact Assessment (HRIA) of the CFTA. The rationale is that by undertaking an HRIA at the outset of the negotiating process, this would provide negotiating countries with an evidence base and policy recommendations from which to develop effective and coherent approaches to the negotiations. This would be with a view towards realizing outcomes that are aligned with national and regional human rights and development commitments and priorities. The workshop which hosted around 40 participants from ECA, the African Union Commission (AUC), Regional Economic Communities (RECs), civil society groups, trade unions, Pan-African Chamber of Commerce and academia agreed on a number of substantive and procedural recommendations. In this paper, recommendations on ensuring transparency, consultation and participation in the CFTA negotiations are outlined and spelt out.
