Globalization and trade opening can promote human rights says WTO Director-General Pascal Lamy
5 Jun 2009
The University of Geneva during its celebration of its 450th anniversary on 5 June 2009 conferred the title of doctor honoris causa on Director-General Pascal Lamy along with Dr Lyndon Rees Evans, Mrs Mary Robinson and Archbishop Desmond Tutu. In his speech, Mr Lamy said “globalization and the opening up of trade can work in favour of universal human rights, by which I mean civil and political rights as well as economic and social rights”. This is what he said:
By conferring on me the title of doctor honoris causa, in this place and on this day of celebration, the
To share this distinction with those who are more illustrious than myself touches me deeply.
By assigning me the task of expressing my views on human rights in the globalizing world while at the side of Archbishop Desmond Tutu, a man I consider a hero of modern times, shows a boldness and daring befitting a great university.
Perhaps your boldness was inspired by the legacy of William Rappard, twice Rector of your University, a man who devoted his life's work to the pursuit of peace, and a man whose name graces the headquarters of the World Trade Organization.
Notwithstanding the illustrious patronage, your boldness verges on the reckless! Is not the World Trade Organization for many the symbol of a globalization in which mercantile pursuits have precedence over human beings, the market over individuals, and might over right?
It is for me, then, to try and show that you are right: globalization and the opening up of trade can work in favour of universal human rights, by which I mean civil and political rights as well as economic and social rights.
And I say “can” advisedly, because in my view this is true only in certain conditions that need to be specified and that are far from being fulfilled everywhere.
Source:WTO
