Unorthodox Human Rights Instruments: The ACP-EU Development Co-operation from the Lomé Conventions to the Cotonou Agreement

Voiculescu, Aurora 2006. Unorthodox Human Rights Instruments: The ACP-EU Development Co-operation from the Lomé Conventions to the Cotonou Agreement. Journal for Commonwealth Law and Legal Education. 4 (1), pp. 85-102. https://doi.org/10.1080/03050710600800145

TitleUnorthodox Human Rights Instruments: The ACP-EU Development Co-operation from the Lomé Conventions to the Cotonou Agreement
AuthorsVoiculescu, Aurora
Abstract

The Cotonou Agreement between the African, Caribbean and Pacific (ACP) countries and the European Union (EU) has received much attention in the past years. Most of the time, this attention focuses on the economic dimensions of the Agreement, while forgetting that the co‐operation partnerships that the Agreement generates are meant to be centred on human rights and human development rather than on economic development per se. This article evaluates the human rights potential of the Cotonou Agreement and of the development co‐operation policies initiated between the ACP countries and the EU under this agreement. First, the article looks at the EU regulatory framework and the place of the Lomé Conventions in the human rights and trade debate, as well as in the generation of the Cotonou Agreement. Next, the article presents those elements of the Cotonou Agreement that reveal a potential for enhanced human rights realisation in the ACP countries. Through the Cotonou Agreement the participation and integration of the ACP countries in the global market economy is not only ‘footnoted’ with human rights rhetoric, but also infused with human rights principles and human development standards. Last, the shortcomings inherent in the Agreement are identified and assessed, and the implications of these shortcomings for the realisation of human rights and development are highlighted in the conclusions.

JournalJournal for Commonwealth Law and Legal Education
Journal citation4 (1), pp. 85-102
ISSN1476-0401
Year2006
PublisherTaylor & Francis
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)https://doi.org/10.1080/03050710600800145
Publication dates
Published06 Nov 2006

Related outputs

Intersecting Spheres of Analysis in Business and Human Rights: Developing a new Socio-Legal Research Agenda and Methodology for UN Guiding Principles No. 9
Voiculescu, Aurora 2018. Intersecting Spheres of Analysis in Business and Human Rights: Developing a new Socio-Legal Research Agenda and Methodology for UN Guiding Principles No. 9. Nordic Journal of Human Rights. 36 (4), pp. 333-352. https://doi.org/10.1080/18918131.2018.1547524

Discussion panel guest at the screening of Helen Knowles' film 'The Trial of SuperdebtThunderbot’
Voiculescu, Aurora, Knowles, H., Kathrani, P. and Philippopoulos-Mihalopoulos, A. 2017. Discussion panel guest at the screening of Helen Knowles' film 'The Trial of SuperdebtThunderbot’.

Business and Human Rights Research Methods Special Track, Co-chair and Panel Organizer
Voiculescu, Aurora, Buhmann, K. and Fasterling, B. 2017. Business and Human Rights Research Methods Special Track, Co-chair and Panel Organizer. European Business Ethics Network Annual Conference . Jyväskylä, Finland 14 - 16 Jun 2017

Technology and Law at the Crossroads: Human Rights Responsibility and Artificial Intelligence Between Excitement and Disruption
Voiculescu, Aurora 2017. Technology and Law at the Crossroads: Human Rights Responsibility and Artificial Intelligence Between Excitement and Disruption. Socio-Legal Studies Association Annual Conference. Newcastle University 05 - 07 Apr 2017

The Corporate Form and Corporate Social Responsibility: A Socio-Legal Astigmatic Perspective
Voiculescu, Aurora 2017. The Corporate Form and Corporate Social Responsibility: A Socio-Legal Astigmatic Perspective. Socio-Legal Studies Association Annual Conference. Newcastle University 05 - 07 Apr 2017

Intersecting Spheres of Analysis in Business and Human Rights: From Transnational Regulatory Capacity to Governance Opacity
Voiculescu, Aurora 2017. Intersecting Spheres of Analysis in Business and Human Rights: From Transnational Regulatory Capacity to Governance Opacity. European Business Ethics Network Annual Conference Business and Human Rights Research Methods Special Track. Jyväskylä, Finland 14 - 16 Jun 2017

The LAW of Unintended Consequences: Between Disruptive Technologies and Enhanced Learning
Voiculescu, Aurora 2017. The LAW of Unintended Consequences: Between Disruptive Technologies and Enhanced Learning. Learning and Teaching Symposium. University of Westminster 22 Jun 2017

Interdisciplinarity and Methods in Business and Human Rights Research
Voiculescu, Aurora 2017. Interdisciplinarity and Methods in Business and Human Rights Research. European Society of International Law Roundtable. University of Geneva 26 Nov 2017

Business Responsibility for Human Rights Violations from a Theoretical Perspective: Towards a Moral Division of Labour
Voiculescu, Aurora 2017. Business Responsibility for Human Rights Violations from a Theoretical Perspective: Towards a Moral Division of Labour. in: Rendtorff, J.D. (ed.) Perspectives on Philosophy of Management and Business Ethics: Including a Special Section on Business and Human Rights Cham, Switzerland Springer. pp. 227-246

Reflections on the EPSRC Principles of Robotics from the New Far-Side of the Law
Voiculescu, Aurora 2017. Reflections on the EPSRC Principles of Robotics from the New Far-Side of the Law. Connection Science. 29 (2), pp. 160-169. https://doi.org/10.1080/09540091.2017.1313818

Business and Human Rights on a Networked Governance Platform: Corporate Social Responsibility and Global Governance in a System Perspective
Voiculescu, Aurora 2016. Business and Human Rights on a Networked Governance Platform: Corporate Social Responsibility and Global Governance in a System Perspective. Studies of Society and Business Symposium. Paris 26 Feb 2016

Business & Human Rights: Implications for Management, Knowledge Needs and Teaching
Voiculescu, Aurora 2016. Business & Human Rights: Implications for Management, Knowledge Needs and Teaching. Copenhagen Business School Conference. Copenhagen Business School 18 - 19 May 2016

Reflections on the EPSRC Principles of Robotics for a Social Responsibility Perspective
Voiculescu, Aurora 2016. Reflections on the EPSRC Principles of Robotics for a Social Responsibility Perspective. AISB Annual Convention. University of Sheffield 04 - 06 Apr 2016

From Transnational Regulatory Capacity to Governance Opacity: Winners and Losers of the Neo-Liberal Agenda
Voiculescu, Aurora 2016. From Transnational Regulatory Capacity to Governance Opacity: Winners and Losers of the Neo-Liberal Agenda. Socio-Legal Studies Association Annual Conference. Lancaster University 07 Apr 2016

Investment in Human Rights: Defragment or Re-boot? Reflections on Corporate Social Responsibility and International Economic Law
Voiculescu, Aurora 2015. Investment in Human Rights: Defragment or Re-boot? Reflections on Corporate Social Responsibility and International Economic Law. Socio-Legal Studies Association Annual Conference. Warwick University 31 Mar 2015 - 02 Apr 2105

Intervention: Critical Perspectives on Labour Rights and Business Duties
Voiculescu, Aurora 2015. Intervention: Critical Perspectives on Labour Rights and Business Duties. Business and International Labour Rights Roundtable. The Hague Institute for Global Justice, The Hague 25 Jun 2015

Business Responsibility for Human Rights Violations from a Theoretical Perspective: Towards a Moral Division of Labour
Voiculescu, Aurora 2015. Business Responsibility for Human Rights Violations from a Theoretical Perspective: Towards a Moral Division of Labour. European Business Ethics Network Research Conference. Copenhagen Business School 01 - 03 Oct 2015

Another Type of Deficit? Human Rights, Corporate Social Responsibility, and the Shaping of European Union’s Linkage Strategy
Voiculescu, Aurora 2014. Another Type of Deficit? Human Rights, Corporate Social Responsibility, and the Shaping of European Union’s Linkage Strategy. European Journal of Law Reform. 4, pp. 770-786. https://doi.org/10.5553/EJLR/138723702014016004007

Human rights, corporate social responsibility and the shaping of the European Union’s linkage strategy: ‘a peaceful revolution’?
Voiculescu, Aurora 2013. Human rights, corporate social responsibility and the shaping of the European Union’s linkage strategy: ‘a peaceful revolution’? in: Takács, T., Ott, A. and Dimopoulos, A. (ed.) Linking trade and non-commercial interests: the EU as a global role model? The Hague, The Netherlands Centre for the law of EU External Relations.

"Etiquette and magic": between embedding and embedded corporate social responsibility
Voiculescu, Aurora 2013. "Etiquette and magic": between embedding and embedded corporate social responsibility. Studies in Law, Politics, and Society. 62, pp. 189-216. https://doi.org/10.1108/S1059-4337(2013)0000062008

Human rights, corporate social responsibility and international economic law: strong answers to strong questions?
Voiculescu, Aurora 2012. Human rights, corporate social responsibility and international economic law: strong answers to strong questions? in: Perry-Kessaris, A. (ed.) Socio-legal approaches to international economic law: text, context, subtext. London Routledge.

Human rights in business context: perspectives and trends
Voiculescu, Aurora 2011. Human rights in business context: perspectives and trends. in: Voiculescu, Aurora and Yanacopulos, H. (ed.) The business of human rights: an evolving agenda for corporate responsibility London Zed Books.

Human rights and the normative ordering of global capitalism
Voiculescu, Aurora 2011. Human rights and the normative ordering of global capitalism. in: Voiculescu, Aurora and Yanacopulos, H. (ed.) The business of human rights: an evolving agenda for corporate responsibility London Zed Books.

Challenges and innovation in the legal discourse: achieving corporate responsibility for human rights
Voiculescu, Aurora 2011. Challenges and innovation in the legal discourse: achieving corporate responsibility for human rights. Society and Business Review. 6 (3), pp. 278-291. https://doi.org/10.1108/17465681111171019

Human rights and the new corporate accountability: learning from recent developments in corporate criminal liability
Voiculescu, Aurora 2009. Human rights and the new corporate accountability: learning from recent developments in corporate criminal liability. Journal of Business Ethics. 87 (Supp.2), pp. 419-432. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10551-009-0294-7

From CSR for trade to CSR through trade: the chronicle of a European link foretold?
Voiculescu, Aurora 2009. From CSR for trade to CSR through trade: the chronicle of a European link foretold? European Foreign Affairs Review. 14 (5), pp. 743-762.

Mind the Gap: Socio-Legal Scholarship for a Runaway World
Voiculescu, Aurora 2008. Mind the Gap: Socio-Legal Scholarship for a Runaway World. Journal of Commonwealth Law and Legal Education. 6 (1), pp. 1-5. https://doi.org/10.1080/14760400802547573

Changing Paradigms of Corporate Criminal Responsibility: Lessons for Corporate Social Responsibility
Voiculescu, Aurora 2007. Changing Paradigms of Corporate Criminal Responsibility: Lessons for Corporate Social Responsibility. in: McBarnet, D., Voiculescu, Aurora and Campbell, T. (ed.) The New Corporate Accountability: Corporate Social Responsibility and the Law Cambridge Cambridge University Press. pp. 399-431

The Other European Framework for Corporate Social Responsibility: From the Green Paper to New Uses of Human Rights Instruments
Voiculescu, Aurora 2007. The Other European Framework for Corporate Social Responsibility: From the Green Paper to New Uses of Human Rights Instruments. in: McBarnet, D., Voiculescu, Aurora and Campbell, T. (ed.) The New Corporate Accountability: Corporate Social Responsibility and the Law Cambridge Cambridge University Press. pp. 365-399

Towards and Acquisition of Human Rights by Way of Business Practices?
Voiculescu, Aurora 2006. Towards and Acquisition of Human Rights by Way of Business Practices? in: McLeod, S. (ed.) Global Governance and the Quest for Justice, vol. II: Corporate Governance Oxford Hart Publishing. pp. 239-261

Privatising Human Rights: Corporate Codes of Conduct Between Standards, Guidelines and the Global Compact
Voiculescu, Aurora 2005. Privatising Human Rights: Corporate Codes of Conduct Between Standards, Guidelines and the Global Compact. in: Williams, L. (ed.) International Poverty Law: An Emerging Discourse CROP International Studies in Poverty Research Series London Zed Books. pp. pp. 176-210

Human Rights and Political Justice in Post-Communist Eastern Europe: Prosecuting History
Voiculescu, Aurora 2000. Human Rights and Political Justice in Post-Communist Eastern Europe: Prosecuting History. Lewiston, New York Edwin Mellen Press.

Permalink - https://westminsterresearch.westminster.ac.uk/item/q3y32/unorthodox-human-rights-instruments-the-acp-eu-development-co-operation-from-the-lom-conventions-to-the-cotonou-agreement


Share this

Usage statistics

107 total views
0 total downloads
These values cover views and downloads from WestminsterResearch and are for the period from September 2nd 2018, when this repository was created.