Abstract

STEVENS, Clydenia. Reviving the right to development within the multilateral trade framework affecting (African) countries to actualise Agenda 2063. Afr. hum. rights law j. [online]. 2019, vol.19, n.1, pp.470-493. ISSN 1996-2096.  http://dx.doi.org/10.17159/1996-2096/2019/v19n1a22.

The African Union through Agenda 2063 aspires to build 'a prosperous Africa based on inclusive growth and sustainable development' and to ensure that Africa becomes 'a strong, united, resilient and influential global player and partner'. Similarly, the World Trade Organization aims to ensure that member states through the multilateral trade system can 'raise standards of living', 'ensure full employment' and 'sustainable development'. Both institutions seem to be aware that African countries are underdeveloped and require assistance to address the cohort of political and socio-economic challenges, and the implementation of particular practices and policies in order for the continent to be a force in the multilateral trade arena. Indeed, the unequal economic relations between states in the multilateral trading system add to the afflictions of African countries. The position of the right to development as a recognised human right has become an acceptable and settled notion. This article aims to provide and identify possible ways whereby the international community and African countries can rescue the right to development from the 'conceptual mudslinging and political quicks, in which it has been mired all these years' in the trade discipline. Indeed, trade goes hand-in-hand with development but 'is not the sole determinant for development', and there is a need to revive the right to development in the multilateral trade framework as trade is a valuable tool for actualising Africa's Agenda 2063 and the development of African countries. The article provides a succinct overview of the right to development and particular multilateral trade practices, programmes and policies and puts forward an argument of how Africa's attempt to address its economic, political and social ills can be addressed through Agenda 2063.

Keywords : right to development; multilateral trade; World Trade Organization; Agenda 2063.

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