抖淫视频

Annual Report Pursuant to the Agreement concerning Annual Reports on Human Rights and Free Trade between Canada and the Republic of Colombia - 2020

May 27, 2020

Executive Summary

Canada’s ninth report pursuant to the Agreement concerning Annual Reports on Human Rights and Free Trade between Canada and the Republic of Colombia includes a review of actions taken by the Government of Canada in the context of the Canada-Colombia Free Trade Agreement (CCOFTA) and any potential impact of such actions on human rights in Canada and Colombia.

In accordance with the report’s implementing legislation, the scope of this annual report has retained its focus on the impacts of tariff reductions undertaken under the CCOFTA in the previous year according to the Tariff Elimination Schedule of Canada^{Footnote 1}. Given only one tariff line remains to be liberalised under the CCOFTA (refined sugar), the report found no human rights impacts which could be directly associated with Canada’s 2019 tariff reductions. However, this report once again goes beyond these basic reporting requirements to include assessments of other issues, such as the challenging Colombian human rights context and peace implementation process. This report also provides an overview of Canada’s programming and initiatives in support of human rights related to Colombia.

In preparing this year’s report, the Government of Canada received feedback from seven provinces and territories indicating that none of their human rights commissions (or equivalent bodies) had raised or received any expression of concern related to human rights and the implementation of the CCOFTA. Since the entry into force of the CCOFTA, no concerns have been registered via these mechanisms which form part of the obligations under the agreement. A public call for submissions was also issued to inform the analysis of this report.

The promotion and protection of human rights is a key pillar of Canadian foreign policy and Government of Canada officials continue to raise human rights issues with the Government of Colombia at all levels, particularly as the country works to implement an ambitious, historic, and multi-faceted peace implementation process. Canada also continues to support the work of human rights defenders in Colombia, which remains an integral part of the human rights work undertaken by the Embassy of Canada to Colombia.

1. Introduction

Canada and Colombia signed the Agreement concerning Annual Reports on Human Rights and Free Trade between Canada and the Republic of Colombia (“the Agreement”) on May 27, 2010. This unique agreement requires that Canada and Colombia each produce an annual report on the actions taken under the Free Trade Agreement between Canada and the Republic of Colombia (Canada-Colombia Free Trade Agreement, “CCOFTA”) and their effects on human rights in both countries.

The Agreement entered into force on August 15, 2011, concurrently with the CCOFTA, alongside two other related agreements, the Agreement on Labour Cooperation between Canada and the Republic of Colombia (“Labour Cooperation Agreement”) and the Agreement on the Environment between Canada and the Republic of Colombia (“Environment Agreement”).

This report is part of a broader dialogue between Canada and Colombia on human rights. A shared commitment to human rights is an essential aspect of the multifaceted Canada-Colombia relationship, which also includes close economic ties, longstanding development cooperation, support for Colombia’s peacebuilding and stabilization efforts, and cooperation on regional and multilateral issues, including addressing the impact of the Venezuelan migration.

This year’s report features economic baseline information on the state of the global economy, as well as the Canadian and Colombian economies. As the report exclusively covers the period from January 1, 2019 to December 31, 2019, any impact or actions taken in relation to the COVID-19 pandemic remain outside of its scope. These elements which can be expected to have a significant socio-economic impact will be discussed in next year’s report to be tabled in 2021.

In addition to economic baseline information, this year’s report reviews the actions taken under the Canada-Colombia Free Trade Agreement – including its side agreements on labour cooperation and the environment – and provides an analysis on the impact of trade flows for the different tariff categories. The report reviews Canada’s contributions to protect and advance human rights in Colombia, including through our continued support to the implementation of the historic peace agreement signed in 2016 between the Government of Colombia and the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC). While recognizing the general improvement in human rights indicators over the last decade in Colombia, the report highlights the various challenges and risks associated with Colombia’s peace implementation, as well as the alarming increase in assassinations and threats against human rights defenders and community leaders during the period under review.

2. Reporting Requirement under the CCOFTA Implementation Act

2.1 Canada’s Statutory Obligation under the Agreement

Canada’s obligations under the Agreement are incorporated into Canadian domestic law under section 15.1 of the Canada-Colombia Free Trade Implementation Act (“Implementation Act”):

15.1 Pursuant to the Agreement Concerning Annual Reports on Human Rights and Free Trade Between Canada and the Republic of Colombia, the Minister shall cause to be laid before each House of Parliament by May 15 of each year or, if that House is not then sitting, on any of the 30 days next thereafter that it is sitting, a report on the operation of this Act during the previous calendar year, containing a general summary of all actions taken under the authority of this Act, and an analysis of the impact of these actions on human rights in Canada and the Republic of Colombia.

2.2 Actions under Consideration

The Implementation Act specifies that the Government of Canada is required to table a report on actions taken under the authority of this Act, including an analysis of the impact of these actions on human rights in Canada and the Republic of Colombia. As the Implementation Act includes the CCOFTA, the Environment Agreement and the Labour Cooperation Agreement, actions taken under all three agreements are considered by this report.

2.3 Scope and Limitations

As the Implementation Act governs Canadian domestic implementation of the three agreements, this report will only consider the impact of actions taken by the Government of Canada under these agreements. These include tariff reductions related to the CCOFTA as well as actions taken under the Labour Cooperation Agreement and the Environment Agreement.

While this report also includes additional features such as the Colombian human rights context, information on the implementation of the Colombian peace accord, and a summary of Canada’s bilateral programming in support of human rights, it is important to note that private sector activities are not considered to be within the scope of this report.

Finally, potential modifications to the format and/or methodology of the report – as a follow-up to the broad consultations undertaken with a range of domestic stakeholders in 2019 – remain under review.

2.4 Time Period under Consideration

The Implementation Act commits Canada to report “on the operation of this Act during the previous calendar year” (Section 15.1 of the Implementation Act). The 2020 annual report is, therefore, required to cover the period from January 1, 2019 to December 31, 2019.

2.5 Human Rights under Consideration

The promotion and protection of human rights are integral to Canadian foreign and domestic policies. Canada champions the values of inclusive and accountable governance by promoting human rights, women’s empowerment and gender equality, peaceful pluralism, inclusion and respect for diversity.

At home and abroad, the Government of Canada is working to promote gender equality, to advance the rights of women and girls and Indigenous peoples, and to ensure access to justice. These commitments extend to Canada’s foreign policy.

Internationally, Canada works through multilateral organizations, bilateral engagement, development and humanitarian assistance and trade policy to enhance the promotion and protection of human rights, as well as fundamental labour rights.

Canada's international engagement is based on the principle that human rights are universal, indivisible, interdependent and interrelated.

This report joins a range of actions—including advocacy and bilateral and development cooperation—through which Canada supports Colombia’s ongoing efforts towards greater peace, security, prosperity and respect for human rights.

3. Colombian Human Rights Context

Prior to reviewing the potential impact of actions taken in the context of the CCOFTA on human rights, it is important to understand the broader Colombian context, including the current political, economic, social, security and developmental situation in the country.

Colombia is geographically large and ethnically diverse with a population of 45.5 million people. As an emerging free market economy with strong democratic traditions, Colombia is the latest country to join the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD). Colombia has made significant strides in recent years in reducing poverty and violence through growth and social investment, and has also made important progress in strengthening peace, security and the rule of law. Kidnappings, which at the height of the Colombian armed conflict numbered in the thousands annually, have decreased from 173 cases in 2018 to 88 in 2019 according to the Colombian Ministry of Defense. However, and after seeing its lowest level of violence in 42 years in 2017, Colombia has experienced a resurgence of violence since 2018, with the homicide rate increasing from 24 per 100,000 to 25 per 100,000 in 2019.

Colombia also remains the ninth most unequal country in the world – and second in the Americas – according to the World Bank^{Footnote 2}. Its rural and remote areas are often characterized by higher levels of poverty and violence, limited state presence, and illicit economies that fuel illegal armed groups.

The implementation of the historic peace agreement signed in 2016 between the Government of Colombia and the largest guerrilla group, the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC) continues, centered on the rights of victims. However, many significant challenges remain, including delays in government investments, as well as tensions and violence surrounding the coca eradication process. The increase in killings and threats against community and social leaders is a particular concern, occurring mostly in rural settings. The ongoing work of the United Nations Verification Mission in Colombia has allowed for an exhaustive assessment of the progress made with respect to the implementation of the Peace Agreement, with a focus on verifying the commitments on the reintegration of former FARC members, as well as the guarantees of protection and security for communities in areas most affected by the conflict.

In 2019, Colombia continued to be significantly impacted by events in neighboring Venezuela, including effects from the increased number of Venezuelans crossing into Colombia fleeing a collapsed economy, poverty and systemic human rights abuses.  Official figures show that, since 2017, Colombia has welcomed more than 1.7 million Venezuelans and over half a million Colombian returnees. This flow of migrants has placed additional strains on the health and education systems across the country, particularly in border areas. There is also an important security dimension to the Venezuelan crisis with important detrimental effects on Colombia’s peace process. There are credible reports on the increasing activity of Colombian armed groups, including ELN and dissident faction(s) of FARC, in Venezuelan territory. These groups benefit from being able to operate at large in Venezuela by developing illegal revenue streams, and recruiting vulnerable Venezuelans, specially in the border region. Colombian security services have claimed that the ELN has recruited Venezuelan nationals who have organized and executed terrorist attacks in Colombia.

3.1 Current Status of Human Rights in Colombia

Despite a general improvement in human rights indicators over the last decade, the last three years have seen an alarming increase in assassinations and threats against human rights defenders (HRDs) and community leaders, the vast majority in regions that were at the heart of the internal armed conflict.

According to the Ombudsperson for Human Rights, 555 HRDs have been killed between January 1, 2016 and December 31, 2019. In 2019, the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) documented 108 killings of human rights defenders, including 15 women and two LGBTI defenders. According to the OHCHR, 65% of the leaders killed were defending the rights of communities and ethnic groups. This reality, coupled with an overall increase in violence, threats and intimidation against these actors, led Frontline Defenders (an international human rights organization) to list Colombia as the most dangerous country for HRDs in 2019.

Although efforts have been made by Colombian authorities to continue implementing a series of early warning and protection measures for HRDs under threat, as well as making progress on the development of a national level policy, civil society actors remain concerned about a lack of resources and inadequate funding. Further, civil society and international organizations lament that investigations can take months, if not years, to come to completion, and often do not end in charges.

In addition to violence against HRDs and social and community leaders, other key concerns include: forced displacement (over 15,000 in 2019); confinement of populations, in particular Indigenous and Afro-Colombian communities (over 107 communities were confined in 2019, totaling over 16,500 people including women and children); child recruitment by illegal armed groups; high-levels of sexual and gender-based violence; as well as homicides and threats against vulnerable groups (LGBTI, Indigenous and Afro-Colombian communities in particular).

The causes of such human rights violations are various. In the vacuum left by the departure of the FARC, territories in many regions of the country are being occupied by organized criminal groups, vestiges of former paramilitary organizations, dissident FARC combatants, as well as the ELN. By many accounts, and according to most Colombian Non-governmental organizations working on human rights, including Somos Defensores, the situation in some parts of the country is returning to the levels of violence reported prior to the 2016 peace accord, with targeted threats and killings against HRDs and social leaders. Most under threat are those speaking out for, and against, forced and voluntary cocoa eradication programs; land restitution claimants; and community leaders working to implement the peace accord. Local leaders working to implement new policies and programs that threaten the existing status quo, which may depend on illicit economies and corruption, often find themselves the victims of intimidation, disappearance or assassination. An increase in reprisal killings of demobilized members of the FARC-EP, has also become a cause of concern. In 2019, 77 assassinations were reported, compared to 65 recorded in 2018, and 31 in 2017. Moreover, the Common Alternative Revolutionary Force (Spanish: Fuerza Alternativa Revolucionaria del Común) – the political party which has emerged from the former FARC-EP – alleges the number to be higher and denounces such killings as systematic.

Over the past several years, the Government of Colombia has shown a commitment to improving the situation of human rights in the country, having introduced a number of precedent-setting initiatives and instruments to assist victims of the armed conflict, such as the Victims’ Law (1468) and the Land Restitution Law (1448) of 2011. However, the overall pace of implementation of these laws since 2012 has been slow. By August 2019, only 986,961 victims (mostly forced displacements) have received compensation from the state. This only accounts for just over 13% of the 7.2 million registered victims, according to the government’s Unit for Victims. A joint report by the Colombian Ombudsperson (Defensoria del Pueblo), the Comptroller General (Contraloria), the Inspector General’s Office (Procuradoria) and the National Victims Participation Roundtable, estimated that over $41 billion is required to fully finance the Victims’ Law (1468), which is set to expire in 2030. Meanwhile, challenges in land restitution continue, especially when considering that the related legislation will remain valid only until 2021 (i.e. sunset law).  Over 124,758 land restitution claims had been registered by December 2019, with only 7% having been resolved.  Judicial and informal resolution of land restitution claims is slow due to a variety of challenges, including establishing the identity of claimants, a historically weak or non-existent system of land titles, as well as the insecurity found in places subject to land restitution claims. Violence against land claimants has also been a cause of concern, and the Colombian Ombudsperson has published a series of alerts indicating that land restitution leaders are at imminent risk.

With respect to the implementation of the peace accord, key developments this past year include the ongoing work of the Special Jurisdiction for Peace (JEP by its Spanish acronym), the Commission for the Clarification of Truth, Coexistence and Non-Repetition (CEV), and the Unit for the Search for Disappeared Persons. As called for in the Peace Agreement, these key elements are part of a broader vision for an “Integrated System of Justice, Truth, Reparations and Guarantees of Non-Repetition” (Integrated System), with the rights of victims as its guiding principle. So far, the JEP has heard testimonies from 12,439 people (9,732 ex-FARC and 2,606 military and police officers who have voluntarily submitted themselves to the transitional justice system).

Nevertheless, significant challenges remain with the implementation of the peace process since the signing of the Peace Accord two and a half years ago. Challenges include delays in bringing a meaningful and integrated state presence through rural development, as well as continued hostilities from remaining insurgencies, especially the National Liberation Army (ELN) and FARC dissidents. Many of these challenges are compounded by growing migratory pressures from Venezuela. Genuine and sustainable improvements in human rights protection in these regions will require a multidimensional approach to endemic challenges of poverty, illicit economies, and weak rule of law.

4. Colombian and Canadian Economic Context

This section will outline the overall global, Canadian and Colombian economic contexts, as well as the trade relationship between Canada and Colombia.

4.1 Global economic trends

The global economy is experiencing a slowdown in both trade and gross domestic product (GDP) growth in recent years. World merchandise trade growth is estimated to have declined to 2.6 percent in 2019, down from the 2018 growth rate of 3.0 percent. Global GDP growth in 2019 was 2.9 percent, slightly down from 2.97 percent in 2018 and 3.1 percent in 2017^{Footnote 3}. This slowdown has affected many countries. For OECD countries overall, GDP growth is estimated to have been 2.3 percent in 2018, down from 2.7 percent in 2017^{Footnote 4}.

For commodity exporting economies such as Canada and Colombia, fluctuations in commodity prices have a significant effect on their economies and trade growth. Commodity prices in 2019 experienced a decline of a 9 percent from the 2018 levels, and they were 29 percent lower than in 2014. Similarly, energy prices in 2019 were 2 percent lower than in 2018 and they were 37 percent lower than in 2014. Prevailing low commodity prices, particularly oil prices, are a worldwide challenge for commodity producing countries (See Figure 1).

Figure 1: Commodity Price Index

Data: Bank of Canada
Source: Office of the Chief Economist, 抖淫视频

Low commodity prices have a significant impact on the exchange rate movements of major commodity exporting countries. Since 2012, the Canadian dollar has depreciated by 25 percent against the US dollar. Similarly, the value of the Colombian peso relative to the US dollar has depreciated by 45 percent over the same period (See Figure 2). In 2018, the values of the Colombian peso and the Canadian dollar stabilized relative to the US dollar. Canada’s dollar ratio declined slightly in 2019, while Colombia’s dollar ratio declined even more.Low commodity prices have a significant impact on the exchange rate movements of major commodity exporting countries. Since 2012, the Canadian dollar has depreciated by 25 percent against the US dollar. Similarly, the value of the Colombian peso relative to the US dollar has depreciated by 45 percent over the same period (See Figure 2). In 2018, the values of the Colombian peso and the Canadian dollar stabilized relative to the US dollar. Canada’s dollar ratio declined slightly in 2019, while Colombia’s dollar ratio declined even more.

Figure 2: Canadian and Colombian exchange rates against the US dollar (2012 = 100)

Data: Bank of Canada
Source: Office of the Chief Economist, 抖淫视频

These changes in the currency market have had profound implications for economic performance in Canada and Colombia as well as bilateral trade between the two countries, in particular, Colombia’s capacity to import products from Canada.

4.2 The Canadian Economy

Canada is ranked as the tenth largest economy in the world with GDP standing at USD 1.71 trillion in 2018, or about five times that of the Colombian economy. With a population of 37.1 million in 2018, Canada’s per capita GDP in 2018 stood at USD 46,234.
Canada is one of the most open economies in the world, with few barriers to trade and investment. In 2019, international trade in goods and services accounted for 64.5 percent of GDP. The United States is Canada’s largest trading partner, with 75.4 percent of all Canadian merchandise exports in 2019 destined to that market.

Service-producing industries are the leading sectors in the Canadian economy, making up 70.8 percent of Canada’s GDP in 2019, and employing 79.3 percent of the total Canadian labour force. In the past decade, the share of services in Canada’s GDP increased steadily as the importance of other sectors in Canadian GDP declined.

The Canadian economy has been expanding at an average annual rate of 2.1 percent during the past decade, in terms of real GDP. However, as a major commodity producer, Canada has been one of the hardest-hit developed economies by the impact of declining commodity prices in recent years. The energy sector, which accounted for one-fifth of total Canadian merchandise exports, was the most affected. Excluding the natural resources sector, Canada’s international exports have experienced solid growth in recent years.

4.3 The Colombian Economy

With a population of 49.6 million, Colombia is the third most populous country in Latin America after Brazil and Mexico. Over the past decade, Colombia has experienced impressive economic growth as a result of pro-market economic policies, as well as significant improvements in domestic security. GDP surged from USD 145.6 billion in 2005 to USD 382.1 billion in 2013. However, this impressive period of economic growth came to an end in 2013 as a result of changes in world commodity prices and international macroeconomic environment. Colombia’s GDP decreased from USD 382.1 billion in 2013 to USD 283.1 billion in 2016, before increasing to USD 311.9 billion in 2017. In 2018, GDP is estimated to have increased to USD 333.5 billion, before dipping slightly to an estimated USD 323.6 billion in 2019. This dramatic downturn and subsequent upturn in Colombia’s macroeconomic environment has broad implications, particularly for Colombia’s international trade.

Figure 3: Colombian Merchandise Exports to World, 2000-2019

Data: Global Trade Atlas
Source: Office of the Chief Economist, 抖淫视频

The Colombian economy depends heavily on exports of energy and agricultural commodities. Colombia is a major global supplier of coffee, cut flowers, and bananas. Colombia’s aggressive promotion of free trade agreements in the recent decade has strengthened its position in international trade. Colombia’s merchandise exports to the world increased dramatically from USD 13.1 billion in 2000 to a peak of USD 60.7 billion in 2012. However, exports were on a downward path from 2012 until 2016, before increasing in the following two years. Then, in 2019, Colombia’s total exports decreased slightly to USD 39.5 billion. Similarly, Colombia’s imports from the world increased steadily from USD 11.5 billion in 2000 to USD 64.0 billion in 2014 but decreased until 2016. Imports have since increased each year. In 2019, Colombia had imports of USD 52.7 billion.

4.4 The Canada-Colombia Trade Relationship

The Canada-Colombia trade relationship is strengthened by the CCOFTA, which entered into force on August 15, 2011.

In 2019, total bilateral merchandise trade between the two countries was $1.8 billion^{Footnote 5}. This is a decrease of 13.6 percent compared to the $2.0 billion in 2018, but is slightly higher than the $1.7 billion figure in 2017. Bilateral merchandise trade has increased by approximately 30 percent overall since 2010, the year prior to the entry into force of the CCOFTA (See Figure 4).

Between 2018 and 2019, Canada’s imports from Colombia decreased by 19.9 percent, from $1.0 billion to $831.8 million. This decrease was largely due to a dramatic 45.7 percent  decrease in imports of mineral fuels and oils from Colombia ($196.6 million).
Canada’s exports to Colombia decreased by 7.0 percent – from $1.0 billion to $935.7 million – between 2018 and 2019. Canadian exports to Colombia covered a broad range of products including cereals (wheat), vegetables (pulses), fertilizers, and mineral fuels and oils.

Figure 4: Bilateral Trade between Canada and Colombia 2010-2019 (Can$ million)

Data: Statistics Canada
Source: Office of the Chief Economist, 抖淫视频.^{Footnote 6}

5. Actions Taken by Canada under the CCOFTA Implementation Act in 2019

The CCOFTA is consistent with Canada’s aims to enhance its economic interests in Colombia and to deepen its engagement with Latin American countries. It provides greater stability and predictability for Canadian exporters, service providers, and investors, including expanded opportunities in a broad range of sectors, particularly oil and gas, mining, agriculture and agri-food, and manufacturing. The CCOFTA also reduces trade barriers to improve Canada and Colombia’s bilateral economic relationship by allowing both countries to increase their export potential and access new markets. Finally, the services and services-related provisions of the CCOFTA support exporters by encouraging stronger economic ties through the implementation of principles and conditions of regulatory transparency and stability.

5.1 Overview of Actions Taken under the CCOFTA Implementation Act in 2019

A summary of actions taken under the CCOFTA Implementation Act for the period covered by this report is provided in Annex 11.

5.2 Tariff Elimination Schedule

The tariff reductions implemented by Canada are undertaken in accordance with the Tariff Elimination Schedule of Canada of the CCOFTA.

Tariff reductions implemented by Canada during the period of January 1, 2019 to December 31, 2019 fall under one staging category:

• Staging Category D17 (17-year linear phase-out, with yearly tariff reductions, all tariffs to be removed by January 1, 2025).^{Footnote 7} There is only one tariff line being phased-out under staging category D17, which is a refined sugar line.

5.3 Tariff Reductions in 2019

As noted above, the actions taken by Canada under the CCOFTA in 2019 have been tariff reductions according to the Tariff Elimination Schedule of Canada of the CCOFTA.  With the exception of one tariff line (refined sugar), Canada has already completed the phase-out of all tariffs covered by the CCOFTA.

5.4 Future Tariff Reductions

Canada’s tariff on refined sugar will continue to be reduced annually (for 2020, the preferential tariff for originating Colombian refined sugar is $10.29/tonne, compared to the MFN tariff which is $30.86/tonne) until it is fully eliminated on January 1, 2025. Given that the tariff reductions to be implemented on an annual basis from now until 2025 are minimal, the impact of these further tariff reductions on Canada’s bilateral trade with Colombia can also be expected to be minimal. To date, it has not been possible to draw a link between tariff reductions made by Canada under the CCOFTA and human rights abuses in Colombia.

6. Trade Gains under the CCOFTA

Overall, the CCOFTA has had a positive effect on Canada-Colombia bilateral trade. Canada and Colombia bilateral merchandise trade increased to $1.8 billion in 2019, an increase of approximately 30 percent over 2010 (the year prior to the entry into force of the CCOFTA).

This positive effect can also be demonstrated by a comparison of trade performance before and after the CCOFTA. In the following analysis, presented in Tables 3 and 4 below, the annual trade statistics are first divided into the pre-CCOFTA period (January 2008 to December 2010) and post-CCOFTA period (January 2017 to December 2019) and then divided into five product categories. The product categories represent products that were duty-free prior to the implementation of the CCOFTA, products not liberalized, products with 0.1 to 5 percentage points tariff reductions, products with 5.1 to 10 percentage points tariff reductions, and products that had more than 10.0 percentage points tariff reductions. The average annual changes between the pre-CCOFTA and the post-CCOFTA periods of these categories are then calculated to determine if trade has been enhanced. This simple demonstration does not represent a causal effect of the CCOFTA, as it does not control for any macroeconomic or other sector- and season-specific factors that also impact bilateral trade flows; rather, it is a conditional presentation of correlation between the CCOFTA and bilateral trade performance.

6.1 Canadian Exports to Colombia

Canada has experienced solid growth in its merchandise exports to Colombia since the CCOFTA entered into force in 2011.

Annual average exports from Canada to Colombia increased from a pre-CCOFTA level of $629.6 million to the post-CCOFTA level of $880.5 million, representing an increase of 39.9 percent. As shown in Table 3, the majority of Canadian exports to Colombia were subject to duties in the pre-CCOFTA era. As a result, liberalization under the CCOFTA has facilitated greater Canadian exports to Colombia. Most trade growth has come from the products with up to 5.0 percentage points of tariff reductions, which grew by $217.04 million.

Canada’s export gains for the products that were already duty-free were dominated by exports of iron and steel. Other products that also experienced significant export gains included nuclear reactors, boilers and machinery; residues and waste from the food industries; fertilizers; and ores, slag and ash (see Annex 2).

Products that received tariff reductions up to 5.0 percentage points saw the largest increase of export gains. The top sectors to experience such export growth were cereal; aircraft, spacecraft, and parts thereof; fertilizers; tanning or dying extracts; iron and steel; and inorganic chemicals and rare-earth metals, and tanning or dyeing extracts (see Annex 3).

The top products of export gains with tariff reductions of 5.1 to 10.0 percentage points were mineral fuels and oils; pharmaceutical products; explosives and pyrotechnic products; paper and paperboard; and plastics and articles thereof (see Annex 4).

The key sectors that experienced gains under the category of over-10-percentage points of tariff reductions were meat and edible meat offal, cosmetic or toilet preparations, edible vegetables, and plastics and articles thereof (see Annex 5).

6.2 Canadian Imports from Colombia

In 2019, Canadian merchandise imports from Colombia were valued at $831.8 million, making Colombia Canada’s fifth largest import source in South America.

Overall, on an annual basis, average imports from Colombia increased by 36.5 percent between the pre-CCOFTA level of $696.4 million and the post-CCOFTA level of $950.5 million. The utilization rates of the CCOFTA for Canadian imports from Colombia remained high with the products facing larger tariff reductions having higher utilization rates, indicating that importers are well aware of the tariff concessions offered by CCOFTA and they take advantage of what the Agreement offers. The total utilization rate  was 25.5 percent for products with 0.1 to 5.0 percentage points of tariff reductions, 56.0 percent for the products with 5.1 to 10.0 percentage points of reductions, and 79.4 percent for the products with more than 10.0 percentage points of reductions. The utilization rate for all dutiable products was 61.7 percent.

It is important to note that 80 percent of all Canadian imports from Colombia were duty-free even before the entry into force of the CCOFTA. The products that gained the most under the duty-free category were coffee, tea and spices, and mineral fuels and oils (see Annex 7).

Products that had the largest import gains under the category of 0.1 to 5.0 percentage points of tariff reductions were articles of stone, plaster and cement, plastics and articles thereof, and sugars and sugar confectionery (see Annex 8).

Products that had the largest import gains under the category of 5.1 to 10.0 percentage points of tariff reductions were live trees and other plants, articles of iron or steel, and cocoa and cocoa preparations (see Annex 9). Various utilization rates were quite high in this category, with many experiencing rates over 85 percent.

Products that had the most gains in imports under the category of over 10 percentage points of tariff reductions included live trees and other plants, knitted articles of apparel and clothing accessories, articles of apparel and clothing accessories  that were not knitted, and animal or vegetable fats and oils. The utilization rates for these articles were fairly high, with some being over 80 percent (see Annex 10).

Products exempt from tariff reductions experienced a decline in imports.

6.3 Overall Impact of the CCOFTA on Trade Flows

The comparison of trade flows between the pre- and post-CCOFTA periods shows that the Canada-Colombia bilateral trade relationship has benefited from the agreement. Canadian exports to Colombia grew more quickly in the sectors that were liberalized, supporting the premise that reducing tariffs has a stimulatory impact on trade. While imports have fluctuated over the years, the average impact has been positive. The utilization rates of the CCOFTA for the affected imports have also remained at very high levels and progressed with the extent of tariff concessions provided to Colombian products.  This indicates that Canadian businesses have adjusted well to the changing trading environment under the CCOFTA and are benefiting from the trade agreement. Without controlling for other non-free trade agreement influenced factors, the above simple data comparison is supportive of the view that the CCOFTA is working as intended. 

7. Actions Taken by Canada under its Agreements on Labour Cooperation and Environment, and in Association with the CCOFTA

In order to support Colombia with its efforts to address strengthening of the protection and promotion of human rights, Canada leverages various aspects of its bilateral engagement and programming tools, including those found in the provisions of the two CCOFTA-related agreements on Labour Cooperation and Environment, and also through special programming directly related to its free trade relationship with Colombia.

7.1 The Labour Cooperation Agreement

The Canada-Colombia Agreement on Labour Cooperation commits the parties to ensuring that their laws not only respect the International Labour Organization’s (ILO) Declaration on Fundamental Principles and Rights at Work (1998), but also provides acceptable protections for occupational health and safety, hours of work, wages and migrant workers. The CCOFTA itself also includes a principles-based labour chapter.

Specifically, the Labour Cooperation Agreement commits both countries to:

• Promote compliance with and effectively enforce their domestic labour laws through appropriate government actions. These laws must embody the following internationally recognized labour principles and rights:
  • freedom of association and the right to collective bargaining (including protection of the right to organize and the right to strike);
  • the elimination of all forms of forced or compulsory labour;
  • the effective abolition of child labour;
  • the elimination of discrimination in respect of employment and occupation;
  • acceptable conditions of work with respect to minimum wages, hours of work and occupational health and safety; and
  • providing migrant workers with the same legal protections as citizens in regards to working conditions.
• Ensure that they do not waive or otherwise derogate from their labour laws in a manner that weakens or reduces adherence to the internationally recognized labour principles as an encouragement for trade or investment.
• Ensure that requests for labour inspections are given due consideration and that a person with a legally-recognized interest has appropriate access to proceedings before a tribunal which can enforce national labour law.
• Make information publicly available in relation to their labour laws and enforcement and compliance procedures.
• Encourage the use of voluntary best practices of responsible business conduct by enterprises.

The Labour Cooperation Agreement contains institutional mechanisms to ensure its effective implementation. These include a dispute resolution process to ensure compliance with the possibility of up to $15 million in fines for non-compliance in any one year. All monetary assessments would be paid into a cooperation fund to be expended in the territory of the party complained-against in order to address labour issues. The Labour Cooperation Agreement also provides for a Ministerial Council, comprised of Labour Ministers from both Canada and Colombia, that is required to meet within the first year after its entry into force and thereafter, as necessary, in order to oversee its implementation.

Actions Taken under the Labour Cooperation Agreement

Projects: The provisions of the Labour Agreement are complemented by concrete actions to address the labour situation in Colombia, notably through labour-related information sharing and technical assistance (TA). Since the coming into force of the Labour Cooperation Agreement, the Government of Canada, through the Labour Program of Employment and Social Development Canada (ESDC), has focused on capacity building, project monitoring missions, and other opportunities to foster relationships and encourage effective implementation. To date, the Labour Program of ESDC has funded labour-related TA projects in Colombia totaling approximately $2,280,000.

Bilateral Dialogue: The Canadian and Colombian Ministries of Labour have maintained close relations and ongoing discussions, both at the working and ministerial levels, to advance the bilateral dialogue on implementation of the Labour Agreement and issues of common interest, including monitoring and implementing the Action Plan signed in 2018. Three Ministerial Council meetings have taken place, as provided for under the Labour Agreement.

Public Communications: The Labour Agreement also allows for complaints – technically known as “Public Communications” – to be raised by citizens, enterprises or organizations, when they believe certain obligations of the Agreement have not been met.

Throughout 2019, Canada and Colombia focused their efforts on implementing the Action Plan, which was agreed upon between the two countries in May 2018. The Action Plan aims to address specific labour issues in the country (e.g. workers’ collective rights, misuse of subcontracting, discriminatory anti-union practices, enforcement of labour laws, etc.) to ensure Colombia complies with its obligations under the Labour Agreement. To this end, Canada is providing technical assistance support to help Colombian authorities fulfill their commitments under the Action Plan. The Action Plan can be found at:

Moving Forward:  Labour Program officials continue to work actively with their Colombian counterparts on the implementation of the Action Plan to guarantee the protection of fundamental labour rights.

7.2 The Environment Agreement

The Environment Agreement, signed in parallel to the CCOFTA, reinforces the concept that free trade should not take place at the expense of the environment. The CCOFTA itself also includes an environment chapter and environment provisions. The Canada-Colombia Environment Agreement commits both countries to encouraging high levels of domestic environmental protection, to fostering good environmental governance, to continuing to develop and improve their environmental laws and policies, and to promoting transparency and public participation. It requires each country to:

• effectively enforce its domestic environmental laws through appropriate government actions;
• neither weaken nor reduce levels of protection afforded in its domestic environment laws to encourage trade or investment;
• ensure that proceedings are available to sanction or remedy violations of its environmental laws;
• ensure that interested persons residing in, or established in its territory may request investigations of alleged violations of its environmental laws, and to give such requests due consideration, in accordance with its law;
• promote public awareness and transparency by ensuring that information regarding environmental laws and policies is available to the public;
• ensure that environmental impact assessment processes are in place;
• encourage the use of voluntary best practices of responsible business conduct by enterprises;
• promote the conservation and sustainable use of biological diversity; and
• respect, preserve, and maintain traditional knowledge, innovations and practices of Indigenous and local communities that contribute to the conservation and sustainable use of biological diversity, subject to national legislation.

The Environment Agreement commits both countries to make every attempt, through consultations, exchange of information, and an emphasis on cooperation, to address any matter concerning the environment which may arise between them. If the countries fail to resolve the matter, either of them may seek consultations at the ministerial level.

Actions Taken under the Environment Agreement

Bilateral Dialogue: The Canada-Colombia Environment Agreement provides a framework within which to address key environmental issues of mutual interest to Canada and Colombia via the creation of a Committee on Environment. The Committee on Environment, composed of senior officials from Environment and Climate Change Canada and Colombia’s Ministry of Environment and Sustainable Development, meets on an as-needed basis. The last meeting of the Committee on Environment took place on May 16, 2018, in Gatineau (QC), Canada. At this meeting, Canadian and Colombian officials reviewed the bilateral and regional initiatives that were carried out within the framework of the Environmental Cooperation Agreement, undertook a policy dialogue on environmental priorities, and jointly began work on setting priorities for future cooperative activities. During the discussions, the following areas for cooperation were prioritized: 1) chemicals management, 2) conserving biodiversity, 3) mitigating environmental impacts of mining, and 4) management and reduction of forest fires. It will be Colombia’s turn to host the next meeting of the Committee on Environment.

Projects: With the goal of promoting high levels of environmental protection, the Canada-Colombia Environment Agreement also provides a framework within which to undertake environmental cooperation activities aimed at supporting the Environment Agreement’s objectives and obligations usually through technical exchanges and information sharing (see annex 13 for recent activities).

Since the entry into force of the Environment Agreement in 2011, Canada has funded six environmental projects in Colombia amounting to over $2.5 million. During this period, Canadian funding for Latin American regional programming, which also benefitted Colombia, exceeded $9 million.

Projects funded through Climate Finance: Canada is delivering $2.65 billion over five years to help developing countries transition to low-carbon, sustainable and resilient growth, focusing on mitigation as well as increasing adaptation support to the poorest and most vulnerable populations impacted by climate change. This support is delivered through a number of multilateral and bilateral initiatives.

Canada supports Colombia through a number of multilateral organizations, including through the Green Climate Fund (GCF). For example, the GCF is investing $38.5 million (with a total project value of $117.2 million) in support of scaling up climate resilient water management practice in La Mojana, one of the poorest and most climate vulnerable regions in Colombia. Canada has announced $300 million in support of the GCF’s initial resource mobilization, and more recently announced an additional $300 million to the GCF’s first replenishment.

In addition, as part of Canada’s support to Colombia through bilateral initiatives, Canada is also working with Colombia and other Pacific Alliance partners on a $1.6 million project to support climate action (please see the following section for more details on the Pacific Alliance Partnership).

7.3 The Pacific Alliance Partnership

The Pacific Alliance is a regional integration initiative founded in 2011 by Chile, Colombia, Mexico and Peru to promote greater economic growth and competitiveness for member countries. In 2012, Canada became the first non-Latin American observer to the Pacific Alliance and in 2016, the Joint Declaration on a Partnership between Canada and the members of the Pacific Alliance (“Partnership”) was signed. In June 2017, the Pacific Alliance invited Canada to become an Associated State, along with Australia, New Zealand and Singapore, a process that requires the negotiation of a comprehensive free trade agreement (FTA) with the Pacific Alliance.

FTA negotiations with the Pacific Alliance would allow Canada to attain Associated State status, which would raise its level of partnership with the Pacific Alliance and provide opportunities for enhanced engagement and greater collaboration. In addition, the FTA negotiations also provide Canada with the opportunity to modernize and streamline our existing agreements, including the CCOFTA, to achieve incremental market access improvements, where possible, and to promote an inclusive approach to trade.  They also send a strong signal to the world on our belief in the benefits of free trade, and the importance that these benefits be widely shared.

Actions Taken under the Pacific Alliance Partnership

Under the Partnership, Canada and the Pacific Alliance have outlined six broad areas for increased cooperation: trade facilitation and promotion; education and training; small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs); science, technology and innovation; responsible natural resource development and corporate social responsibility; and environmental cooperation (including climate change and ocean conservation).

Projects: On June 29, 2016, Canada confirmed its commitment to the Partnership by announcing funding for three cooperation projects worth more than $21 million over five years (2016-2021). In 2017, Environment and Climate Change Canada also announced an investment of $1.6 million to help the Pacific Alliance countries address climate change, reduce climate pollutants, attract investment-supporting climate actions, and help create a cleaner environment. These four projects support the Pacific Alliance in its efforts towards becoming a more competitive and inclusive region and deepen our mutual commitment to inclusive trade. (See Annex 14 for project details.)

Bilateral Dialogue: Since the signing of the Partnership, Canada has made presentations to several of the Pacific Alliance’s Technical Groups in order to share Canadian experiences and to keep the Pacific Alliance informed of the progress made in relation to the four cooperation projects. Canada has also provided ongoing updates on the cooperation projects to the Pacific Alliance’s External Relations Technical Group, the main point of contact for observer countries. In October 2019, the Government of Canada shared its experience with anti-corruption measures with the Pacific Alliance’s Government Procurement Technical Group.

8. Public Consultations

In accordance with the tenets of open and accountable government, we have continued to consult broadly in the preparation of this report.

8.1 Public Call for Submissions

On February 18, 2020, the Government of Canada issued a public call for submissions to inform the analysis of the report (see Annex 15). The public call for submissions was posted online on the 抖淫视频 website and the website of the Embassy of Canada to Colombia for a period of 4 weeks. Three written submissions were received in response to the public call for submissions: the first one detailed a personal story of struggles and challenges often facing rural communities in remote areas of Colombia, which are often characterized by the presence of armed groups and criminal organizations. The second submission defined the effects of inadequate infrastructure and the lack of roads as well as transportation and communication networks as the main challenge facing rural communities. Finally, the third submission highlighted the increasing risks facing human rights defenders and community leaders in Colombia, and raised concerns about the impacts on human rights of resource development and other economic activities in Colombia. This particular submission also expressed concerns about the state of implementation of the 2016 peace accord, with a specific focus on what are considered to be damaging effects on vulnerable populations, such as women, Indigenous, Afro-Colombians, and rural communities. The submission also criticized the lack of information provided so far on the new format and methodology envisioned for future Annual reports.

8.2 Consultations with Provinces and Territories

The Government of Canada consulted with provincial and territorial governments with regard to whether any of their respective human rights commissions (or equivalent bodies) had raised or received any comments, questions or expressions of concern, regarding effects on human rights in Canada related to Canada’s tariff reductions under the CCOFTA during the period January 1, 2019 – December 31, 2019. The Government of Canada received feedback from a total of seven provinces and territories indicating that none of their human rights commissions (or equivalent bodies) had raised or received any such comment or expression of concern. Since the entry into force of the CCOFTA on August 15, 2011, no concerns have ever been registered via these mechanisms.

9. Government of Canada Programming, Advocacy, and Capacity Building Activities for the Promotion and Protection of Human Rights in Colombia

The Government of Canada maintains a whole-of-government approach to its bilateral relations with Colombia through its political, consular, commercial, development, and peace and security programming. Recognizing the challenges that Colombia faces in the area of human rights, and in order to support its efforts in addressing these issues, Canada leverages various aspects of its bilateral engagement and programming tools via its political, development and commercial programming in Colombia.

9.1 Canadian Advocacy and Engagement on Human Rights in Colombia

Canada plays a leading role within the international community in Colombia regarding the promotion and protection of human rights. In addition to significant programming aimed directly at improving human rights conditions in Colombia, the Government of Canada holds regular human rights consultations with the Government of Colombia as part of its broader bilateral consultations. Canada also regularly engages with Colombian civil society organizations, human rights defenders, unions, journalists, women’s organizations, international humanitarian agencies, UN agencies, and government bodies. During 2019, Canada raised concerns with the Government of Colombia regarding marginalized and vulnerable populations and specific cases of imminent threat against members of civil society organizations, so that corrective actions can be taken.

Since 2015, alongside the Embassy of the Netherlands to Colombia, Canada has chaired the Sub-Committee on Human Rights of the Donors’ Group (Grupo de Cooperantes, or GRUC) in Colombia, which consists of foreign embassies and multilateral organizations that provide international assistance to Colombia. The Sub-Committee meets on a regular basis to discuss collective action on human rights issues. The Sub-Committee also meets with Colombian civil society and government officials, international human rights observers, and it coordinates efforts to raise cases of HRDs with Colombian authorities. In 2019, the Sub-Committee focused its efforts on issues such as the protection of HRDs, LGBTI rights, freedom of expression and freedom of the press, transitional justice, and coordination with international human rights NGOs and key government actors, such as the Ombudsperson for human rights, the Inspector General, and newly elected Governors.

Canada is also actively advocating for the promotion and protection of women’s rights and gender equality in Colombia in its capacity as member of the International Cooperation Gender Roundtable (Canada’s Chair term ended in December 2018). Each year, the Embassy of Canada to Colombia awards a Human Rights Leader Award, which is a regional initiative of the Government of Canada, to recognize, highlight and bring visibility to human rights defenders. In 2019, Canada acknowledged and highlighted the work of the Mesa por la Vida y la Salud de las Mujeres (in English: Roundtable for the Life and Health of Women), afro descendant leader Rosario “Charo” Mina-Rojas, and the online gender channel Las Igualadas for the work that these organizations carry out towards the promotion of gender equality and women and girls’ rights.

Supporting human rights defenders is an integral part of the human rights work undertaken by the Embassy of Canada to Colombia. Embassy representatives meet regularly with human rights officials such as the Representative of the Colombian Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR), the Human Rights Ombudsperson (Defensor del Pueblo), and the Inspector General (Procurador General), in addition to numerous civil society organizations. Officials from 抖淫视频 also hold meetings in Canada with Colombian and Canadian civil society organizations to discuss their ongoing concerns surrounding human rights and peace implementation, especially threats and killings of social leaders and HRDs. These meetings provide Canadian officials with the opportunity to hear first-hand about the various significant challenges facing communities in Colombia, especially in remote and rural areas.

In 2019, officials from the Embassy of Canada to Colombia met regularly with threatened individuals and various groups in Colombia and made frequent visits to regions affected by the conflict. For example, Canadian officials visited several areas and municipalities in 2019, including: Buenaventura, Bojayá (Choco), Barranquilla, Santa Marta and Quibdo. These visits enable officials to meet with local government and security authorities, civil society organizations, rural communities including women, Indigenous and Afro-Colombians, regional human rights ombudspersons, and members of international non鈥慻overnmental organizations that are active in the field. Through such visits, the Government of Canada is able to gain unmediated knowledge of the complicated situation in these regions, monitor the progress of investigations, and bring greater awareness and transparency to such (cases?) situations. These are often conducted in partnership with representatives of the United Nations, the Peace Process Support Mission of the Organization of the American States (OAS), the International Committee of the Red Cross or other agencies and foreign embassies.

In a spirit of constructive cooperation, Government of Canada officials will continue to raise human rights issues with the Government of Colombia at all levels, particularly as the country works to implement an ambitious, historic, and multi-faceted post-conflict peacebuilding implementation plan. Canada will also continue to play a leading role within the international community in order to monitor the human rights situation in the post-conflict context, particularly in remote areas where Canadian companies are located, as well as in regions that are impacted by the increased migration from Venezuela.

9.2 Canada’s Support toward the implementation of 2016 Peace Agreement

In 2019, Canada continued delivering upon its 2016 commitment of over $78 million in funding for peacebuilding efforts in Colombia through initiatives that provide concrete and direct support to the peace agreement. This includes:

• Full implementation of five development projects to support Colombia’s peace efforts totalling $57.4 million. These projects are focused on demining, child protection, credit for farmers in areas affected by the conflict, and rural education, and include a $20 million contribution to the United Nations Multi-Partner Trust Fund for Post-Conflict in Colombia.
• Since 2016 the Peace and Stabilization Operations Program (PSOPs) has contributed $26.7 million to peace implementation projects in Colombia. Programming includes strengthening of national demining capacity, transitional justice, human rights and civilian protection, as well as support to civil society and women's participation in the implementation of the peace process, including through an intersectional approach with a focus on ethnic minorities and lesbian, gay, bisexual, trans and intersex (LGBTI) people. Support for the participation of these groups is vital to pave the way for long-term peacebuilding in conflict affected communities.
• PSOPs provides key support to the Organization of American States’ Mission to Support the Peace Process in Colombia (OAS-MAPP) and the local office of the OHCHR to monitor and promote human rights and the protection of vulnerable communities and individuals in the post-Peace Accord context.
• Furthermore, PSOPs funds the United Nations Multi Partner Trust Fund (MPTF), which supports the implementation of thematic and territorial priorities related to the implementation of the peace agreement, as defined by the Government of Colombia under the leadership of the High Council for Stabilization. These include integral reparation for victims; guarantee for truth, justice, reparation and non-repetition, and communication of progress regarding stabilization and peace consolidation.

During 2019, Canada took careful note of the various concerns that were expressed by the international community and Colombian civil society with respect to delays in the implementation of promised peace programs, review of key provisions of the peace agreement (in particular transitional justice) and the increased killings of community and social leaders in rural Colombia. In bringing attention to these issues and seeking avenues of cooperation with the Government of Colombia and other players, Canada continues to support constructive ways forward on contentious issues relating to the peace agreement.

抖淫视频 supported the work of the Special Jurisdiction for Peace (JEP) and the Commission for the Clarification of Truth, Coexistence and Non-Repetition (CEV) for specific activities it undertook in Canada in 2019.  With many of the victims of the Colombian conflict now in exile – including in Canada – the JEP and the CEV are making significant efforts to include the participation and involvement of this Colombian diaspora in its truth seeking process. To support these efforts, the Government of Canada provided a financial contribution to support travel of a joint mission composed of JEP and CEV officials to conduct interviews with Colombians who are now living in Canada in order to document their stories and testimonies of the Colombian armed conflict.

Under the Canadian Police Arrangement, deployments of Canadian police officers to Colombia were announced in 2017. The authorization included deployments to the United Nations Special Political Mission where Canada deployed two police officers as observers between February 2017 and January 2018. An additional bilateral deployment (up to five officers) is currently being negotiated with the Government of Colombia, which aims to provide training, mentorship and advice to the Colombian National Police in support of their post-peace accord policing priorities.

9.3 Canada’s International Assistance to Colombia

Canada and Colombia share over 40 years of collaborative engagement on development cooperation. According to the OECD’s Development Assistance Committee (OECD-DAC), Canada is Colombia’s fifth-largest donor of international assistance after the United States, Germany, the European Union and Norway. Canada’s international assistance profile in Colombia averages $30 to 40 million annually and stems from various programs.

Since 2011, Canada’s total official international assistance to Colombia amounts to almost $378 million, delivered via a diverse range of civil society, multilateral, private sector and government partners. This includes over $200 million in bilateral assistance; over $45 million in funding to peace and security initiatives; approximately $36 million in humanitarian assistance; and approximately $67 million in official development assistance via other channels, such as the International Development Research Centre, multi-country initiatives or through other government departments. Through its investments, Canada supports Colombia’s ambitious and transformational peace and development agenda, including through a focus on peacebuilding, inclusive economic growth, human rights, women’s empowerment and rural education.

Decades of violence have deeply impacted Colombia, resulting in inequality, poverty and insecurity being concentrated in particular regions. Canada’s international assistance focuses on supporting the conditions for lasting peace, especially in rural and conflict-affected areas, and harnessing innovation for long term sustainable development. In keeping with Canada’s Feminist International Assistance Policy, Canada works in partnership with Colombia to ensure that gender equality and the empowerment of women and girls is central to the transition away from conflict and towards middle-income prosperity.

Supporting Conditions for Lasting Peace: Working together, Canada and Colombia are striving to reach the most vulnerable women, girls and families in Colombia’s conflict-affected regions. This includes efforts to provide higher quality and more accessible rural education, as well as sexual and reproductive health and rights, in order to break the cycle of poverty and gender-based violence and tackle some of the barriers which prevent women and girls from reaching their full potential. Canada also supports efforts to respond to emergency needs through the provision of gender-responsive humanitarian assistance, particularly along Colombia’s Pacific coast and in border regions.

Canada is working to leverage private sector relationships and civil society expertise to bring economic opportunities to rural women and underemployed youth, while supporting Colombia’s labour reform agenda. These efforts are employing proven models for agricultural cooperatives and rural financing and are focussed in conflict-affected areas where illicit economies have too often been the only employment option available.

Through the implementation of Canada’s National Action Plan on Women, Peace and Security, Canada is supporting stabilization and longer-term peacebuilding efforts, including transitional justice, human rights and security sector transformation. Canada’s support is contributing to efforts to counter potential threats to Colombia’s peace process, such as corruption and illicit drug trafficking.

Canada recognizes the impact of the Venezuelan migration crisis on Colombia and the additional strains it has put on health and education systems across the country, particularly in border areas. For this reason, a significant portion of the $53 million announced by Canada in 2019 towards integrated stabilization, humanitarian and development support to those affected by the Venezuela crisis, has been directed to Colombia. This includes investments in migrant education as a follow up to Canada’s G7 Charlevoix commitments.

Canada also sponsored Colombia’s eligibility to access the Global Concessional Financing Facility (GCFF), which provides development support to middle-income countries impacted by refugee crises across the world. Canada also contributed $17 million with the objective of supporting Colombian communities that welcome migrants, and strengthening the state’s capacity to address the impact of the migration crisis.

Harnessing Innovation for Sustainable Development: As poverty levels improve, Colombia is expected to transition away from international assistance. Canada and Colombia are considering innovative approaches to leverage new funding sources and new partners to support rural and conflict-affected areas.  Canada is harnessing international assistance to bring new partnerships to Colombia’s priority sectors and regions, including rural education and rural economic development, and to build the evidence-base to ensure that investments are having an impact on vulnerable populations, and can be scaled-up.

Colombia’s ambitious stabilization and rural reform agenda requires improved access to financing – including through partnerships that reach beyond the donor community, particularly with the private sector. Canada and Colombia are working together to implement this ambitious agenda. In doing so, Canada is ensuring that human rights issues are at the centre of financing decisions for development outcomes.

Canada continues to invest in issues that support human rights promotion in Colombia, as well as labour rights, the empowerment of women, poverty reduction, economic diversification and responsible business conduct, including through collaboration with the private sector. Canada has traditionally supported the protection needs of internally displaced persons and children, particularly in terms of preventing recruitment into armed conflict. Through the Canadian Fund for Local Initiatives (CFLI), Canada also supports local development assistance initiatives in Colombia aimed at promoting human rights (particularly those of women, Indigenous peoples and LGBTI groups), governance and democracy. For example in 2019, Canada promoted with theOrganización Unidad Indígena del Pueblo Awá (UNIPA) the political participation of 32 Awá indigenous women within their indigenous governing bodies and in the government entities of the country. In partnership with another organization called INDEPAZ, Canada also fostered community participation to strengthen institutional early warning systems in order to better protect social leaders and human rights defenders in Colombian communities that are affected by violence and insecurity.

Under Canada’s Feminist International Assistance Policy, Canadian international assistance has a very strong focus on helping protect and promote the human rights of all vulnerable and marginalized groups and increase their participation in equal decision making.
Selected examples of international assistance programming linked to human rights promotion in Colombia can be found in Annex 16.

9.4 Responsible Business Conduct: Canada’s Support and International Collaboration with Colombia

a) Canada’s Support in Colombia

Canada’s approach to responsible business conduct (RBC) sets clear expectations for Canadian companies to respect human rights, operate within all applicable laws and international standards and operate transparently and in consultation with host governments and local communities. Canada’s current CSR Strategy outlines the Government of Canada’s expectations and initiatives to help Canadian companies strengthen their responsible business practices and maximize the benefits their investments can provide to those in host countries.

The Strategy, Doing Business the Canadian Way: A Strategy to Advance Corporate Social Responsibility in Canada’s Extractive Sector Abroad, is built on advancing widely-recognized international RBC standards while fostering networks and partnerships with stakeholders and helping resolve differences between Canadian extractive sector companies and those impacted by their operations abroad. Canada first implemented its CSR Strategy in 2009 and it was renewed in 2014.  Consultations will begin in 2020 for a renewed five-year strategy.

The Embassy of Canada to Colombia provides a high level of RBC-related service to the Canadian business community in Colombia, building networks with key stakeholders, engaging communities, and reinforcing Canadian leadership, excellence and best practices, especially in the extractive sector. This is achieved through regular meetings with Canadian companies, sharing of key documents and information produced by the Government of Canada and by third party organizations, and through specific initiatives such as workshops and forums for open dialogue.  Some of the related initiatives implemented or supported by the Embassy during 2019 included:

• A Forum with representatives from the main Indigenous communities’ associations to share experiences and best practices of engagement between First Nations, government, and private sector;
• The launching of the gender toolkit for the extractive sector, a document produced by the International Finance Corporation, and financed by Canada;
• A workshop with companies from the mining and energy sectors on best practices for the development and management of grievance mechanisms;
• A dialogue around best practices for anticorruption and compliance, with a focus on private sector companies.

All of these activities were developed with a view to facilitate and promote the exchange of best practices between Canada and Colombia on key topics that have a direct, or indirect impact on human rights.

In terms of dispute resolution, the Government of Canada has two mechanisms available to address any issues that may arise.  The first is Canada’s National Contact Point (NCP), established in the year 2000 as part of Canada’s commitment to the OECD Guidelines for Multinational Enterprises, and which applies to all sectors (). The second mechanism is the Canadian Ombudsperson for Responsible Enterprise (CORE), an independent, non-partisan body that operates at arm’s length from 抖淫视频 and reports directly to the minister of Small Business, Export Promotion and International Trade. On April 8, 2019, the Government of Canada appointed Sheri Meyerhoffer as the first Ombudsperson through an order-in-council. The CORE’s mandate– the first of its kind in the world – is to receive and review claims of alleged human rights abuses arising from the operations of Canadian companies abroad in the mining, oil and gas, and garment sectors.

Throughout the year, the Embassy of Canada to Colombia also engaged the Government of Colombia and Canadian extractive sector companies on a variety of initiatives to provide support for responsible natural resource development. Such initiatives are often carried out in collaboration with Canadian partners, such as provinces and territories, universities and other government departments, and include knowledge transfer of models, as well as sharing of best practices and expertise between Colombian and international entities. In 2019, these initiatives included: 

• A workshop for environmental authorities focused on Canada’s experience (particularly the province of Alberta) in the development of oil and gas resources through hydraulic stimulation;
• A workshop with recently elected authorities of mining municipalities to discuss the opportunities and challenges of mining activities in their areas of jurisdiction;
• Two workshops with national mining and environmental authorities, and with the private sector, to share best practices on the development of public policy for mine-closure, a key element in the cycle of any mining activity. 

b) Canada’s International Collaboration with Colombia

Canada is helping to build Colombia’s capacity for governance of natural resources.  For example, the Effective Partnerships for Local Development project ($6.2 million, 2011-2019) aims to improve the social and economic well-being of communities living in areas where there are extractive activities.  In addition, the Building Extractive Sector Governance project ($18.9 million, 2015-2020) provides technical assistance to Colombian government agencies responsible for natural resource management.

Internationally, Canada is engaged in a range of multi-stakeholder initiatives to promote international standards, guidelines, and best practices with the objective of improving governance in resource-rich developing countries.  Canada’s approach aims to ensure women, girls, and traditionally marginalized groups are able to engage in decision-making on natural resources governance and overcome discrimination in the administration and distribution of benefits from natural resource development.

Canada and Colombia actively collaborate on Corporate Social Responsibility through the following forums and mechanisms:

Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD):

OECD Guidelines on Multinational Enterprises are recommendations addressed by governments to multinational enterprises operating in, or from adhering countries, which provide voluntary principles and standards for responsible business conduct in a variety of areas including employment and industrial relations, human rights, environment, information disclosure, competition, taxation, and science and technology. Adhering governments have an obligation to set up and maintain a National Contact Point (NCP). NCPs are the only governmental, non-judicial grievance mechanism providing access to remedy to stakeholders wishing to raise issues related to operations of companies operating in, or from adhering countries.

OECD Due Diligence Guidance on Responsible Mineral Supply Chains of Minerals from Conflict-Affected and High-Risk Areas is a collection of detailed recommendations to help companies respect human rights and avoid contributing to conflict through their mineral purchasing decisions and practices. Canada co-facilitated the negotiation of the gold supplement and has actively engaged in the governance of the multi-stakeholder forum established to support the implementation programme of the Guidance. Colombia adhered to this Guidance in 2012, and has since implemented initiatives that aim to improve traceability of the country’s gold supply chain. Colombia has additionally increased its efforts to curb the influence of illegal armed groups and criminal organization over gold mining operations.

The Voluntary Principles on Security and Human Rights Initiative (VPI) is a multi-stakeholder initiative that oversees the Voluntary Principles on Security and Human Rights (VPs). The VPI contains a set of principles designed to help governments, NGOs and companies in the businesses of extracting, harvesting, or developing natural resources or energy to anticipate and mitigate human rights risks related to the deployment of public and private security.  The Government of Colombia, like Canada, has been a member of the VPI since 2009. In 2019, Canada continued to regularly participate and support Colombia’s Comité Minero-Energético (CME) as a member of its Directive Board. The CME is a multi-sector initiative which aims to facilitate dialogue around the protection of human rights and promotion of security guarantees for parties impacted by the mining and energy sectors.

Activities of the CME supported by the Embassy, included (but were not limited to):

• Facilitation of contacts between the CME and the Secretariat of the VPs initiative (now based in Ottawa);
• Financing the translation of a course on Voluntary Principles developed by the international secretariat that will be implemented with companies and public security forces in Colombia;
• Support for the development of two conferences with key stakeholders from the Colombian government to discuss human rights issues in areas relevant to mining and energy projects;

The Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (EITI) is a multi-stakeholder initiative to support improved governance in resource-rich countries through the verification and full publication of company payments and government revenues from oil, gas, and mining. Canada strongly supports the EITI and its aim of strengthening governance by improving transparency and accountability in the extractive sector.

Colombia has been a state member of the EITI since 2014 and Canada is supportive of its continued efforts to implement the EITI Standard. Colombia is the first country in the Americas to reach the highest level of progress in implementing the EITI Standard. Colombia’s participation in the EITI process reflects its commitment to improve transparency, particularly in the management of natural resource revenues. Canada’s “Building Extractive Sector Governance” project in Colombia will also contribute to helping address recommendations of the EITI process by working to improve multi-stakeholder collaboration and increase transparency (See Annex 16 for more details).

The Inter-American Development Bank’s (IDB):

Transparency Trust Fund (TTF) provides assistance to countries of Latin America and the Caribbean, including Colombia, which are committed to strengthening the governance of their extractive industries and ensuring that the resulting economic growth tangibly benefits entire communities. Canada’s financial contribution to the TTF leverages the Fund’s four strategic priority areas: the strengthening of audit and control systems; financial integrity; open government initiatives; and natural resource governance. To date, technical cooperation projects have helped strengthen Colombia’s public financial management system, particularly in the area of auditing. Cooperation also helped to increase Colombia’s level of involvement in extractives governance and transparency, which in turn contributed to Colombia being admitted to the EITI as a state member candidate in 2014. Most notably, through the TTF, the Government of Colombia created a technological platform to improve the transparency and management of royalties, allowing citizens to track royalties from their source to the final investment.

Canadian Extractive Sector Facility (CANEF) supports countries in Latin America and the Caribbean, mainly Colombia, Peru and the Dominican Republic, in managing their extractive sectors through evidence based decision-making and improved regulations. Program activities include: developing decision-making tools and information products; supporting dialogue and efforts to influence the regulatory environment; and providing country-level technical assistance to foster modernization in the sector.  CANEF activities contributed to strengthening the governance of natural resources by improving regulatory and institutional frameworks and improving infrastructure information management. CANEF specifically contributed to the Human Rights Policy for Mining and Energy in Colombia by hiring a local Gender and Human Rights expert who, alongside the Ministry of Mines and Energy, supported the development of the policy and inclusion of key components, such as gender equality and diversity. CANEF also supported the development of a new gender equality policy for the mining sector.

10. Conclusion

The Agreement concerning Annual Reports on Human Rights and Free Trade between Canada and the Republic of Colombia have to date required the parties to provide a summary of actions taken under the CCOFTA and related side agreements and provide an analysis of any impact these actions may have had on human rights in Canada and Colombia.

In this context, this year’s report is unable to demonstrate that such actions taken in the implementation of the CCOFTA (i.e. tariff reductions related to the CCOFTA as well as actions taken under the Labour Cooperation Agreement and the Environment Agreement) have had a direct impact on human rights in Canada or Colombia.

However, the Government of Canada continues to report on other important elements pertaining to human rights in Colombia, including a review of the broader Colombian human rights context and related challenges, Colombia’s peace implementation process, and Canada’s ongoing engagement and programming in Colombia with respect to human rights. Furthermore, and as follow-up to the consultations undertaken in 2019 with a range of domestic stakeholders to discuss future improvements to Canada’s annual reports, potential modifications to the report’s format and methodology remain under review.

Annexes

• Annex 1: Canada’s Merchandise Trade with Colombia, 2001-2017, Can$ million
• Annex 2: Top 10 Annual Average Export Gains from the Duty Free Category, Can$
• Annex 3: Top 10 Annual Average Export Gains from the Sectors with 0.1 - 5.0 percentage Points Tariff Reductions, Can$
• Annex 4: Top 10 Annual Average Export Gains from the Sectors with 5.1-10.0 percentage Points Tariff Reductions, Can$
• Annex 5: Top 10 Annual Average Exports Gains from the Sectors More Than 10.0 percentage Points Tariff Reductions, Can$
• Annex 6: Top 10 Annual Average Export Gains from the Exempt Category, Can$
• Annex 7: Top 10 Annual Average Import Gains from the Duty Free Category, Can$
• Annex 8: Top 10 Annual Average Import Gains from the Sectors with 0.1 - 5.0 percentage Points Tariff Reductions, Can$
• Annex 9: Top 10 Annual Average Import Gains with the Sectors with 5.1-10.0 percentage Point Tariff Reductions, Can$
• Annex 10: Top 10 Annual Average Import Gains from the Sectors with More Than 10 percentage Point Tariff Reductions, Can$
• Annex 11: Actions taken by Canada under the Canada-Colombia Free Trade Implementation Act
• Annex 12: Activities under the Canada-Colombia Labour Cooperation Agreement
• Annex 13: Activities under the Canada-Colombia Environment Agreement
• Annex 14: Canada’s Cooperation Projects with the Pacific Alliance
• Annex 15: Public Call for Submissions
• Annex 16: Canada’s International Assistance Programming

Annex 1: Canada’s Merchandise Trade with Colombia, 2001-2019, Can$ million

Annex 2: Top 10 Annual Average Export Gains from Previously Duty Free Categories, Can$

Annex 3: Top 10 Annual Average Export Gains from the Sectors with 0.1 - 5.0 Percentage Points Tariff Reductions, Can$

Annex 4: Top 10 Annual Average Export Gains from the Sectors with 5.1-10.0 Percentage Points Tariff Reductions, Can$

Annex 5: Top 10 Annual Average Exports Gains from the Sectors More Than 10.0 Percentage Points Tariff Reductions, Can$

Annex 6: Top 3^* Annual Average Export Gains from the Exempt Category, Can$

Annex 7: Top 10 Annual Average Import Gains from the Duty Free Category, Can$

Annex 8: Top 10 Annual Average Import Gains from the Sectors with 0.1 - 5.0 Percentage Points Tariff Reductions, Can$

Annex 9: Top 10 Annual Average Import Gains with the Sectors with 5.1-10.0 Percentage Point Tariff Reductions, Can$

Annex 10: Top 10 Annual Average Import Gains from the Sectors with More Than 10 Percentage Point Tariff Reductions, Can$

Annex 11: Actions taken by Canada under the Canada-Colombia Free Trade Implementation Act

Annex 12: Activities under the Canada-Colombia Labour Cooperation Agreement

This table includes cooperation projects undertaken by Canada with Colombia in 2019.

Annex 13: Activities under the Canada-Colombia Environment Agreement

This table includes a selection of environmental cooperation activities undertaken by Canada with Colombia.

Annex 14: Canada’s Cooperation Projects with the Pacific Alliance

Annex 15: Public Call for Submissions

On February 18, 2020, the following public call for submissions was posted on the websites of 抖淫视频 and the Embassy of Canada to Colombia.

Public Call for Submissions regarding Canada’s Annual Report on Human Rights and Free Trade between Canada and the Republic of Colombia

The Government of Canada is seeking the input of interested parties pursuant to the provisions of the Canada-Colombia Free Trade Agreement Implementation Act (Implementation Act), which entered into force on August 15, 2011.

The Implementation Act includes the Canada-Colombia Free Trade Agreement, the Canada-Colombia Agreement on Labour Cooperation and the Canada-Colombia Environment Agreement.

The Implementation Act requires the Minister for International Trade to "...cause to be laid before each House of Parliament by May 15 of each year or, if that House is not then sitting, on any of the 30 days next thereafter that it is sitting, a report on the operation of this Act during the previous calendar year, containing a general summary of all actions taken under the authority of this Act, and an analysis of the impact of these actions on human rights in Canada and the Republic of Colombia."

Interested parties are invited to provide written submissions to help inform the analysis of the impact of the actions taken under the Implementation Act being developed for the Government of Canada’s 2020 annual report. The 2020 annual report will cover the period from January 1, 2019 to December 31, 2019.

For reasons of confidentiality and security, the submissions and names of contributors to this consultation process will not be released to the public by the Government of Canada.

Contributions can be sent by e-mail, facsimile or mail to:

Consultations - Agreement concerning Annual Reports on Human Rights and Free Trade between Canada and the Republic of Colombia
South America Relations (NLA)
抖淫视频
125 Sussex Drive, Ottawa ON  K1A 0G2
Fax: 613-996-3406
Email: NLA@international.gc.ca

Submissions should be e-mailed, faxed, or postmarked no later than March 13, 2020.

Annex 16: Canada’s International Assistance Programming

The following projects are examples of Canada’s International Assistance Programming in Colombia through which support is provided for human rights.