Author: José Luis Gutiérrez Aranda

Trade and Human (Rights) Development

Trade and Human (Rights) Development

Posted by | Jul 27, 2017 | |

 The yearly European Development Days took place at the beginning of June in Brussels. For 2 days, the participants were able to participate in debates that tackled different aspects of the development promoted by the European Union (EU).  It is this understanding about how the EU promotes this economic development, without a sustainable human development concept or any reference to human rights that drew my attention.[1] Just an example: at a round table about the opportunities of Economic Partnership Agreements (EPAS) in Africa there were six participants. There was no-one from civil society committed to human development and no...

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Publication of the WHO Model for the Regulation of Medical Devices

Publication of the WHO Model for the Regulation of Medical Devices

Posted by | Jun 1, 2017 | |

In 1977, WHO, the World Health Organisation, drew up its first list of essential medicines (EML). The EML, adapted in more than 150 WHO Member States, is a landmark for the prioritisation of medicines in the public sector of health systems. Since at least 1988[1], WHO has addressed the serious issue of the quality of medicines and other medical products, such as vaccines, laboratory products and medical devices. In 2002, it began its own drug prequalification program. Prequalification of medicines is a service provided by WHO to evaluate the quality, safety and efficacy of medical products (source-manufacturer). Initially, the...

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Non-Financial Report and Social Corporate Responsibility

Non-Financial Report and Social Corporate Responsibility

Posted by | Jun 1, 2017 | |

Economic globalization has brought important changes in business activities at international level. Many international enterprises have developed their activities and have diversified their business scope due to new economic agreements that have opened companies to new markets. In many cases this diversification has triggered a delocalization of their production centres and, in some sectors, has allowed them to develop their activities in other countries. The globalization has facilitated the implementation of new technologies and companies take advantage of the global market to reduce production costs and optimize their profits. Globalization has brought an increasing concern about the sustainability of...

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UBUNTU: AN AFRICAN CULTURE OF HUMAN SOLIDARITY

UBUNTU: AN AFRICAN CULTURE OF HUMAN SOLIDARITY

Posted by | Jun 1, 2017 | , |

One of the most insightful answers I have found to the question, “What is Ubuntu?”  is contained in a reflection by a South African, Barbara Nussbaum, after the carnage of September 11.  Her poignant literary style enlivens the concept. “Ubuntu”, she says, “is the capacity in African culture to express compassion, reciprocity, dignity, harmony and humanity in the interests of building and maintaining community with justice and mutual caring.”  Ubuntu is not just an African philosophy but a spirituality and an ethic of African traditional life. In his work, No Future Without Forgiveness , Desmond Tutu, describes a person...

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Madagascar: Challenges for an African economy

Madagascar: Challenges for an African economy

Posted by | May 5, 2017 | |

Introduction Madagascar, the forgotten country of Africa, is separated by more than 400 km from the African continent by the channel of Mozambique. Its landscape, the richness of its biodiversity, its ecosystems, its natural riches and the ethnic variety of its inhabitants attract our attention. In addition, the country has more than 4800 km of coastline which favours great fishing potential. With the current negotiation of the fisheries partnership agreement between the EU and Madagascar the income of the country is being put at risk. Although its economy expects to grow by 4% in 2017[1], its nearly 25 million...

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