New Year’s Resolutions for US and Canadian policy in Latin America?

It’s January 11 today, so maybe some New Year’s resolutions have already been broken! But I think that it is early enough in the year that we can propose some  optimistic goals for 2013.

Resolutions for the United States

The following ten New Year’s resolutions for US policy towards Latin America were proposed by Lisa Haugaard, Executive Director of the Latin America Working Group, a partner of MCC in Washington DC:

1. Ban assault weapons
2. Deliver comprehensive immigration reform.
3.  Support peace in Colombia, with justice.
4.  Try this on for size: a rational policy towards Cuba. 
5.  End the militarized approach to drugs
6. Focus on aid that helps people, not guns and military aid.
7.  Speak up for human rights [in countries like Mexico and Colombia].
8. Decisively support human rights in Honduras.
9.  Support the Inter-American human rights system.
10.  Finally, clean up our own act [in terms of respect for human rights].

 You can read the full blog here.  http://www.huffingtonpost.com/lisa-haugaard/latin-america-united-states-relations_b_2409247.html

Resolutions for Canada

I think that Canadian government policy towards Latin America could use some New Year’s resolutions for 2013 as well. So I have used Lisa’s blog as a starting point (Thanks Lisa!), and adapted it for Canada:

1. Support the Arms Trade Treaty at the UN – While Canada does not have the volume of direct weapons sales across a common border like the US and Mexico, Canada does sell weapons to Latin America (see http://ploughshares.ca/ for more information). Canada needs to support passing of a strong ATT at the UN this year.
2. Improve the migrant worker program and refugee programs – The Canadian immigration and refugee policy could also use some improvements. Temporary foreign worker programs could do a better job of protecting the rights and working conditions of workers, and the Canadian refugee program could be strengthened, particularly for Colombian refugees.
3. Support peace and justice in Colombia – The Canada-Colombia Free Trade Agreement  begun in 2010 includes a Human Rights monitoring clause. Canada could take this seriously and monitor the impact of trade on human rights in the country.
4. Reduce conflicts related to Canadian Mining Companies in Latin America There are currently conflicts associated with about half of the 200 Canadian-owned mines in operation in Latin America. The Canadian government could implement policies that ensure respect for the rights of communities and the environment in the places where Canadian mining companies are operating and establish formal mechanisms for hearing complaints from communities affected by these operations. (See http://pulitzercenter.org/reporting/latin-america-mining-conflicts-interactive-map-the-new-conquistadors-cbc).
5. End the militarized approach to drugs – This is the same as for the US. Although Canada is a bit removed from the direct “war on drugs,” Canada has it’s share of consumers providing a profitable market for illegal drugs. (See UN 2012 report on drug use trends http://www.unodc.org/documents/data-and-analysis/WDR2012/WDR_2012_Chapter1.pdf)
6. Focus on aid that helps people, not guns and military aid – The same for Canada as for the US.
7. Speak up for human rights in all countries – Same.
8. Decisively support human rights in Honduras – Same.
   
9. Support the Inter-America Human Rights System – Same.
10. Finally, clean up our own act – As for the US, Canada’s voice for human rights would be stronger if it ensures respect for human rights in its own activities, particularly in its relationship with the Aboriginal people of Canada, and in the conduct of Canadian Forces internationally.

Can you think of any others you would like to add? I’d be interested to hear your ideas!