Implementation mechanisms of the human rights clause : the cases of Ethiopia, Tunisia and Vietnam

This briefing considers how the monitoring and enforcement of human rights clauses in the European Union's (EU) agreements have evolved to promote human rights compliance. A series of recommendations will be presented with a focus on the themes of consultation, monitoring, and enforcement. Consultative mechanisms have been a core feature of EU agreements and this briefing identifies interventions that will strengthen existing practices and facilitate more opportunities for transparent reporting and monitoring. This briefing outlines the importance of setting human rights benchmarks as part of the impact assessment process and proposes the creation of a new and independent complaints mechanism to manage alleged human rights abuses. Furthermore, this briefing evaluates the extent to which the creation of a binding enforcement mechanism and the use of human rights sanctions regulation may incentivise higher levels of compliance notwithstanding the political and economic sensitivities that must be considered when adopting these models of enforcement.