The elusive human security of the Colombia-Canada Free Trade Agreement. Mining in the municipality of Buriticá, Antioquia.

Abstract

This article provides some evaluation elements for the Colombia-Canada’s

Free Trade Agreement (FTA), based on the study of the implementation of mining in the municipality of Buriticá, department of Antioquia, where the Continental Gold company is exploiting one of Colombia’s most important gold mines. It focuses on the FTA’s central feature, which requires companies to generate wealth while promoting human security. Accordigly, the Colombia-Canada’s FTA explicitly includes a chapter on human rights, something very uncommon in the content of free trade agreements. The article draws on the theory of the State in action and the methodological perspective of public policy analysis. Although the research methodology combined quantitative and qualitative techniques, the main technique

applied was a survey. Research outcomes pave the way to debate FTA central thesis’ feasibility, particularly because its implementation in mining extractive projects generates conflicts in which the company is involved and the State is questioned in its role of protecting, and enforcing human rights.