Chapter 3 - Report of the Research and Policy Development Group II. POLICY DEVELOPMENT DIVISION Peace, development and human rights are essentially interrelated, inter-dependent and indivisible. Theo van Boven The Division was previously known as the Economic, Social and Cultural Rights Working Group. Its core areas of work involve business and human rights; the right to adequate housing; rights of Indigenous Peoples; and human rights and Islam. 1. BUSINESS AND HUMAN RIGHTS (a) Impact of a Free Trade Agreement (FTA) and Trans-Pacific Partnership Agreement (TPPA) on Human Rights in Malaysia On 3 February, the Commission received a memorandum from the Malaysian Trades Union Congress (MTUC) and Positive Malaysian Treatment Access and Advocacy Group (MTAAG+) regarding the domestic impact of a FTA1 and the TPPA.2 The Commission responded by organising a Roundtable Discussion (RTD) on 22 February with the relevant NGOs, to learn more about their concerns. Several issues were raised in relation to human rights. (i) Access to affordable medicines People living with HIV (PLHIV) were anxious because life-saving medicines may become unaffordable if the Agreements are concluded. The price of patented medicines in Malaysia is already high – up to 1,044% higher than that of generic medicines – thus raising treatment costs for certain ailments. In 2003, when the Government issued a compulsory licence to import generic versions of patented medicines for PLHIV, the effect was an 81% drop in treatment costs per patient per month; as a result, more PLHIV could be treated. 1 2 Malaysia is currently negotiating a FTA with the European Union. This free trade agreement involves nine countries – the US, New Zealand, Australia, Brunei, Chile, Malaysia, Peru, Singapore and Vietnam. 90