A/HRC/32/43 II. Western European and other States region, and Eastern European region 11. On 20 and 21 April 2015, the regional consultation with representatives of Western European and other States, as well as Eastern European States, was convened by the Independent Expert in Geneva. The consultation was attended by 19 participants, among them representatives of six States, and the European Union, and experts from the United Nations treaty body system and from the Human Rights Council special procedure mechanisms. Representatives of OHCHR, members of civil society, including academia, and representatives of non-governmental organizations were also present. 12. Opening remarks were delivered by the Chief of the OHCHR Development and Economic and Social Issues Branch, who stressed that international solidarity was a crucial principle in addressing current global issues and tragedies. He stated that the time had come for a serious discussion on international solidarity and human rights, based on existing provisions of international human rights law. He reaffirmed the commitment of OHCHR to supporting that initiative and advancing international solidarity for the realization of all human rights—civil, political, economic, social and cultural, including the right to development. A. Panel presentations and discussion on human rights and international solidarity 13. The presentations addressed issues relating to the foundations of international solidarity in existing international law; the extraterritorial application of human rights law to the issue of international solidarity; the rights and obligations arising from international solidarity; and international solidarity in the light of the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights. 14. During the presentations, it was reiterated that international solidarity was not limited to international assistance and cooperation, charity and humanitarian assistance. To illustrate the principle of international solidarity and its legal basis, details of various articles from international human rights treaties and relevant United Nations declarations and resolutions were extensively cited. The Maastricht Principles on Extraterritorial Obligations of States in the Area of Economic, Social and Cultural Rights were discussed to explain the potential and limitations of human rights law as it related to the extraterritorial obligations of States. Human rights law relating to international cooperation to combat poverty was identified as the area in which the extraterritorial obligation of the State to provide assistance to enable the realization of economic social and cultural rights could be established. Although a declaration on a right to international solidarity could be built around the existing framework of the law on cooperation that governed the relationship between States and the United Nations, framing it as a right remained challenging. It was stressed that, in order to promote the implementation of solidarity-based cooperation, due attention should be given to the principle of sovereignty. The jurisprudence of the Committee on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights was highlighted in relation to international cooperation as a duty of States. The Committee had constantly reiterated that international cooperation assistance had to be implemented within the framework of the systematic application of the core human rights principles. 15. After the panel presentations and discussion, participants were divided into groups to enable more in-depth discussions and to ensure active participation by all. The groups discussed integrating human rights in international cooperation and the role of international solidarity in the exercise and fulfilment of human rights. 5