A/HRC/13/26
Convention on the Rights of Migrant Workers and Members of Their Families have
continued. OHCHR field presences have increasingly engaged in migration-related work
including the promotion of the Convention and other relevant instruments, through training
activities, advocacy, technical advice and other capacity-building initiatives.
F.
Economic, social and cultural rights in the light of the food, energy and
financial crises
29.
Many individuals and communities who faced the food and energy crises in 2008
saw their situation worsen in 2009. The global economic crisis has led to massive job
losses, particularly in the developed world, and the contraction of several areas of the
global economy. Some sectors such as construction, infrastructure and services have been
directly affected, but other areas of production such as small-scale farming and small, often
family-run, enterprises and service providers have also experienced significant difficulties.
Workers who were already vulnerable have seen their capacity to negotiate salaries or
protection mechanisms further reduced. In many countries, this has been compounded by
reductions in public allocations to, and investments in, social services. Despite calls to
ensure social protection for all in times of crises, some Governments have reduced their
budget allocation to these areas while lending large amounts to private financial
institutions.
30.
Throughout 2009, OHCHR actively and systematically engaged in international
discussions and policy debates around the financial and economic crisis. It supported the
Council’s tenth special session on the impact of the global economic and financial crises on
the universal realization and effective enjoyment of human rights, held in February 2009. I
also participated in the General Assembly high-level Conference on the World Financial
and Economic Crisis, held in June 2009.
31.
OHCHR is contributing to several ongoing initiatives of the United Nations System
Chief Executives Board for Coordination, including the initiative on a social protection
floor. It also supported the 2009 Social Forum of the Human Rights Council, and several
special procedures mandate holders who highlighted the impact of the crises on human
rights relevant to their mandates.
32.
With regard to the global food crisis, OHCHR participated in the High Level Task
Force for the Global Food Security Crisis and in February 2009 the Deputy High
Commissioner participated in the World Summit on Food Security stressing the role that
the right to food should play in the global and national solutions to the crisis. In light of the
need to study the effects of the crisis on specific groups, OHCHR has worked to
mainstream the human rights of persons with disabilities into development policies.
G.
Climate change
33.
The adverse effects of climate change impact on economies and ecosystems and
individuals and communities. In the latter context, the impact of climate change is not only
related to environmental factors, but also to policies and measures to protect vulnerable
populations and, accordingly, in their response to the multiple challenges of climate change
adaptation and mitigation, States must give due regard to international human rights norms
and standards.
34.
At its tenth session in March 2009, the Human Rights Council considered the
OHCHR study on the relationship between climate change and human rights
(A/HRC/10/61), and adopted resolution 10/4 on human rights and climate change. As
requested by the Council, OHCHR supported the organization of a panel discussion of the
GE.09-17604
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