A/HRC/20/23 continue to work on the guidelines, including by seeking “the views and suggestions of States, international organizations, United Nations agencies, funds and programmes [and] regional economic commissions”. In its decision 12/119, the Council requested OHCHR to assist the Independent Expert in the organization and holding of regional consultations on the guidelines. 12. With the support of OHCHR, the Independent Expert held four regional consultations between June 2010 and June 2011 (Latin America and the Caribbean in June 2010; Africa in November 2010; Asia Pacific in February 2011; and Western Europe and other groups in June 2011).19 These consultations, which brought together government representatives, members of parliament, regional economic commissions, international financial institutions, civil society organizations, individual experts and other stakeholders, generated ideas, based on regional experiences and perspectives, on how best the guidelines could assist States in complying with their human rights obligations while fulfilling their obligations under their debt arrangements. 13. In November 2011, the Independent Expert convened an expert meeting to review a new draft that he had prepared based on the insights from the regional consultations. In February 2012, he convened a public consultation in Geneva on the updated text of the guiding principles that had been prepared following the aforementioned expert meeting. Several States and civil society organizations participated in this consultation. The text of the principles was also placed on the Independent Expert’s web page together with an invitation for public comments. Several stakeholders, including States, international financial institutions, regional economic commissions, civil society organizations and individuals provided written comments on the new draft. 20 14. The final text of the guiding principles now before the Council is the outcome of the broad and inclusive process of consultation outlined above. The Independent Expert acknowledges the invaluable contributions of the broad range of stakeholders in contributing to the articulation of a universally applicable framework on foreign debt and human rights that is designed to ensure that the obligations assumed by States under debt and other international financial arrangements do not undermine their capacity to create the conditions for the realization of all human rights, particularly economic, social and cultural rights and the right to development. III. Overview of the principles 15. In line with the views that emerged from the regional consultations and in keeping with the standards developed by other special procedures mandate holders, the Independent Expert has proposed that the guidelines be renamed “guiding principles on foreign debt and human rights.” 16. The text of the principles has an introduction and three main sections. The introduction draws attention to the adverse impact of excessive debt burdens on human rights and development and highlights the need to strike an appropriate balance between the obligations of States arising from their external debt arrangements and under international human rights law. Section I outlines the scope and purpose of the principles; section II 19 20 The Independent Expert submitted a report on the first three regional consultations to the Human Rights Council in April 2011 (A/HRC/17/37). The United Nations Secretariat was not able to provide full translation of the comments received in other languages. Consequently, the Independent Expert had to rely on informal translations provided by OHCHR staff and he cannot guarantee his full knowledge of their precise content. 7