A/HRC/25/50
I. Introduction
1.
The mandate of the independent expert on the effects of foreign debt and other
related international financial obligations of States on the full enjoyment of all human
rights, particularly economic, social and cultural rights was established pursuant to Human
Rights Council resolution 7/4 of 27 March 2008. By its resolution 16/14, the Council
extended the mandate of the independent expert for a further period of three years. The
present report is submitted in accordance with that resolution. Since this is his last thematic
report to the Council, the independent expert briefly reflects on his tenure from 2008 to
2014.
2.
The independent expert is grateful for the opportunity to work with Member States
towards the realization of human rights for all – a key purpose of the United Nations. He
takes this opportunity to thank the Human Rights Council for its support since his
appointment. Nevertheless, he regrets the lack of support to the mandate by some members
of the Council, notably the European Union and the United States of America. He hopes
that these Member States will review their position and begin to cooperate fully with the
mandate in line with their commitments in terms of General Assembly resolution 60/251.
II. Activities of the mandate
3.
In his first report to the General Assembly (A/63/289, para. 27), the independent
expert undertook to actively engage with all stakeholders – Governments, international
organizations and civil society as spelled out in Human Rights Council resolution 7/4. To
this end, he has consulted a broad range of stakeholders on a number of issues relating to
his mandate, including notably in the process of elaborating the guiding principles on
foreign debt and human rights which were endorsed by the Council in June 2012. He has
also participated in workshops and meetings organized by civil society organizations and
national human rights institutions, as well as contributed to the development of human
rights standards by other special procedures. He takes this opportunity to thank the various
organizations for their unstinting support to the mandate. It is impossible to mention them
all, but he is very grateful in particular to the Asia Pacific Forum on Women, Law and
Development; Center of Concern; Europe Third World Centre (CETIM); Committee for the
Abolition of Third World Debt (CADTM); Jubilee Debt Campaign UK; Jubilee Australia;
Jubilee USA; Jubilee South; European Network on Debt and Development (Eurodad);
African Forum and Network on Debt and Development (AFRODAD); Latin American
Network on Debt and Development (LATINDAD); Norwegian Coalition for Debt
Cancellation (Slett U-Landsgjelda (SLUG)); International Network for Economic, Social
and Cultural Rights (ESCR-Net); German Institute for Human Rights; and the European
Group of National Human Rights Institutions.
4.
Since his appointment in 2008, the independent expert has conducted several studies
and presented his findings and recommendations to the Human Rights Council and the
General Assembly addressing the following issues: the negative impact on human rights of
the non-repatriation of funds of illicit origin in the countries of origin (A/HRC/22/42 and
A/HRC/25/52); the global partnership for development – lessons for the post-2015
development framework (A/68/542); the human rights impact of international debt relief
initiatives (A/HRC/23/37); the impact of sovereign debt and related economic reform
policies, such as austerity measures, on women’s human rights (A/67/304); export credit
agencies and human rights (A/66/271); the need for policy coherence in the areas of
international trade, finance and human rights (A/65/260 and Corr.1); the impact of “vulture
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