A/HRC/17/37 VI. Recurring themes 91. There were a number of recurring themes in the consultations. First, there was general support for the work of the mandate and consensus on the need for the guidelines. 92. Second, participants agreed on the need for the guidelines to be anchored in a rightsbased framework and, in particular, to enshrine key human rights principles such as the primacy of human rights, equality and non-discrimination, accountability, participation and non-retrogression, as well as the principle of the shared responsibility of creditors and debtors as underscored in the Monterrey Consensus. Additionally, the guidelines should foster effective implementation and compliance with binding international human rights standards. 93. Third, participants noted that human rights impact assessments are a critical part of due diligence to ensure respect for human rights and should be included in the guidelines. 94. Fourth, participants expressed concern regarding the voluntary character of the guidelines and noted the challenges of enforcing voluntary standards. Nevertheless, most participants felt that anchoring the guidelines in existing human rights obligations would enhance their influence. 95. Fifth, participants underscored the oversight role of parliament and civil society in relation to loan contraction and debt management and articulated the need for robust legal national frameworks to ensure, in particular, an effective role for parliament. 96. Sixth, participants called for measures preventing the sale of sovereign debts to third parties to be included in the guidelines. 97. Seventh, there was agreement that incoherence in debt and trade policies, both at the national and international levels, undermined efforts to find a durable solution to the debt crisis as well as debt relief efforts. 98. Eighth, the guidelines should provide guidance to all actors involved in the formulation, implementation and monitoring of national and international policies on debt and related financial obligations. 99. Ninth, there was broad consensus on the need for an independent and transparent international sovereign debt resolution or restructuring mechanism and for the guidelines to contain provisions in this regard. 100. Finally, the value of public debt audits as an accountability mechanism was acknowledged and it was proposed that the guidelines should include provisions for audits. VII. Next steps 101. The last regional consultation is scheduled to be held in Geneva on 20 and 21 June 2011. 102. A final seminar of a core group of expert stakeholders will be held in September 2011 in Geneva to discuss a revised version of the guidelines and the operationalization of the guidelines. 103. In view of the proposals from two of the regional consultations for expert workshops to elucidate certain elements of the guidelines, particularly those relating to a new debt sustainability framework and human rights impact assessments, the Independent Expert also hopes, resources permitting, to convene at least two expert consultations on these issues. The Independent Expert calls upon States, international and regional organizations, 17

Select target paragraph3

Connect to a paragraph
Connect to an entity
Disable highlights
Add to table of contents