UNITED NATIONS A General Assembly Distr. GENERAL A/HRC/4/99 6 March 2007 Original: ENGLISH HUMAN RIGHTS COUNCIL Fourth session Item 2 of the provisional agenda IMPLEMENTATION OF GENERAL ASSEMBLY RESOLUTION 60/251 OF 15 MARCH 2006 ENTITLED “HUMAN RIGHTS COUNCIL” Report of the United Nations High Commissioner on Human Rights on the sectoral consultation entitled “Human rights and the financial sector” 16 February 2007 Summary The present report is submitted in response to resolution 2005/69 of the Commission on Human Rights, which requested the High Commissioner on Human Rights to convene an annual sectoral consultation of senior executives and experts to consider the specific human rights issues faced by business sectors, to raise awareness and share best practice. On 16 February 2007, the High Commissioner convened a consultation on “Human rights and the financial sector”. Representatives of financial institutions from the public and private sector, non-governmental organizations and other experts participated in the consultation. The consultation considered existing initiatives and standards relevant to the financial sector, and examined ways to strengthen protection of human rights in the activities and decision-making of financial institutions. The present report summarizes the presentations and discussions from the consultation. GE.07-11349 (E) 110307