A/HRC/7/32
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(para. 11), the draft guiding principles do not identify the entity responsible for punishing those
who discriminate. The only obligation that paragraph 11 explicitly puts on States is to “criticize
and combat stigmatization of the poor and to promote a balanced and fair image of persons who
are in situations of extreme poverty”. The failure to specify that States are responsible for
punishing violations could be interpreted as encouraging vigilantism.
36. The Mouvement contre le Racisme et pour l’Amitié entre les Peuples stated that the
draft guiding principles should call for (or at least make reference to) the establishment of a
claims mechanism on the international level by which a State - as a legal or natural person - is
able to seek legal recourse in order to assert its rights or obtain reparations.
37. Care International suggested that paragraph 12 should also call on States to allocate
resources to public institutions working, for instance, in the education or media sectors in order
to foster the development of an engaged citizenry.
38. The Equal Opportunity Commission suggested that stigmatization based on social and
income status should specifically be denounced.
39. HelpAge International and Sightsavers International suggested specifically naming in
section 1 certain vulnerable groups deserving special measures.
Section 2
C. Indivisibility and interdependence of rights
40. The Government of Italy suggested highlighting the importance of the reference made in
the draft to the concept of indivisibility and interdependence of all human rights.
41. The Human Rights Centre of the University of Padova, Volontari nel
Mondo-FOCSIV and the Associazione ONG Italiane suggested that the first sentence of
paragraph 14 specifically identify the human rights to which the sentence refers and include a
mention of the right to the full enjoyment of global public goods.
42. Light for the World suggested adding in paragraph 14 a reference that all human rights
are “interrelated”, as spelled out in the Vienna Declaration and Programme of Action.
D. Civil and political rights
43. The Government of Belgium considered that paragraph 16 could be fleshed out in more
detail to better address the right described therein, and suggested including in paragraph 18 a
reference to foreigners in regular or irregular situations as being among vulnerable groups.
44. The Government of Costa Rica noted that the expression “street children” is
discriminatory; these children are not the property of the street and their status as minors implies
that States or their trustees have responsibility for their welfare. Thus it was suggested that a
different means of expressing the idea that they are homeless be found. In the Spanish version of
the draft guiding principles, the term “old people” (ancianos) should not be used; it should be
replaced by “elderly people” (personas adultas mayores).
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