A/HRC/17/24 reconstruction, with a view to assessing housing reconstruction strategies in countries affected by disasters or conflicts in the last 10 to 15 years. 51. The Independent Expert on the issue of human rights obligations related to access to safe drinking water and sanitation presented a statement to the General Assembly in October 2010 on how the rights to water and sanitation can contribute to achieving the MDGs. The Independent Expert’s thematic report to the Human Rights Council in June 2010 focused on the issue of non-State service provision of water and sanitation in an attempt to address the heated debate in water and sanitation circles concerning the involvement of the private sector in the provision of these basic services, and the resulting impact on human rights. The report offered an analysis of the reality of water and sanitation service provision, developing on States’ obligations, as well as of the responsibilities of the private sector. 52. In her first report to the Human Rights Council, the Independent Expert in the field of cultural rights developed her preliminary views on the conceptual and legal framework of her mandate and developed her initial thoughts on the interaction of the principle of universality of human rights, recognition and implementation of cultural rights, and the need to respect cultural diversity. The Independent Expert also selected a list of priority themes for her work programme, including the issue of cultural rights, globalization of exchanges and information, and development processes, as well as participation, access and contribution to cultural life without discrimination. 53. 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 submitted a report to the fourteenth session of the Human Rights Council in April 2010 on vulture funds and human rights. Prior to the publication of the report, the Independent Expert issued a press statement in which he expressed regret that a British court had ordered Liberia to pay its debt from 1978 to a vulture fund. Civil society organizations in the United Kingdom referenced the statement in their advocacy work to urge the United Kingdom Parliament to pass the Debt Relief (Developing Countries) Act, which prohibits profiteering by vulture funds. The Independent Expert also submitted a report to the sixty-fifth session of the General Assembly on international trade, debt and human rights, which cautions against the current approach to trade and debt by the World Trade Organization and the Bretton Woods institutions, as it does not take into account their human rights obligations, and may undermine human development in development countries. 54. The Special Rapporteur on the right to food submitted a report to the sixty-fifth session of the General Assembly in April 2010 on access to land and the right to food, in which he explored the threats posed by the increasing pressures on land, with focus on indigenous peoples, smallholders and special groups, such as herders, pastoralists and fisher folk. This report, as well as his report to the thirteenth session of the Human Rights Council entitled, “Large-scale land acquisitions and leases: a set of minimum principles and measures to address the human rights challenge”, respond to emerging concern over land issues and provide guidance from the right to food perspective. 55. The Special Rapporteur on the right of everyone to the enjoyment of the highest attainable standard of physical and mental health submitted a report to the sixty–fifth session of the General Assembly in April 2010 on drug control and the right to health, which questioned the current international drug control efforts that have focused on creating a drug-free world through, almost exclusively, law enforcement and criminal sanctions. The Special Rapporteur suggested that approaches that reduce harm associated with drug use and the decriminalization of certain laws would improve the health and welfare of people who use drugs and benefit society. He also submitted a report to the fourteenth session of the Human Rights Council, focusing on the right to health and 14

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