A/HRC/7/9 page 11 these differences through a more holistic but strategic approach aimed at ensuring that appropriate fiscal space for the realization of human rights can be maintained over both the short and the long term. 37. In order to bring such a discussion forward, the Council may wish to consider refocusing the mandate on the same sphere of the impact of economic management on human rights. The experience gained to date shows that combining two distinct thematic focuses into one mandate has created ambiguity as to the area of intervention and has, in turn, led to a necessarily general approach to a variety of implicit aspects of the mandate. One possible way forward, which would be in line with the directions suggested by the draft general guidelines, therefore, could be to redefine the mandate in terms of human rights and public finance. 38. Such an approach would also allow a more structured view of debt-related issues as a part of the mandate. Work on the draft guidelines has shown that the impact of the foreign debt burden on the ability of States to comply with human rights obligations cannot be separated from other aspects of public finance. The impact of foreign debt, therefore, can continue to be addressed as part of this renewed but more focused mandate, which would look at public expenditure management through the lense of human rights principles. 39. The independent expert appointed by the Council would, therefore, be expected to possess great expertise in fiscal policies and aid programming, in addition to essential knowledge of international human rights norms and principles. He or she would thus be properly equipped to investigate the potential for improving public finance mechanisms and poverty reduction strategies at the country level. In particular, the expert could further review, revise and develop the draft general guidelines elaborated to date. In doing so, the new mandate-holder would, moreover, be expected to advise stakeholders by facilitating practical discussions on the tools which allow human rights-based decision-making, including: (a) Human rights impact assessments; (b) Quantification of minimum standards and identification of core contents beyond the Millennium Development Goals; (c) Human rights-based budgeting; (d) Social safety net programming as a means to mitigate the negative impact of reforms and privatization; (e) Government revenue and human rights (e.g. taxation, service fees, grant/loan proportion); (f) Enhanced accountability of international financial institutions by means of safeguarding provisions, or investigation mechanisms linked with advisory and lending decisions; (g) Participation of and consultation with stakeholders.