A/HRC/RES/16/14
Emphasizing that the World Conference on Human Rights agreed to call upon the
international community to make all efforts to help to alleviate the external debt burden of
low- and middle-income developing countries in order to supplement the efforts of the
Governments of such countries to attain the full realization of the economic, social and
cultural rights of their people,
Bearing in mind paragraph 6 of General Assembly resolution 60/251 of 15 March
2006,
1.
Welcomes the work and contributions of 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;
2.
Decides to extend the mandate of the independent expert for a period of three
years, and requests the independent expert to pay particular attention to:
(a)
The effects of foreign debt and the policies adopted to address them on the
full enjoyment of all human rights, in particular, economic, social and cultural rights in
developing countries;
(b)
The impact of foreign debt and other related international financial
obligations on the capacity of States to design and implement their policies and
programmes, including national budgets that respond to vital requirements for the
promotion of the realization of social rights;
(c)
Measures taken by Governments, the private sector and international
financial institutions to alleviate such effects in developing countries, especially the poorest
and heavily indebted countries;
(d)
New developments and actions and initiatives being taken by international
financial institutions, other United Nations bodies and intergovernmental and nongovernmental organizations with respect to economic reform policies and human rights;
(e)
Quantification of minimum standards to support the realization of the
Millennium Development Goals;
(f)
Enhancement of consultations with all relevant stakeholders in the fulfilment
of this mandate;
3.
Requests the independent expert to explore further, in his/her analytical
annual report to the Human Rights Council, the interlinkages with trade and other issues,
including HIV/AIDS, when examining 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, and also to contribute, as appropriate, to
the process entrusted with the follow-up to the International Conference on Financing for
Development with a view to bringing the broad scope of his/her mandate to its attention;
4.
Also requests the independent expert to continue to seek the views and
suggestions of States, international organizations, United Nations agencies, funds and
programmes, regional economic commissions, international and regional financial
institutions and non-governmental organizations on the draft general guidelines with a view
to improving them, as appropriate, and to present the updated guidelines to the Human
Rights Council;
5.
Further requests the independent expert to cooperate, in accordance with
his/her mandate, with the Committee on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights, as well as
with the Advisory Committee, special procedures, mechanisms and relevant working
groups of the Human Rights Council related to economic, social and cultural rights and the
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