A/HRC/RES/23/11
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,
Stressing the determination expressed in the United Nations Millennium Declaration
to deal comprehensively and effectively with the debt problems of low- and middle-income
developing countries through various national and international measures designed to make
their debt sustainable in the long term,
Noting with concern that the total external debt of emerging and developing
economies rose from 2,678.4 billion United States dollars in 2003 to 5,414.6 billion dollars
in 2010 and was projected to rise to 6,446.3 billion dollars in 2012, and that debt service
payments rose from 795.2 billion dollars in 2003 to 1,743.7 billion dollars in 2010, and
were projected to rise to 2,010.8 billion and 2,265.5 billion in 2011 and 2012 respectively,
Mindful of the role, mandate and activities of other United Nations agencies, funds
and programmes in dealing with the issues of foreign debt and international financial
obligations,
Acknowledging that there is greater acceptance that the increasing debt burden faced
by the most indebted developing countries, in particular the least developed countries, is
unsustainable and constitutes one of the principal obstacles to achieving progress in peoplecentred sustainable development and poverty eradication and that, for many developing
countries and countries with economies in transition, excessive debt servicing has severely
constrained their capacity to promote social development and to provide basic services to
create the conditions for the realization of economic, social and cultural rights,
Expressing its concern that, despite repeated rescheduling of debt, developing
countries continue to pay out more each year than the actual amount they receive in official
development assistance,
Affirming that debt burden further complicates the numerous problems facing
developing countries, contributes to extreme poverty and is an obstacle to sustainable
human development, and is thus a serious impediment to the realization of all human rights,
1.
Welcomes the report 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,1 as well as his work and
contributions;
2.
Recalls the endorsement of the Human Rights Council, in its resolution 20/10
of 5 July 2012, of the guiding principles on foreign debt and human rights;2
3.
Reiterates its encouragement to all Governments, relevant United Nations
agencies, funds and programmes and the private sector to take into consideration the
guiding principles when designing policies and programmes;
4.
Also reiterates its request to the Independent Expert to develop a
commentary to the guiding principles by inviting comments from States, international
financial institutions, regional economic commissions, civil society organizations, the
private sector and academia;
5.
Recalls that every State has the primary responsibility to promote the
economic, social and cultural development of its people and, to that end, has the right and
1
2
2
A/HRC/23/37.
A/HRC/20/23, annex.