Report on the effects of foreign debt and other related international financial obligations of State submitted by the Independent Expert on foreign debt and human rights on his mission to the institutions of the EU (A/HRC/34/57/Add.1)

Author: Juan Pablo Bohoslavsky
Regions: Europe
Year: 2016
Language: Arabic, Chinese, English, French, Russian, Spanish
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The Secretariat has the honour to transmit to the Human Rights Council 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, Juan Pablo Bohoslavsky, on his visit to institutions of the European Union from to 30 May to 3 June 2016.

In his report, the Independent Expert discusses the response of the European Union and its institutions to the sovereign debt crisis from a human rights perspective, providing an overview of the institutional and policy framework of the European Union to ensure debt sustainability and fiscal stability. He argues that human rights obligations binding on European Union member States also need to be respected by institutions of the Union in responding to debt crises in its member States. The Independent Expert highlights human rights concerns that have been brought to his attention in the context of austerity measures and economic adjustment programmes and calls for increased efforts to protect persons with disabilities, children, older persons, women, migrants and refugees. He concludes with a set of recommendations on how to avoid, prevent and mitigate adverse human rights impacts of economic reform policies.

Link to the report (Arabic, Chinese, English, French, Russian and Spanish).

Social Protection and Human Rights