Human Rights Responses to the Global Economic Crisis

Subtitle: 
Side event at the 13th session of the Human Rights Council
Start Date: 
Thursday, March 4, 2010 - 00:00
End Date: 
Thursday, March 4, 2010 - 00:00
Organizer: 
CESR, NGLS and ESCR-Net
Location: 

Palais des Nations-Room XXIII, Geneva

  Human Rights Responses to the Global Economic Crisis

Side event at the 13th session of the Human Rights Council

 How can human rights obligations influence responses to the financial and economic crisis?

What role should the Human Rights Council play in the follow-up of the UN Conference on the World Financial and Economic Crisis and its Impact on Development through its commitment to contribute to the work of the Open-Ended Working Group of the UN General Assembly?

This side-event, co-organized by the UN Non-Governmental Liaison Service (NGLS), the Center for Economic and Social Rights (CESR) and ESCR-Net, will reflect on the implications of the "duty to protect" and the "duty to fulfil" international human rights obligations, including economic and social rights such as those related to full employment and decent work for all.

What do these duties imply in terms of reforming the international financial architecture and realigning macroeconomic policies in light of the most dramatic economic and financial crisis since the Great Depression?

Panelists include:

Richard Kozul-Wright, United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD)

Irene Khan, Former Secretary General, Amnesty International, Board member, CESR)

João Ernesto Christófolo, Permanent Mission of Brazil to the United Nations

Sally-Anne Way, Research Director, Center for Economic and Social Rights (CESR)

Chair: Hamish Jenkins, United Nations, Non-Governmental Liaison Service (NGLS)