Report of the On-line Consultation with Civil Society on the OHCHR Draft Guiding Principles "Extreme Poverty and Human Rights: The Rights of the Poor"

19 October 2007

REPORT OF THE CONSULTATION

From 20 August through 20 September 2007, NGLS in collaboration with NGO partners, conducted an online consultation on the Draft Guiding Principles on Extreme Poverty and Human Rights. These Principles were produced by an expert working group under the former UN Sub Commission on the Promotion and Protection of Human Rights (SCHR) in Geneva and released on 11 September 2006. In response to Human Rights Council Resolution 2/2 “Human Rights and Extreme Poverty”, adopted at its second session on 27 November 2006, the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) conducted a consultation with all stakeholders to get feedback on the draft principles.

This report is a compilation of the comments received from over 60 respondents from around the world, all responding to a set of four questions. In the spirit of the Draft Guiding Principles, this report aims to give voice directly to the respondents themselves, rather than speaking for them.

This report was submitted to the Office of the United Nations High Commissionner for Human Rights (OHCHR). You will be informed on the results of the consultation and the conclusions of OHCHR shortly.

To read the report, click HERE (only available in English)

Background information about the Draft Guiding Principles:

Human Rights Council Resolution 2/2 requested the OHCHR to “circulate the draft guiding principles, in order to obtain the views of States, relevant United Nations agencies, intergovernmental organisations, United Nations treaties bodies, special procedures including the independent expert on the question of human rights and extreme poverty, national human rights institutions, non-governmental organisations, especially those in which people in situations of extreme poverty express their views, and other relevant stakeholders, and to report to the Council at is seventh session.” http://www.ohchr.org/english/issues...

The Draft Guiding Principles on Extreme Poverty and Human Rights were developed over a five year period to formulate rules of action to put an end to extreme poverty and realize human rights for all, including the poorest of the poor. The process started with an expert seminar in 2001, and continued with regional seminars aimed at getting the views of people living in poverty. It culminated in the presentation of the document in late 2006.

It should be noted that the Draft Guiding Principles refer to poverty as a “human condition characterized by sustained or chronic deprivation of resources, capabilities, choices, security and power necessary for the enjoyment of an adequate standard of living and other civil, cultural, economic, political and social rights.”