UN Expert on human rights and foreign debt visits Ukraine

Ukranian version

GENEVA/KYIV (10 May 2018) – United Nations Independent Expert on foreign debt, other financial obligations and human rights, Juan Pablo Bohoslavsky, will conduct an official visit to Ukraine from 14 to 23 May 2018.

During his 10-day visit, Bohoslavsky will be examining efforts undertaken in the country to tackle corruption and to address debt and fiscal issues, from a human rights perspective. The Independent Expert is coming to Ukraine at the invitation of the Government.

“I look forward to engaging with Ukrainian authorities, civil society and the international community. My mission aims at examining how the country has taken on board various international human rights standards in its economic policies. I am especially interested to see what policies, programmes and decisions have either helped or hampered the realisation of human rights,” he said.

The Independent Expert monitors, reports and advises on the realisation of all human rights as they are linked to and impacted by foreign debt and related international financial obligations. He endeavours to identify best practices, obstacles and challenges. His work is guided by international human rights law and standards.

The Independent Expert will hold a news conference on 23 May 2018 at 10 am to share his preliminary findings and recommendations. It will take place at the Ukraine Crisis Media Center, Khreshchatyk Street, 2 (Ukrainian house), Kyiv. Access to the press conference is strictly limited to journalists.

The Independent Expert will submit a comprehensive report to the UN Human Rights Council in March 2019.

ENDS

Juan Pablo Bohoslavsky (Argentina) was appointed as Independent Expert on the effects of foreign debt and human rights by the United Nations Human Rights Council on 8 May 2014. He has previously worked as a Sovereign Debt Expert for the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD) where he coordinated an Expert Group on Responsible Sovereign Lending and Borrowing. He is independent of any government or organization and serves in his individual capacity. 

The Special Rapporteurs are part of what is known as the Special Procedures of the Human Rights Council. Special Procedures, the largest body of independent experts in the UN Human Rights system, is the general name of the Council’s independent fact-finding and monitoring mechanisms that address either specific country situations or thematic issues in all parts of the world. Special Procedures’ experts work on a voluntary basis; they are not UN staff and do not receive a salary for their work. They are independent from any government or organization and serve in their individual capacity.

Follow the Independent Expert’s work on twitter at: @IEfinanceHRs

For more information and media requests, please contact:
In Kyiv (during the visit):
Juana Sotomayor, Human Rights officer, Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights/SPB (+41 79 444 4355 / jsotomayor@ohchr.org) or write to ieforeigndebt@ohchr.org

Iryna Yakovlieva, Human Rights Officer/Communications focal point, the UN Human Rights Monitoring Mission in Ukraine (+38050 386 80 69; iyakovlieva@ohchr.org) 

In Geneva (before and after the visit):
Juana Sotomayor (+41 22 917 9445 / jsotomayor@ohchr.org) or write to: ieforeigndebt@ohchr.org

For media inquiries related to other UN independent experts please contact
Jeremy Laurence, UN Human Rights – Media Unit (+41 22 917 9383 / jlaurence@ohchr.org)

This year, 2018, is the 70th anniversaryof the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, adopted by the UN on 10 December 1948. The Universal Declaration – translated into a world record 500 languages – is rooted in the principle that “all human beings are born free and equal in dignity and rights.” It remains relevant to everyone, every day. In honour of the 70th anniversary of this extraordinarily influential document, and to prevent its vital principles from being eroded, we are urging people everywhere to Stand Upfor Human Rights: www.standup4humanrights.org.

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