UN expert on debt and human rights to visit the Bahamas

GENEVA (18 August 2023) – The UN Independent Expert on foreign debt, other financial obligations and human rights, Attiya Waris, will visit the Bahamas from 21 to 31 August 2023.

During her visit, Waris will examine a wide range of issues related to illicit financial flows, fiscal affairs, debt and their implications for human rights, and climate change, including the impact of domestic economic and financial policies on human rights and their extraterritorial consequences.

The UN expert will meet with authorities in charge of taxation, finance, trade, environment justice, human rights and social affairs. She will also meet with civil society and the private sector.

Waris will hold a press conference on 31 August at 14:30 at the PAHO/WHO facilities on the 2nd floor of the Grosvenor Medical Centre Building, Grosvenor Close off Shirley Street. Access will be strictly limited to accredited journalists who have registered in advance. Registration is by email to hrc-ie-foreigndebt@un.org with the subject line: “Press Conference Registration”.

The expert will present her report to the Human Rights Council in March 2024.

ENDS

Ms Attiya Waris (Kenya) took up the function of 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 on 1 August 2021. She holds a PhD in Law and is a specialist in Fiscal Law, Policy and Development. Ms Waris teaches at the Law School, University of Nairobi, Kenya and has previously taught in South Africa, Rwanda, Malaysia and the United Kingdom. Ms Waris has researched and published on global and regional issues. She published 'Tax and Development’ (2013) offering links between tax and human rights and her more recent publication ‘Financing Africa’ is the first publication globally to map out African fiscal systems.

Follow the Independent Expert’s work on Twitter: @IEfinanceHRs

The Independent Experts and Special Rapporteurs are part of what is known as the Special Procedures of the Human Rights Council. Comprising the largest body of independent experts in the UN Human Rights system, Special Procedures 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.