Latest Activities - Special Rapporteur on extreme poverty and human rights
On 7 May 2012, the Special Rapporteur on extreme poverty and human rights, Ms. Magdalena Sepulveda, participated in a webinar on "International initiative to promote women's rights to social security and protection", organized by the University of Ottawa Human Rights Research and Education Centre. More information at: http://www.cdp-hrc.uottawa.ca/?p=4575
3-4 May 2012 - the Special Rapporteur on extreme poverty and human rights, Ms. MagdalenaSepúlveda, participated in a Workshop on “Litigating Transnational Human Rights Obligations”, at the European Inter-University Centre for Human Rights and Democratisation, in Venice, Italy. The workshop is one of several activities undertaken under the Research Networking Programme: Beyond Territoriality – Globalisation and Transnational Human Rights Obligations (GLOTHRO).
20-21 April 2012 - The Special Rapporteur on extreme poverty and human rights, Magdalena Sepúlveda, attended the Congress for Equal Access to Reproductive Health in Buenos Aires, part of the celebrations for the 35th anniversary of the Madres de la Plaza de Mayo, where she led a workshop on the criminalization of poverty in the context of health services. More information at http://www.abortoseguro.com.ar.
11 April 2012 - The Special Rapporteur on extreme poverty and human rights, Magdalena Sepúlveda, contributed to the consultation of the High Level Panel of Experts on Food Security and Nutrition, for the draft report 'Social Protection for Food Security'. The contribution can be found on the Global Forum on Food Security and Nutrition here
29 & 30 March 2012 - The Special Rapporteur on extreme poverty and human rights, Ms. Magdalena Sepúlveda, participated in a meeting on ‘The ILO’s Social Protection Floor – lobbying for a strong recommendation’. During the meeting, which was jointly organized and convened by the mandate and the Friedrich Ebert Stiftung Geneva office, she led an interactive debate on a rights-based approach to social protection measures.
16 March 2012 - The Special Rapporteur on extreme poverty and human rights, Magdalena Sepúlveda, participated in an international conference on “Regional Human Rights Systems: Tools for Social Justice?” organized by the Netherlands Institute of Human Rights at Utrecht University, the Netherlands. The conference focused on a critical assessment of the impact of human rights mechanisms in the various regional contexts.
1 to 2 March 2012 - The Special Rapporteur on extreme poverty and human rights, Ms. Magdalena Sepúlveda, participated in a workshop at the Oxford Institute of Social Policy on “Global Perspectives on the Experience of Poverty”. The workshop, co-organized by the UK Economic and Social Research Council and UKAID, brought together government officials, human rights and development experts and practitioners, journalists and academic experts to discuss comparative perspectives on experiences of poverty.
21 February 2012 - The Special Rapporteur on extreme poverty and human rights, Ms. Magdalena Sepúlveda, met with a group of Irish graduate students from the National University of Ireland, Maynooth, who were visiting the United Nations organizations in Geneva. The Special Rapporteur discussed with the students the report (A/HRC/17/34/Add.2) on her mission to Ireland, conducted in January 2011, and the subsequent follow up on the implementation of her recommendations.
26 January 2012 - The Special Rapporteur on extreme poverty and human rights, Ms. Magdalena Sepúlveda, participated in the colloquium "Extreme Poverty is Violence - Breaking the Silence - Searching for Peace", in Paris. The colloquium, organized by the International Movement ATD Fourth World and UNESCO, brought together academic experts, UN agencies, journalists and civil society activists in a discussion on the various aspects of violence faced by people living in chronic poverty.
7 November 2011 - The Special Rapporteur on extreme poverty and human rights, Ms. Magdalena Sepúlveda, presented a video statement at the XI International Human Rights Colloquium, on “Implementation of Regional and International Human Rights Decisions and Recommendations”, organized by CONECTAS in São Paulo, Brazil. Ms. Sepúlveda’s statement focused on the topic of Follow up on UN Special Procedures recommendations.
4 November 2011 - The Special Rapporteur on extreme poverty and human rights, Ms. Magdalena Sepúlveda, presented a video statement at the ”National Forum on Street population” (Foro Nacional Poblaciones Callejeras), organised by the National Human Rights Commission of Mexico City (Comision Nacional de Derechos Humanos del Distrito Federal) held in Jalisco, Mexico.
2 to 3 November 2011 - The Special Rapporteur on extreme poverty and human rights, Ms. Magdalena Sepúlveda, participated in an expert consultation meeting: “The Millennium Development Goals: Who’s Accountable?”, in Geneva. The consultation, organized by the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights and the Center for Economic and Social Rights, focused on human rights accountability principles and mechanisms relevant to the MDGs.
28 October 2011 - - The Special Rapporteur on extreme poverty and human rights, Ms. Magdalena Sepúlveda, participated in a discussion on the “Human Rights Approach to Poverty Reduction”, co-hosted by the World Bank and the Nordic Trust Fund on Human Rights, in Washington DC. The Special Rapporteur discussed the parallels between the mandate on extreme poverty and human rights and the work of the World Bank.
27 October 2011 - The Special Rapporteur on extreme poverty and human rights, Ms. Magdalena Sepúlveda, participated in a brainstorming session on “Access to Justice by People Living in Poverty” hosted in New York by the Columbia Law School Human Rights Institute and the National Law Center for Homelessness and Poverty. The meeting brought together a small group of practitioners from civil society, academia and the private sector, to seek their views on the primary obstacles which prevent people living in poverty from accessing justice.
26 October 2011 - The Special Rapporteur on extreme poverty and human rights, Ms. Magdalena Sepúlveda, co-hosted a strategy session on issues related to a human rights centered approach to recovery from the global economic and financial crises, together with the Center for Women’s Global Leadership, the International Network for Economic, Social and Cultural Rights (ESCR-Net) and the Center for Economic and Social Rights (CESR). The session, held in New York, bring together a small group of experts from civil society, UN agencies and academia to discuss opportunities for collaboration around the human rights-centered approach to recovery and austerity. The session also aimed to take stock of the report submitted by the Special Rapporteur to the Human Rights Council in June 2011, which set out parameters of a human rights-centered approach to recovery from the crises, with a particular focus on the most vulnerable and marginalized groups (A/HRC/17/34)
25 October 2011- The Special Rapporteur on extreme poverty and human rights, Ms. Magdalena Sepúlveda, together with the Permanent Mission of Peru, ATD Fourth World, the International Council on Human Rights Policy and the NGO Sub-Committee for the Eradication of Poverty, convened a side event on the margins of the 66th session of the General Assembly, in New York. The side event, “Punishing the Poor”, brought together representatives of governments, civil society and donors to discuss the role and impact of penalisation measures affecting people living in poverty and the means to address them.
25 October 2011 - The Special Rapporteur on extreme poverty and human rights, Ms. Magdalena Sepúlveda, presented her annual report to the General Assembly, on the penalization of people living in poverty. The report analyses State laws, regulations and practices that punish, segregate, control and undermine the autonomy of persons living in poverty (A/66/265)
29-30 September 2011 - The Special Rapporteur on extreme poverty and human rights, Ms. Magdalena Sepúlveda Carmona, participated in the sixth seminar on “Conditional Cash Transfer Programmes”, organized by UN-ECLAC, OHCHR and FAO in Santiago, Chile. In her statement, “Conditional Cash Transfers – Analysis and recommendations for consolidating a human rights based approach”, Ms. Sepúlveda stressed, that when designed and implemented from a human rights perspective, conditional cash transfers can promote social inclusion and increase the effective participation of persons living in poverty in the decision making process.
26-28 September 2011 - The Special Rapporteur on extreme poverty and human rights, Ms. Magdalena Sepúlveda Carmona participated in an expert meeting on the Extraterritorial Application of Economic, Social and Cultural Rights, hosted by the Maastricht Centre for Human Rights and the International Commission of Jurists, in Maastricht, Netherlands. The aim of the meeting was to discuss and adopt a set of normative Principles on the extraterritorial application of human rights treaties in the area of social, economic and cultural rights, which will guide the conduct of states and international organizations.
22 September 2011 - The Special Rapporteur on extreme poverty and human rights, Ms. Magdalena Sepúlveda Carmona, participated in the seminar “Women, Corruption and Capital Flight”, in Oslo. The seminar, organized by Publish What You Pay and JURK§, brought together government officials, legal institutions, journalists, regulators and civil society organizations, to discuss financial transparency and accountability issues related to women’s access to justice.
29 August 2011 - The Special Rapporteur on extreme poverty and human rights, Ms. Magdalena Sepulveda Carmona, met with Mexican civil society organisations to discuss ways to further implement the recommendations of the mandate in Mexico. The meeting was convened by the Human Rights Commission of Mexico City (Comision de Derechos Humanos del Distrito Federal).
3 August 2011 - The Special Rapporteur on extreme poverty and human rights, Ms. Magdalena Sepúlveda, participated as a panelist, via video-conference, in the second working session of the open-ended working group on ageing for the purpose of strengthening the protection of the human rights of older persons, which took place in New York 01-04 August. The Special Rapporteur participated in the panel on the topic of “Social protection and older persons” and her statement focused on the “protection gap” impeding the full realization of the right of older persons to social security. The statement is available here.
22-23 June 2011 - The Special Rapporteur on extreme poverty and human rights, Ms. Magdalena Sepúlveda Carmona, participated in a consultation organized by OHCHR on the “Report (A/HRC/15/41) of the Independent Expert on the question of human rights and extreme poverty on the draft guiding principles on extreme poverty and human rights”. The purpose of the consultation was to seek the views, comments and suggestions from States and other stakeholders on the above mentioned report. The consultation will result in a report by OHCHR to be submitted to the Human Rights Council, no later than its nineteenth session. On the basis on the OHCHR’s report, the Special Rapporteur on extreme poverty and human rights will pursue further work on the draft guiding principles on extreme poverty and human rights with a view to submitting a final draft of the revised guiding principles to the Council at its twenty-fifth session, in order to allow the Council to take decision on the way forward, with a view to the adoption by 2012 of the guiding principles on the rights of persons living in extreme poverty.
20-21 June 2011 - The Special Rapporteur on extreme poverty and human rights, Ms. Magdalena Sepulveda, attended an expert group meeting on "Poverty Eradication" convened by the Department of Economic and Social Affairs and International Labour Organization, in Geneva. The Special Rapporteur participated in a panel discussion on "Global crises and poverty" in which she delivered the presentation "Towards a human rights approach to recovery from the global economic crisis – focusing on people living in poverty and social exclusion”.
9 June 2011 - the Independent expert on the question of human rights and extreme poverty, Ms. Magdalena Sepulvéda, together with the Permanent Missions of Norway and of Brazil, and the Norwegian Centre for Human Rights, University of Oslo, convened a side event on the margins of the 17th session of the Human Rights Council, on “Implementing the MDGs through a Human Rights Framework”. The Special Rapporteur on the human right to safe drinking water and sanitation, Ms. Catarina De Albuquerque, also participated in the event. The speakers emphasized both the normative and instrumental value of human rights in achieving the MDGs.
3 June 2011 - The Independent expert on the question of human rights and extreme poverty, Ms. Magdalena Sepulvéda, contributed a statement to the high level panel on
"Women-Poverty-Crises- Human Rights", held in Geneva, during the 17th session of the Human Rights Council. The panel, cosponsored by Women’s UN Report Network, UN-NGLS, the Centre for Women’s Global Leadership, the NGO Committee on the Status on Women in Geneva and the Worldwide Organization for Women, aimed to explain the linkages between women, poverty and economics from a human rights perspective. For more information please see: http://www.un-ngls.org/spip.php?article3461.
11 February 2011 - The Independent Expert on human rights and extreme poverty, Ms. Magdalena Sepúlveda Carmona, participated, via video conference, in the 49th session of the Commission for Social Development in New York, dedicated to poverty eradication. The independent expert delivered a presentation on Human Rights and Social Protection, and conducted and interactive dialogue with members of the Commission. The presentation of the independent expert is available at: following document
27-28 January 2011 - the Independent Expert on human rights and extreme poverty, Ms. Magdalena Sepúlveda Carmona, convened in Geneva an expert meeting on the “Impact of recovery measures on the human rights of those living in extreme poverty”, with the support of OHCHR, UNICEF and the Norwegian Centre for Human Rights. The purpose of the meeting was to create a forum to discuss, provide input to, and advise on the Independent Expert's forthcoming report to the 17th session of the Human Rights Council (June 2011).
10-15 January 2011 – The Independent Expert on human rights and extreme poverty, Ms. Magdalena Sepúlveda Carmona, conducted a fact finding mission to Ireland, during which she studied the impact of the recent economic and financial crisis on the Government’s efforts in alleviating poverty and social exclusion, domestically and internationally. In her press statement, the Independent Expert called on the authorities to incorporate into their recovery plan a comprehensive and consistent policy to protect the most vulnerable members of society in full compliance with human rights standards and urged the government to “put people at the centre of policy measures”. The press statement of the expert’s visit is available at: http://www.ohchr.org/en/NewsEvents/Pages/DisplayNews.aspx?NewsID=10658&LangID=E
14 December 2010- In the context of the Third Forum on Minority Issues, which took place in Geneva from 14 -15 December 2010, the Independent Expert on human rights and extreme poverty, Ms. Magdalena Sepúlveda Carmona, chaired a side event, organised by OHCHR, on “Towards Effective Participation of Minorities in Economic Life" addressing Economic Social and Cultural Rights and the application of the Minorities Declaration.
10 December 2010- In order to commemorate Human Rights Day, the Independent Expert on human rights and extreme poverty, Ms. Magdalena Sepúlveda, was invited by the Centre for Human Rights and the Rights of People of the University of Padua as main speaker in an event held at the University of Padua dedicated to human rights and extreme poverty. For more information please see: http://unipd-centrodirittiumani.it/en/attivita/International-Human-Rights-Day-2010-Maria-Magdalena-SEPULVEDA-CARMONA-UN-Independent-Expert-on-the-question-of-human-rights-and-extreme-poverty/614
9 December 2010 - The Independent Expert was invited to give a talk on her mandate to students at the European University Institute in Florence.
25 November 2010- The Independent Expert on the question of human rights and poverty, Ms. Magdalena Sepúlveda Carmona, attended the Norwegian Association for Development Research (NFU) 2010 conference on “Rethinking Crises” which took place in Oslo from 25 to 26 November 2010. On 25 November, she made a presentation in Plenary session 1 dedicated to “Conflicts and political settlements”. For more information, please see: http://nfu.mf.no/
10 to 13 November 2010 - The Independent Expert on the question of human rights and poverty, Ms. Magdalena Sepúlveda Carmona, attended the 14th International Anti-Corruption Conference, which took place in Bangkok from 10 to 13 November 2010. On 10 November, she delivered a presentation in the plenary session dedicated to “Corruption, Peace and Security” and participated as a panelist in the workshop on “Setting Anti-Corruption Agenda for MDGs: Challenges and Opportunities”. For more information, please see: http://14iacc.org/programme/at-a-glance/
12 November 2010 - While in Bangkok, the Independent Expert also had a meeting, organized by the OHCHR Regional Office for South East Asia, on how to approach the issue of social protection with representatives of both the "UNCT Thailand Working Group on Social Protection" and the "Regional UNDG Asia Pacific Working Group on Social Protection and the MDGs".
27 October 2010 - Ms. Sepúlveda was invited by the World Bank in Washington to give a presentation on " Human Rights and Social Protection: What does it mean for the Bank?" for World Bank staff working in social protection and other areas of human development (education, health) at the country level. She then held meetings with the World Bank’s social protection team.
26 October 2010 - The Independent Expert gave a lecture at Columbia University in New York on the challenges and impact of her mandate as Independent Expert, as well as her latest report to the General Assembly, in a lunchtime event organized by the Human Rights Institute of the Columbia Law School. For more information: http://www.law.columbia.edu/center_program/human_rights/events_cal
25 to 28 October 2010 - The Independent Expert on the question of human rights and extreme poverty, Ms. Magdalena Sepúlveda Carmona, was in New York and Washington. In New York, she met with, inter alia, DESA, UNICEF, UNDP and Assistant Secretary-General for Human Rights Ivan Šimonović, head of the OHCHR’s New York office. She also met with representatives of civil society organisations such as Amnesty International, the International Network for Economic, Social and Cultural Rights (ESCR-NET), and ATD-Fourth World. On 28 October, Ms. Sepúlveda had a meeting with UN Under-Secretary-General Michelle Bachelet, Executive Director of UN Women.
25 October 2010 - The Independent Expert on the question of human rights and extreme poverty presented her report to the General Assembly. This report highlights the importance of social protection measures in facilitating the achievement of the Millennium Development Goals and provides recommendations on the core elements of a rights-based social protection system, including the meaningful integration of gender-related concerns. A/65/259 [F S A C R]
17-18 June 2010 - The independent expert participated to the Regional Consultation on the draft General Guidelines on Foreign Debt and Human Rights last 17-18 June in Santiago, Chile. The independent expert contributed to the discussions and presented her views on human rights obligations of States, including the obligation of international assistance and cooperation.
16 June 2010 – The independent expert contributed to the Statement of the Special Procedures mandate-holders of the United Nations Human Rights Council on the situation of human rights in Haiti.
04 June 2010 – The independent expert presented her annual report and the report on her mission to Zambia to the Human Rights Council. The annual report focused on old age poverty and social protection. The report on Zambia stressed the importance of increasing investment in social protection in the country. To read both reports, click here.
03 June 2010 - The independent expert participated in a side event co-hosted by HelpAge International, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Finland and the Permanent Mission of Brazil to the UN on older persons and human rights. Speakers at this event all emphasized the importance of social protection for the realization of the older persons human rights.
1 and 2 June 2010 - The Independent Expert co-hosted with Radhika Balakrishnane of the Center for Women's Global Leadership, an expert seminar on "Facilitating Gender Equality and Social Protection for the achievement of the MDGs". The meeting was attended by experts on gender and on social protection. This meeting was organised as a contribution the independent expert's work for her upcoming report to the General Assembly (October 2010), and as a contribution to the current debates ahead of the MDG Summit next September.
20-21 May 2010 - The independent expert convened an expert meeting on the draft guiding principles on human rights and extreme poverty. The meeting was supported by the Friedrich- Ebert- Stiftung and gathered around 25 experts working in the fields of development and human rights. A progress report on the draft guiding principles will be presented by the expert to the Human Rights Council in September.
24 March 2010– The independent expert participated in a consultation on the draft guiding principles on human rights and extreme poverty with development practitioners at Brandeis University.
22 - 23 March 2010 - The independent expert participated in the International Symposum on MDGs and Human Rights organized at Harvard University by the Norwegian Human Rights Centre, OHCHR, UNICEF, the Institute Development Studies, Harvard Human Rights Programme and Leve ( Livelihoods in Development Countries). Sepulveda charied a session on Income Poverty from a Human Rights perspective. For more information about the symposium: click here www.jus.uio.no/smr/english/about/programmes/serp/conferences/MDG.html
12 March 2010 - The independent expert participated in a parallel event to the 13th Session of the Human Rights Council entitled “Exposed – The human rights of the poor in a changing global climate”. At the event she spoke about the impact of climate change on the enjoyment of human rights, especially of persons living in poverty and how human rights standards can inform global action on this matter.
18-19 February 2010 – The independent expert was in Paris on the invitation of the French Government to participate in the national launch of the European Year Against Poverty and Exclusion. The event was attended by Martin Hirsh, France's High Commissioner for Active Inclusion Against Poverty, several government institutions and non-governmental organisation engaged in fighting poverty in France. The expert also held several working meetings the ministry of foreign affairs, the ministry of work and social affairs, the Ombudsman, Paris city administration, and non governmental organisations. In these meetings, she explained her work on the Drat Guiding Principles on Extreme Poverty and sought advice on how to advance the process of their adoption.
08-09 February 2010 – The independent expert convened an expert meeting on social protection for people at older ages on 8-9 February 2010 in Geneva. Twenty five experts from governments, NGOs, UN departments and agencies, and academic institutions from all regions attended the meeting and contributed to the expert’s evaluations on social pensions. For more information on the work on social pensions check here.
3 February 2010: the independent expert participated in the Briefing Series on Global Aging organised by UN Department on Economic and Social Affairs and the organisation AARP. She gave the key note speech of the session on "Empowerment in Aging: Human Rights of Older Persons". For more information: http://www.aarpinternational.org/conference/conference_show.htm?doc_id=1090685
18-19 January 2010: The Independent Expert participated in an NGO meeting to discuss the Draft Guiding Principles on human rights and extreme poverty in Geneva. The meeting was promoted by ATD 4th World and counted with the participation of NGOs working on development and human rights issues. The expert spoke about the importance of the Principles and the work she will undertake to further develop them.
11-13 January 2010: The Independent Expert participated in a three-day Colloquium on "Human Rights in the Global Economy". The Colloquium was convened by the International Council on Human Rights and Realizing Rights: The Ethical Globalization Initiative. The Colloquium gathered experts in human rights, public policy and economics and involved analysing human rights implications in relation to global macro-economic policy. For more information: http://www.ichrp.org/en/colloquium_human_rights_global_economy_2010.
18 December 2009 – The independent expert participated to the colloquium “Freedom from Poverty as a Human Right” promoted by UNESCO in Paris. The expert made a presentation on current strategies for the promotion of the rights of the poor through then UN human rights protection system.
3 – 10 December 2009 - The independent expert on human rights and extreme poverty and the independent expert on human rights, water and sanitation visited Bangladesh. They collected first hand information about on the relationship between access to safe drinking water, sanitation and extreme poverty. After concluding the visit they presented a press statement with preliminary remarks.
5-6 November 2009: The Independent Expert participated in a two-day workshop "A rights approach to social protection and poverty". The meeting was organised by ECLAC and GTZ in Santiago de Chile with experts from the UN, from governments and from academic institutions.
27 October 2009: The Independent Expert met with representatives from the Social Protection and Labour Unit and the Environment and International Law Unit of the World Bank in Washington. She also met with the Chief of Social Protection, Arup Banerji. The aim of the meetings was to discuss possible ways of collaboration between the mandate and the World Bank.
26 October 2009: The Independent Expert met with the UNDP Administrator Helen Clark in New York to discuss ways of collaboration between UNDP and the mandate. While in New York, the independent expert also held discussions with representatives from the UNDP Bureau of Development Policy, UNFPA, DESA and UNESCO.
23 October 2009: The Independent Expert attended a meeting for NGOs convened by ESCR-Net and Social Watch in New York to consult on the work of the mandate on the financial crisis. The meeting was attended by representatives from 15 international organizations including Human Rights Watch and Amnesty International, and four domestic US organizations such as Picture the Homeless and Loretto Community.
19-20 October 2009: The Independent Expert participated in the Symposium on the Right to Social Security in Development, organised in Berlin by the Fredriech Ebert Stiftung and the Norwegian Centre for Human Rights. The meeting gathered experts in human rights and in development from academia, United Nations and government agencies. Ms Sepúlveda participated in opening panel discussion on the right to social security in the development discourse, where she spoke about her work on a human rights assessment of cash transfer programmes. For more information:
http://www.humanrights.uio.no/programmes/serp/news/2009/fes.html
24 September 2009: The Independent Expert delivered the keynote speech at a consultation on the economic rights of the girl child. The event was hosted by The Norwegian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Plan Norway and the Norwegian Centre for Human Rights in Oslo. The Independent Expert spoke on the right to social security of the girl child. For more information: http://www.jus.uio.no/smr/english/about/programmes/serp/projects/soc-security.html
17 September 2009: The Independent Expert, together with the Special Rapporteur on the right to food, Olivier De Schutter, participated in a side event of the Human Rights Council on human rights and the financial crisis. The panel was organised by the Centre for Economic and Social Rights.
4 September 2009 - The Independent Expert on human rights and extreme poverty attended 15th World Ageing and Generations Congress held in St Gallen, Switzerland. She spoke at various sessions of the Congress on the role of social protection in the global economic crisis and on the right to social security. More information on this congress is available at: http://www.wdassociation.org/dcpage.aspx?fid=8
31 August - 2 September 2009 - The Independent Expert on human rights and extreme poverty participated in the Social Forum of the Human Rights Council, held from 31 August to 2 September. She delivered a speech during the first panel discussion devoted to "Human rights perspectives on a social protection floor, addressing the social protection gap", and on the last day of the forum participated in an interactive debate between the Council members and special procedures.
The second meeting of the Social Forum of the Human Rights Council stressed the need to reaffirm linkages between poverty and human rights when developing and implementing strategies for recovery from the global economic meltdown. It stressed the importance to respect, protect and fulfill the right to social security. More information on the Social Forum is available at:
http://www.ohchr.org/EN/NewsEvents/Pages/Socialsecurityasahumanright.aspx
20-28 August 2009 - The Independent Expert on human rights and extreme poverty concluded a week-long mission in Zambia on 28 August. She had organised her visit around the analysis of some key social policies, in particular those related to social protection. In a press conference, she urged the government to act on its commitments to address extreme poverty in the country. She also commended the government for its decision to scale up the social protection programmes it is implementing, stressing that investing in the protection of the poor is not a matter of policy choice but a human rights obligation. The press release on the expert's visit is available at:
http://www.ohchr.org/EN/NewsEvents/Pages/DisplayNews.aspx?NewsID=56&LangID=E
19 August 2009 - The Independent Expert on extreme poverty was in Pretoria and Johannesburg to meet with representatives of the National Security Agency and of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of South Africa in Pretoria and discuss the social protection system in place in the country and its contribution to poverty reduction efforts. She also met with representatives of civil society and of the South Africa Human Rights Commission.
24-26 June 2009 - UN Conference on the World Financial and Economic Crisis: The independent expert on extreme poverty, Magdalena Sepulveda, submitted a briefing note for the General Assembly to take into account during the Conference on the World Financial and Economic Crisis and its Impact on Development. The note stresses how neglecting the right to social security has left millions across the world trapped into poverty and urges States to strengthen social protection systems.
June 5th 2009 - 11th session of the Human Rights Council: Magdalena Sepulveda, Independent expert on extreme poverty, presented her first annual report and the report on her mission to Ecuador to the Human Rights Council. During the interactive dialogue following her presentation, over twenty delegations and civil society representatives addressed the importance of cash transfer programmes in the promotion of human rights and the need to strengthen these programmes. During the same day, the expert also participated to the side event entitled “The Draft Guiding Principles on Extreme Poverty and Human Rights: Their role in the effort to ensure the universal enjoyment of human rights”. The meeting was promoted by the Permanent Missions of Albania, Belgium, Chile, France, Morocco, Peru, Philippines, Romania and Senegal and the International Movement ATD Fourth World. In her presentation Sepulveda addressed the relevance of the Guiding Principles in the current context and its role as a tool for advocacy and action in favour of those living in extreme poverty.
28-29 May 2009 - CEPAL meeting on social protection in times of crisis: Magdalena Sepúlveda participated in seminars on "social protection in countries with high inequalities in times of crisis" and on poverty reduction programmes in times of crisis" in Antigua, Guatemala. Organized by the UN Economic Commission for Latin American Countries and the Cento-American Institute for Fiscal Studies (ICEFI), the meetings were attended by senior representatives of UN agencies, the World Bank, NGOs and academic institutions. She addressed the audience on cash transfer programmes from a human rights perspective during a panel on the contribution of the human rights perspective in poverty reduction and the amelioration of social programmes and policies.
25 May 2009– Seminar: Human Rights and the Millennium Development Goals: The Independent Expert on the question of human rights and extreme poverty, Magdalena Sepúlveda, participated in a seminar on the MDGs organised by the Dutch Ministry of Foreign Affairs in The Hague, Netherlands. She participated in a panel on MDG1 describing the main findings of her study on cash transfer programme exposed in her annual report to the Human Rights Council (A/HRC/11/9).
21 April 2009 – Side event at the Durban Review Conference - The Independent Expert on the question of human rights and extreme poverty, Magdalena Sepulveda participated in the side event “Discrimination and poverty – exclusion and solutions in the new Millennium” promoted by OHCHR during the Durban Review Conference in Geneva. In her intervention she discussed why measures to eliminate poverty and efforts to eliminate all forms of discrimination must be understood as mutually reinforcing and complementary. Marcia Kran, Director, Research and Right to Development Division, OHCHR opened the panel and Ambassador José Augusto Lindgren Alves of Brazil chaired the discussions.
23 March 2009 - Human Rights Council – A combined report, under resolution S-9/1 focusing on the situation of human rights in the Palestine and other occupied Arab territories was presented to the 10th session of the Human Rights Council. Among other 7 mandate holders the independent expert on the question of human rights and extreme poverty contributed to this report focusing on the situation of those living in extreme poverty in Gaza. To read the combined report: http://www2.ohchr.org/english/bodies/hrcouncil/docs/10session/A.HRC.10.22.pdf
18 March 2009 - conference on Human Rights, Development and Accountability - the Independent Expert on the Question of Human Rights and Extreme Poverty, Magdalena Sepúlveda, was a key note speaker for the opening of a conference on Human Rights, Development and Accountability in London. The event was organised by the UK Inter Agency Group on Rights Based Approaches, a network of UK-based NGOs working on the integration of human rights in development practice, the British Department for International Development (DFID) and the British Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO).
26 - 27 February 2009 – Expert meeting on cash transfer - the Independent Expert led a meeting organized by the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights on Cash Transfer Schemes and Human Rights. Twenty-eight experts from governments, NGOs, UN departments and agencies, and academic institutions from across the world attended the meeting. At this meeting, participants analysed CTPs from a human rights perspective. Click here to read the concept note of the meeting.
20 February 2009 - Special Session of the Human Rights Council - The Independent Expert addressed the Human Rights Council during its 10th Special Session on the impact of the global economic and financial crises on the universal realization and effective enjoyment of human rights. The expert addressed the serious consequences of the crises for those living in extreme poverty. Click here to see the statement.
27 - 28 January- Seminar on the "Draft Guiding Principles on Extreme Poverty and Human Rights" 2009 - The Independent Expert on the question of human rights and extreme poverty, Ms. Magdalena Sepulveda, attended the Seminar on the "Draft Guiding Principles on Extreme Poverty and Human Rights" organized by OHCHR in Geneva on 27 and 28 January. The IE was joined by other special procedures mandate holders and representatives of States and civil society organizations in discussions on the added value and the practical utility of the guidelines, the content of the present draft, and on the process to adopt in order to finalize the guidelines. Participants expressed a wish that the guidelines become a practical tool for all actors in their efforts to combat extreme poverty. The Draft Guiding Principles were prepared initially by the Sub Commission of the Commission on Human Rights, and the Human Rights Council requested the organization of a series of consultations on them since 2007. OHCHR will report to the Human Rights Council on the results of this consultation.
Independent expert visit human rights organizations in Canada 2009 - From 20 to 24 January 2009, Magdalena Sepulveda participated in a series of public events in Canada. On 21 January, she addressed the staff of the organization Rights and Democracy and met with its new president, Mr. Denis Beauregard. On 22 and 23 January, she spoke at the universities of Toronto and Ottawa respectively, at public events organized by the University of Ottawa Institute of Population Health and the organization Human Rights Internet on the theme "Extreme Poverty, Human Rights and Health".
Contribution to the open-ended consultation on the elimination of discrimination against persons affected by leprosy 2009- On 15 January 2009, a statement of the Independent Expert on the question of human rights and extreme poverty, Ms. Magdalena Sepulveda, was read in her behalf at the Open-Ended Consultation on the Elimination of Discrimination against Persons Affected by Leprosy and their Family Members, in Geneva. The statement covered issues of health related discrimination and human rights, focusing on the two way causal relationship between discrimination and poverty.
8 December – Independent Expert visits the Department for International Development (United Kingdom of Great Britain) 2008- The Department for International Development (DFID) invited the Magdalena Sepulveda to be one of the speakers at their activities commemorating the 60th anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. In her presentation Sepulveda described her work as United Nations Independent Expert and discussed the importance of a human rights approach to development. For more info on DFID click: http://www.dfid.gov.uk/default.asp
1- 4 December – Independent Expert participates to the ESCR-Net Assembly 2008 - the Independent expert on the question of human rights and extreme poverty, Magdalena Sepulveda participated at the International Strategy meeting on ESCR “challenging poverty and inequality through human rights” and ESCR-NET General Assembly, held in Nairobi, Kenya. ESCR-Net. The gatherings were organized by ESCR NET in partnership with the Kenyan ESCR Coalition and brought together approximately 200 key human rights, social justice and grassroots’ activists from around the world. Among other issues, the meeting addressed the need to strengthen NGOs institutional capacity to influence decision-making processes regarding state and non-state accountability for the implementation of socio-economic rights. For more information on ESCR-Net: http://www.escr-net.org/
28 November 2008– Independent Expert follows consultation on the Draft Guiding Principles on Extreme Poverty and Human Rights - Magdalena Sepulveda attended the Consultation on the Draft Guiding Principles on Extreme Poverty and Human Rights organized by ATD Fourth World. Around 20 experts from civil society organizations gathered in Geneva to discuss the current draft and prepare for the process of consultation on the principles that will be carried out in the last week of January, 2009.
24 November 2008 – Independent Expert meets The Foundation for Overcoming Poverty - Magdalena Sepulveda met with members of the board of directors and executives of The Foundation for Overcoming Poverty in Santiago de Chile. The foundation, is a key player in action and the generation of knowledge, tools and proposals on public policies for overcoming poverty and social exclusion in Chile. The meeting was aimed at analyzing opportunities for future collaboration. For more information on the Foundation: http://www.fundacionpobreza.cl/corporativo.php?tipo=1
15 November 2008 – Independent expert ends her visit to Ecuador. From 10 to 15 November 2008, the Independent Expert on the question of human rights and extreme poverty, Magdalena Sepúlveda, visited Ecuador. The expert visited the cities of Quito, Guayaquil and Lago Agrio in addition to indigenous communities in the Cotopaxi region. She met various Government authorities, the international community, academics, NGOs, including representatives from human rights organizations and social movements of afro-Ecuadorians, indigenous women, sexual minorities and people living in extreme poverty. The expert noted in a press statement some important legal and institutional advances recently promoted by the Government of Ecuador, strengthening social policies through a right's based approach. She also expressed concern on the magnitude of challenges ahead considering the significant number of people living in extreme poverty, the insufficient coverage of social policies and the increasing challenges posed by the global economic crisis. She concluded recalling the need to avoid setbacks of social policies, to pay particular attention to the most vulnerable and to ensure broad participation. To read the press statement on the visit click here (Spanish version and English version)
22 October 2008 - The Independent Expert present her report to the Third Committee of the United Nations General Assembly: The independent expert on the question of human right and extreme poverty presented her report to the Third Committee (Social, Humanitarian and Cultural) of the UNGA In her statement, the Independent Expert said that the link between extreme poverty and human rights had been recognized in numerous human rights treaties and resolutions adopted by United Nations bodies. Her report on the question sketched out a conceptual framework on which her work would be based. One of the central areas of her work would address the consequences of discrimination and social exclusion on people living in extreme poverty. For more information on the report of the independent expert to the UNGA please click here A C E F R S
17 October 2008 – International Day for the Eradication of Poverty : The Independent Expert on the question of human rights and extreme poverty, Ms. Sepulveda, attended the Commemoration of the International Day for the Eradication of Poverty organized by the United Nations and the International Movement ATD Fourth World at the United Nations Head Quarters in New York. On the occasion the expert released a statement on the obligation to eliminate poverty. She also participated to the “Observance of the International Day for the Eradication of Poverty” and a Round-Table dialogue titled: “Turning rhetoric into action – Building effective partnerships to combat extreme poverty and Exclusion”.
15 October 2008 - Independent Expert on the question of human rights and extreme poverty visits Rutgers University : During the 2008-09 academic year, Rutgers is hosting a series of events under the title Human Rights: Content and Discontent to commemorate the 60th anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. On October 15th, the expert took part in the events and spoke to an assembly of students and faculty about her activities and concerns. While at Rutgers , the expert also took part in the Young Women Leaders Interview Project where she was interviewed about her life, career, and leadership ideas. The Young Women Leaders Interview Project is part of the IWL Leadership Scholars Certificate Program in Women's Leadership and Social Change, a two-year selective interdisciplinary certificate program that prepares undergraduate students to be informed, innovative and socially responsible leaders.
29 September to 1 October 2008 - Third Inter-American Forum of Women against Corruption (III Foro de Mujeres contra la Corrupción): The Independent Expert on the question of human rights and extreme poverty, Ms. Sepulveda, attended the Third Inter-American Forum of Women against Corruption in Buenos Aires, Argentina, hosted by the School of Law of the Universidad de Buenos Aires. At the Forum, the Independent Expert examined the disproportionate impact of corruption on women living in poverty.
Among the issues discussed were gender violence, access to justice, labor issues and the environment. More information available at: http://www.mujeresenigualdad.org.ar/
23 September -Report of the Independent Expert to the UN General Assembly available to download 2008 - The first report of the Independent Expert is now available for download in the 6 UN official languages. With this report, the expert outlines the existing conceptual framework and some of the main concerns that will guide her activities and be considered during her tenure. This report also sets out a proposed preliminary set of actions, including the preparation of a thematic report on cash transfer programmes in 2009. Download the report: Arabic, Chinese, English, French, Russian, Spanish
1 to 3 September 2008 - Social Forum of the Human Rights Council: The Independent Expert on the question of human rights and extreme poverty, Ms. Magdalena Sepulveda, the Independent Expert on the effects of foreign debt and other related international financial obligations of States on the full enjoyment of human rights, particularly economic, social and cultural rights, Mr. Cephas Lumina and the Special Rapporteur on the right to food, Mr. Olivier de Schuter participated to the Social Forum of the Human Rights Council. The Forum took place from 1st to 3rd September in Geneva gathering representatives of member States, international and non-governmental organisations. Ms. Sepulveda addressed the normative framework for the elimination of poverty. Mr. Lumina discussed the interplay between foreign debt and poverty. Mr. de Schutter focused on the food crisis and the right to food. The experts also participated to sessions of interactive dialogue and provided recommendations on the future activities of the forum.
1 to 3 July 2008 - 3rd World Forum on Human Rights: the Independent Expert on the question of human rights and extreme poverty, Ms. Magdalena Sepulveda, participated in the 3rd World Forum on Human Rights in Nantes, France. The Independent Expert made presentations on two panels; the first on the justiciability of economic, social and cultural rights; and the second on the draft of the guiding principles, "Extreme poverty and human rights: the rights of the poor". She also met with Mr. Jose Bengoa Cabello, member of the Advisory Committee of the Human Rights Council, to discuss the draft guiding principles and the preparatory process for the World Social Forum.
12-13 May 2008 - Third International Policy Conference on the African Child - The independent expert participated to the Third International Policy Conference on the African Child - Towards Action against Child Poverty in Africa . The meeting was organized by the African Child Policy Forum in Addis Ababa , Ethiopia . In her presentation she outlined the contributions of the human rights approach to policies addressing child poverty.
1 May 2008 - New Independent expert on human rights and extreme poverty assume her functions - The United Nations Human Rights Council appointed a new Independent Expert on extreme poverty during its seventh session held in March 2008. Magdalena Sepulveda, a Chilean national, will assume her role as of 1 May 2008. More...
Consultation process for the "draft guiding principles on extreme poverty and human rights: the rights of the poor" : The United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights on resolution 2/2 the Human Rights Council took note of the "draft guiding principles on extreme poverty and human rights: the rights of the poor" annexed to Sub-Commission for the Promotion and Protection of Human Rights resolution 2006/9 of 24 August 2006, and requested the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights 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."