Human Rights and the Financial Crisis in Focus: an expert meeting on promoting a rights-based approach to financial regulation and economic recovery - Statements, papers and presentations

Opening Session

• Welcome remarks and introduction to OHCHR’s draft issue paper by the Meeting Chair: Mr. Bat-Erdene Ayush, Chief, Right to Development Section, OHCHR
• Introductory comments: the human rights impacts of the financial crisis
• Mr. Dzidek Kedzia, Chair, Committee on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights
• Mr. Kishore Singh, Special Rapporteur on the Right to Education
• Mr. Des Hogan, Acting CEO, Irish Human Rights Commission

Panel 1: Understanding the nexus between financial regulation, economic policies, the financial crisis, and human rights

Moderator: Mr. Aldo Caliari, Director, Rethinking Bretton Woods, Centre of Concern

Panellists:

• Mr. Fernando Carvalho, Professor of Economics, Federal University of Rio de Janeiro, Understanding the root causes of the financial crisis
• Mr. Tajinder Singh, Deputy Secretary General, International Organization of Securities Commissions, Perspectives on causes and responses to the crisis
• Mr. Rupert Thorne, Deputy Secretary General, Financial Stability Board, Promoting financial stability to support sustainable growth
• Mr. Nicholas Lusiani, Senior Researcher, Center for Economic and Social Rights, Implementing a rights-based approach to economic policies

Commentaries by:

• Ms. Sophia Koukoulis-Spiliotopoulos, Chair, International Communication and Cooperation Section, Greek National Commission for Human Rights
• Mr. Lauri Sivonen, Thematic Coordinator, Office of the Commissioner for Human Rights, Council of Europe

Introductory comments: the human rights impacts of the financial crisis on the most vulnerable

• Mr. Alexey Avtonomov, Chair, Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination.
• Ms. Verene Shepherd, Chair, Working Group of Experts on People of African Descent
• Ms. Rita Izsak, Independent Expert on Minority Issues
• Ms. Gulnara Shahinian, Special Rapporteur on Contemporary Forms of Slavery

Panel 2: Human rights, the financial crisis, economic policies, and financial regulation at the national level

Moderator: Ms. Jyoti Sanghera, Chief, Human Rights and Economic and Social Issues Section, OHCHR

Panellists:

• Mr. Cephas Lumina, 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, Human rights impacts of the crisis in Greece
• Mr. Michael Windfuhr, Deputy Director, German Human Rights Institution, The role of NHRIs in promoting rights-based financial regulation and economic policies
• Ms. Smitha Francis, Principal Economist, Economic Research Foundation, New Delhi, The development implications of the Basel Capital Requirements
• Mr. Daniel Schydlowsky, Superintendent of Banking, Insurance and Private Pension Fund Administrators, Peru, Implementing a rights-based approach to financial regulation

Commentaries by:

• Mr. Koldo Casla, Chief of Staff, Ararteko (Ombudsman for the Basque Country, Spain)
• Mr. David Maina Mutuaruhiu, Principal Human Rights Officer, Economic, Social and Cultural Rights Department, Kenya National Commission for Human Rights