While most of the worlds is focused on the Greek debt crisis and its meaning for the character of sovereign debt generally, and the integrity of the Euro zone in particular, a wider conversation is now occurring with respect to sovereign lending. This conversation is grounded in two substantially distinct views of the nature and character of sovereign lending (see, e.g., here, and here). This conversation reflects the still deep divisions among the community of states relating to human rights and the nature of the global economic order (see, e.g., here).
Now comes the United Nations Independent Expert on Foreign Debt and Human Rights,
-->Juan Pablo Bohoslavsky,
with a statement, most likely read as a provocation in Beijing, about the nature of the emerging role of China as a sovereign lender. This comes on the heels of an earlier report on the nature of the complicity of sovereign lenders in the gross human rights violations of debtor states. In March 2015 the Independent Expert on the effects of foreign debt on human rights submitted a report to the Human Rights Council (A/HRC/28/59) discussing the issue of financial complicity analysing the impact that lending may have on Governments engaged in gross human rights violations. The report intends to contribute to a better understanding of when financial support may contribute to, or sustain the commission of, large-scale gross human rights violations by sketching a rational choice framework premised on the incentives of authoritarian Governments and private and official lenders. In the report, the Independent Expert reviews the existing empirical evidence of the relationship between sovereign financing, human rights practices and the consolidation of Governments engaged in gross violations of human rights. Finally, the Independent Expert presents some interim conclusions and invites stakeholders to discuss them. The legal and policy implications of financial complicity will be discussed in a future study. (Press Release here;
That March report appears to serve as a background for the instant press release, and the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank appears as a target. The press release “A human rights focus would upgrade China’s international lending” – UN expert on foreign debt follows in English and Chinese.
Press Release:
“A human rights focus would upgrade China’s international lending” – UN expert on foreign debt
BEIJING / GENEVA (7 July 2015) – The United Nations Independent Expert on foreign debt and human rights, Juan Pablo Bohoslavsky, today urged the Government of China to fully incorporate the UN human rights Guiding Principles on business and foreign debt into its foreign lending and financial assistance, and its next National Human Rights Action Plan.
“With China’s new leadership role in foreign lending and investment comes new responsibilities,” Mr. Bohoslavsky said* at the end of his first official visit to the country, noting that China has become a global player in the world economy and a major international lender.
“International human rights standards are in particular relevant when China provides funding for projects in countries with high risks, experiencing internal armed conflicts, weak governance structures or a lack of effective enforcement of national and international law by national authorities,” he emphasized.
The human rights expert highlighted that China’s expertise in infrastructure development, health care, agricultural development and other sectors is an important contribution to the realization of economic, social and cultural rights and the right to development in many developing countries.
However, while there are many positive examples of Chinese investments, Mr. Bohoslavsky recalled that the UN Committee on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights has noted that some of these projects have reportedly resulted in violations of economic, social and cultural rights.
“For investments in foreign countries careful planning, independent impact assessments and consultation with affected individuals and communities are required,” he said. “Negative social, environmental or human rights impacts should be avoided, mitigated, or compensated in a timely, fair and equal manner.”
“Chinas ‘going out- strategy’ should not only result in a ‘win-win’ situation for Governments and business enterprises, but also for the people on the ground, both in China and abroad,” he underscored.
The expert said that there have been several efforts in China to ensure that its international lending is clean, green, efficient and transparent and compliant to international human rights standards. These include the Green Credit Guidelines of the Central Banking Regulatory Commission which require Chinese lending institutions to respect national and international norms in their lending.
Nevertheless, he noted, “there is still an implementation gap in operational practice in effectively implementing such guidelines, including international norms and standards in international lending and investment.”
Mr. Bohoslavsky welcomed China’s leadership role in the establishment of two multi-lateral development banks, the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB) in Beijing and the BRICs states New Development Bank in Shanghai.
“These new development banks aim at being more efficient, clean, green and transparent than other existing multi-lateral development banks,” he said. “However, efficiency and results orientation is not a contradiction to ensuring respect for human rights, labour standards or the right to a safe, clean and healthy environment.”
“Transparency implies as well that the consultations on institutional policies, in particular in the field of social and environmental safeguards should be open to inputs from civil society,” the expert underlined.
In his view, both banks should show that projects financed by them will avoid, mitigate or compensate negative social, environmental and human rights impacts better than other multi-lateral development banks. “An effective and independent safeguards mechanism will have to be put in place,” he recommended.
“Then and only then, will these two new institutions live up to their aspirations to foster sustainable development in a comprehensive, human rights based, and social inclusive manner”, concluded the expert.
His final findings and key recommendations will be presented in a comprehensive report to the UN Human Rights Council in March next year.
(*) Check the full end-of-mission statement: http://www.ohchr.org/EN/NewsEvents/Pages/DisplayNews.aspx?NewsID=16203&LangID=E
ENDS
Juan Pablo Bohoslavsky (Argentina) was appointed as Independent Expert on the effects of foreign debt and human rights by the UN Human Rights Council on 8 May 2014. Before, he 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. His mandate covers all countries. Learn more, log on to: http://www.ohchr.org/EN/Issues/Development/IEDebt/Pages/IEDebtIndex.aspx
The Independent Experts 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 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.
UN Guiding Principles on Foreign Debt and Human Rights:
http://www.ohchr.org/EN/Issues/Development/IEDebt/Pages/GuidingPrinciples.aspx
UN Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights: http://www.ohchr.org/EN/Issues/Business/Pages/Tools.aspx
UN Human Rights, Country Page – China
http://www.ohchr.org/EN/countries/AsiaRegion/Pages/CNIndex.aspx
For more information and media requests please contact:
Gunnar Theissen (+41 22 917 9321, gtheissen@ohchr.org) or write to ieforeigndebt@ohchr.org
For media inquiries related to other UN independent experts:
Xabier Celaya, UN Human Rights – Media Unit (+ 41 22 917 9383 / xcelaya@ohchr.org)
_________
新闻稿
联合国外债专家：重视人权将让中国在国际贷款方面更上一层楼
北京/日内瓦（2015年7月7日） 联合国外债与人权独立专家胡安•巴勃罗•波霍斯拉夫斯基今日敦促中国政府将联合国《外债与人权问题的指导原则》及《商业与人权指导原则》充分纳入其对外贷款、财政资助及下一份《国家人权行动方案》之中。
“中国在对外投资领域的领导力越强，责任也就越大，”波霍斯拉夫斯基先生在结束首次正式访华行程时说*，并指出中国已经成为世界经济的全球参与者与主要国际贷款国。
波霍斯拉夫斯基先生强调说：“中国提供贷款的发展项目部分处于高风险国家，这些国家或正在经历国内武装冲突，或治理结构虚弱，或缺乏有力的当局保障国内和国际法律的实施。在这种情况下，国际人权标准和指导方针尤为重要。”
波霍斯拉夫斯基先生还着重提到中国在基础设施建设、医疗卫生、农业发展及其他行业的贷款和专业知识对于一些国家实现经济、社会和文化权利及发展权利做出了重要贡献。
尽管中国对外投资有许多成功的例子，不过波霍斯拉夫斯基先生表示，联合国经济、社会、文化权利委员会注意到一些中国对外投资项目据称导致了对经济、社会和文化权利的侵犯。
“必须谨慎规划，进行独立影响评估，与受影响个人和群体进行磋商，”波霍斯拉夫斯基先生说，“应该避免或减轻对社会、环境或人权带来的负面影响，或采取及时、公平、平等的补偿措施。”
波霍斯拉夫斯基先生还说：“中国的‘ 走出去’战略应该给各国政府和企业来带双赢的局面，还应该惠及中外普通百姓。”
波霍斯拉夫斯基先生称中国已经采取若干措施，保障其国际贷款廉洁、绿色、高效、透明并合乎国际人权标准的监管框架。其中，银监会《绿色信贷指引》要求中国贷款机构在发放信贷时尊重国家与国际惯例。
不过，波霍斯拉夫斯基先生说：“目标和实际操作之间还存在鸿沟，包括如何有效实施国际贷款和投资的国际和国内标准。”
波霍斯拉夫斯基先生欢迎中国在建立亚洲基础设施投资银行和金砖国家开发银行这两大多边发展银行中所扮演的领导角色，前者总部位于北京，后者总部位于上海。
“这些新建立的发展银行致力于比现有的多边发展银行更高效、更廉洁、更绿色、更透明。”他说，“不过，高效和结果导向与尊重人权、尊重劳动标准、尊重对安全、情节、健康环境的权利并不相悖。”
波霍斯拉夫斯基先生强调说：“透明意味着在机构政策的磋商中，尤其是在保障社会和环境的政策磋商中，应该听取来自民间团体的意见和建议。”
波霍斯拉夫斯基先生认为，两大新发展银行应该证明其资助的发展项目能比其他多边发展银行更好地避免、减轻或补偿对社会、环境和人权的负面影响。他说：“必须采用有效、独立的保障机制。”
最后，波霍斯拉夫斯基先生总结说：“惟其如此，这两大银行才得以不辱使命——注重人权并以全面、包容的态度促进可持续发展。”
波霍斯拉夫斯基先生将把此次访华的最终发现与主要建议写入其明年三月递交给联合国人权理事会的综合报告。
（*）结束访华声明英文全文请点击： www.ohchr.org+DisplayNews.aspx?NewsID=16203&LangID=E
* * *
胡安•巴勃罗•波霍斯拉夫斯基（阿根廷籍）于2014年5月8日由联合国人权理事会任命为独立专家，负责研究外债对人权的影响。此前他曾担任联合国贸易和发展会议的主权债务问题专家，负责协调“负责任的主权借贷”专家组的工作。了解更多，请点击：
http://www.ohchr.org/EN/Issues/Development/IEDebt/Pages/IEDebtIndex.aspx
独立专家属于联合国人权理事会特别程序之一。特别程序是联合国人权系统中最大的独立专家组织，是人权理事会为应对全球各国具体国情和专门问题进行独立调查与监管的一项机制。特别程序中的独立专家不属于联合国雇员，不接受联合国薪水，志愿参与联合国的工作，独立于任何政府或组织，具有独立资金来源。
联合国《外债与人权问题的指导原则》
http://www.ohchr.org/EN/Issues/Development/IEDebt/Pages/GuidingPrinciples.aspx
联合国《商业与人权指导原则》
http://www.ohchr.org/EN/Issues/Business/Pages/Tools.aspx
联合国人权-中国专页
http://www.ohchr.org/EN/countries/AsiaRegion/Pages/CNIndex.aspx
更多信息与媒体请求请联系：
Gunnar Theissen (+41 22 917 9321, gtheissen@ohchr.org) or write to ieforeigndebt@ohchr.org
有关其他联合国独立专家的媒体请求请联系：
Xabier Celaya, UN Human Rights – Media Unit (+ 41 22 917 9383 / xcelaya@ohchr.org)
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