United Nations Radio

"There is no room for complacency," warned the UN Independent Expert on foreign debt and human rights.

Dr. Cephas Lumina is referring to the focus of the upcoming International Conference on Financing for Development to be held from the 29th of November to the 2nd of December. Human rights, says Dr. Lumina, must occupy a central place in the discussions of that meeting if the outcome is to have a real impact on the intended beneficiaries. The Human Rights Council's Independent Expert noted that despite several debt relief initiatives, many countries still face large debt burdens which compromise their ability to ensure human rights. The ultimate purpose of debt relief, he says, is not merely to achieve debt sustainability, but to enable a country to achieve a debt level consistent with protecting the human rights of the people.

Gerry Adams, United Nations.

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