Effects of structural adjustment policies

[Preliminary unedited version]

Effects of structural adjustment policies on the full
enjoyment of human rights

Commission on Human Rights decision 1999/104

At its 54th meeting, on 26 April 1999, the Commission on Human Rights, recalling its decision 1998/102 of 9 April 1998 and taking note of the report of the open-ended working group on structural adjustment programmes and economic, social and cultural rights on its second session (E/CN.4/1999/51), and its recommendations, in particular the need to circulate the report of the independent expert (E/CN.4/1999/50) to Governments, United Nations bodies, other international organizations, financial institutions, particularly the World Bank and the International Monetary Fund, and non-governmental organizations for comments, decided by a roll-call vote of 33 votes to 15, with 4 abstentions to request the Economic and Social Council to:

(a) Request the Secretary-General to circulate the report of the independent expert to and invite comments from Governments, United Nations bodies, including the regional commissions, the specialized agencies, international financial institutions, intergovernmental organizations, in particular those involved in development, academic institutions, non-governmental organizations and organizations representing disadvantaged and vulnerable groups;

(b) To extend for one year the mandate of the independent expert to: (i) assist the working group in the fulfilment of its mandate, in particular by elaborating draft basic policy guidelines on structural adjustment policies; and (ii) monitor new developments, including actions and initiatives being taken by international financial institutions, other United Nations bodies and intergovernmental and non-governmental organizations with respect to structural adjustment policies and human rights, and to submit a revised report to the working group at its third session;

(c) To authorize the open-ended working group to meet for two weeks well in advance of, but at least four weeks prior to, the fifty-sixth session of the Commission with the mandate to: (i) consider the updated report of the independent expert and comments received thereon; (ii) elaborate basic policy guidelines on structural adjustment programmes and economic, social and cultural rights which could serve as a basis for a continued dialogue between human rights bodies and the international financial institutions; and (iii) report to the Commission at its fifty-sixth session.

[See chap. X.]