As announced in late July, the Non-Governmental Liaison Service (NGLS) is launching an online consultation on the Draft Guiding Principles on Extreme Poverty and Human Rights today.  These Principles were produced by an expert working group under the former UN Sub Commission on the Promotion and Protection of Human Rights (SCHR) in Geneva and released on 11 September 2006. In response to Human Rights Council Resolution 2/2 “Human Rights and Extreme Poverty”, adopted at its second session on 27 November 2006, the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) is conducting a consultation with all stakeholders to get feedback on the draft principles.

In order to facilitate the response of civil society to this consultation, NGLS in collaboration with OHCHR and NGO partners is conducting an online consultation that will run from 20 August to 20 September, 2007.

To participate in the consultation click on the following link, follow the instructions and answer the questions online. The questionnaire consists of four short questions that focus on the Draft Guiding Principles and which give you an opportunity to provide your views on how the document and its implementation could be strengthened. Following the conclusion of the consultation a report will be prepared and submitted to the OHCHR and disseminated to relevant stakeholders.

Links to the online consultation:

English http://www.un-ngls.org/consultations/survey.php
Français http://www.un-ngls.org/consultations/survey_fr.php
Español http://www.un-ngls.org/consultations/survey_es.php

Background information about the Draft Guiding Principles:
Human Rights Council Resolution 2/2 requested the OHCHR 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.” http://www.ohchr.org/english/issues/poverty/consultation/index.htm
The Draft Guiding Principles on Extreme Poverty and Human Rights were developed over a five year period to formulate rules of action to put an end to extreme poverty and realize human rights for all, including the poorest of the poor. The process started with an expert seminar in 2001, and continued with regional seminars aimed at getting the views of people living in poverty. It culminated in the presentation of the document in late 2006.

It should be noted that the Draft Guiding Principles refer to poverty as a “human condition characterized by sustained or chronic deprivation of resources, capabilities, choices, security and power necessary for the enjoyment of an adequate standard of living and other civil, cultural, economic, political and social rights.”

Useful links:

• OHCHR Note Verbale on the consultation
• Human Rights Council Resolution 2/2 “Human Rights and extreme poverty” requesting the consultation
• Human Rights Council Resolution 2006/9 including the Guiding principles: "Extreme poverty and human rights: the rights of the poor" (Page 27)
• Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights
• United Nations Non-Governmental Liaison Service
• International Movement ATD Fourth World website (tools for discussion and summary of the Draft Guiding Principles)

Published in: ON-LINE CONSULTATION: Draft Guiding Principles on Extreme Poverty and Human Rights, Human Rights Committee e-brief, ABA Section of International Law, 27 August 2007.