The United Nations Human Rights Office of the High Commissioner (OHCHR) has published a call for contributions for “Guidance for human rights impact assessment for economic reform policies”. The call is open for all relevant stakeholders and explicitly includes civil society organisations. Contributions can be submitted until 31 July 2017. 

Throughout the last years structural reforms and austerity measures have been conducted in several countries as a response to the financial and economic crisis, raising concerns about adverse impacts on human and social rights. Economic reforms based on budget cuts have affected public services and in many countries have ultimately led to increased poverty, unemployment and reduced accessibility and affordability of essential services.

Against this background OHCHR is working on human rights compliant alternatives to austerity measures and is preparing guidance on how to conduct human rights impact assessments in the context of structural adjustment and financial consolidation policies. Therefore, it calls for contributions and invites stakeholders to submit information related to the following points:

  •   Reports and materials on human rights impacts of fiscal consolidation policies
  •   Human rights or social impact assessment standards, tools, handbooks or any existing guidance
  • Examples of human rights or social impact assessments
  • Information about lessons learnt from designing and/or carrying out such impact assessments
  • Proposals in relation to content and structure of the guidelines

To submit your contribution check the call on social rights and economic reform