10 January 2018 No 1 ISSN 1664-7963 Current Concerns PO Box CH-8044 Zurich Current Concerns Switzerland The international journal for independent thought, ethical standards, moral responsibility, Phone: +41 44 350 65 50 Fax: +41 44 350 65 51 and for the promotion and respect of public international law, human rights and humanitarian law E-Mail:
[email protected] Website: www.currentconcerns.ch English Edition of Zeit-Fragen “There is a great aspiration for peace and justice” The Independent Expert of the United Nations visited Venezuela by Prof Dr iur. et phil. Alfred-Maurice de Zayas* As the first Inde- eral Assembly, all covering issues of in- Tasks and work pendent Expert on ternational order including tax havens, of the Independent Expert the promotion of a investor-state-dispute settlement, bilateral The function of rapporteurs and independ- democratic and eq- investment treaties, free trade agreements, ent experts is to ask questions, listen to all uitable internation- World Bank projects, the International stakeholders, evaluate documents, and al order, I have had Monetary Fund and its loan conditional- issue constructive recommendations to the opportunity of ities, disarmament for development, the States. We come in order to help popula- defining the man- self-determination of peoples and the re- tions better realize their human rights. In date and the meth- form of the Security Council. The object order to do so, we try to convince govern- odology. I have pro- and purpose of my mandate is laid down ments that it is in their own interest to co- Alfred-Maurice duced six reports for in Resolution 18/6 of the Human Rights operate with the United Nations, and we de Zayas the Human Rights Council, and the parameters of my visit offer them our advisory services and tech- (picture ma) Council and six re- are described in a media statement issued nical assistance.