Export credit agencies and the International Law of Human Rights

This paper was prepared by ECA-Watch member, the Halifax Initiative, to inform the mandate of the Special Representative of the United Nations Secretary-General on business and human rights. The paper examines international human rights law and export credit agencies. It argues that under international law, specifically the principles of ‘state responsibility,’ the acts and omissions of export credit agencies are attributable to their states. States are therefore responsible under international law for the operations of their export credit agencies, including any ‘wrongful acts’ that these agencies may commit. The paper provides recommendations for home states in the area of export credit agencies and international human rights. January 2008