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The Progressive

NewsWire

A project of Common Dreams

For Immediate Release
Contact:

Sophia Har

Communications Director

sophia@jubileeusa.org

(o) (202) 783-3566 x101

(m) (651) 815-1818

UN Bankruptcy Vote Could Stop Vulture Funds

​Global Reform Passes General Assembly 124-11 ​

WASHINGTON

The UN General Assembly passed a historic resolution yesterday to begin treaty negotiations to enact a global bankruptcy process and stop predatory hedge funds. The resolution passed by a super-majority vote of 124-11 with 41 abstentions. The US voted no along with 10 other countries. The bankruptcy process could make it more difficult for hold-out investors to block countries from debt restructuring and could limit future defaults.

"The strong majority vote shows how powerful the global consensus is to stop predatory financial behavior," noted Eric LeCompte, Executive Director of the religious debt relief organization, Jubilee USA. "If we are going to solve what global leaders believe is the root cause of inequality, we need a bankruptcy system in place." LeCompte serves on UN expert groups working to create an international bankruptcy process.;

Adam Smith, founder of modern economics, argued in favor of a sovereign country bankruptcy process. The United Nations resolution passed in the wake of Argentina's legal dispute with hold-out investors and predatory hedge funds. During yesterday's session of the UN General Assembly the United States government argued that there needs to be more stability in the global financial system and an end to predatory behavior. However, the US government was one of a handful of countries who voted against the resolution while defending a market-based solution.;

"The United States has led for 15 years on debt relief and has been a powerful voice against predatory behavior," said LeCompte. "I, along with the entire faith community, am so deeply saddened that the US government voted against our debt relief efforts. Our leaders failed us yesterday."

Jubilee USA Network is an interfaith, non-profit alliance of religious, development and advocacy organizations. We are 75 U.S. institutions and more than 750 faith groups working across the United States and around the globe. We address the structural causes of poverty and inequality in our communities and countries around the world.

(202) 783-3566