abusesaffiliationarrow-downarrow-leftarrow-rightarrow-upattack-typeburgerchevron-downchevron-leftchevron-rightchevron-upClock iconclosedeletedevelopment-povertydiscriminationdollardownloademailenvironmentexternal-linkfacebookfiltergenderglobegroupshealthC4067174-3DD9-4B9E-AD64-284FDAAE6338@1xinformation-outlineinformationinstagraminvestment-trade-globalisationissueslabourlanguagesShapeCombined Shapeline, chart, up, arrow, graphLinkedInlocationmap-pinminusnewsorganisationotheroverviewpluspreviewArtboard 185profilerefreshIconnewssearchsecurityPathStock downStock steadyStock uptagticktooltiptwitteruniversalityweb
Article

28 Jan 2009

Author:
Afua Hirsch, barrister & journalist, in Guardian "Comment is free" [UK]

Do hedge funds have human rights? [UK]

Last week two hedge funds – RAB Special Situations and SRM Global Master Fund – claimed that the nationalisation of Northern Rock amounted to a violation of their right to "peaceful enjoyment of possessions" set out in the first protocol to the European convention on human rights. Meanwhile, BAA is reported to be considering a claim against the competition commission on the basis that its decision to break up the airport company was a violation of its rights under the convention...There seems something deeply counter-intuitive about this incarnation of human rights claims, rooted not in protecting such sacred freedoms as the right to life or a private and family life, but mitigating loss of profit.