A/HRC/21/39 14. Overall, the second round of consultation process in 2008-2009 found unanimity among respondents regarding the importance of preparing guiding principles on extreme poverty and human rights. A widely held view among respondents was that guiding principles have the potential to strengthen the implementation of existing international human rights law, rendering international human rights law and policy directly relevant to people living in extreme poverty. It was agreed that such guiding principles may provide international as well as local actors with a useful tool to guide them in the fight against poverty, and may also serve to raise awareness among persons living in extreme poverty, and the population at large, as to their rights and entitlements. 2009-2010: initial work by the then Independent Expert on the question of human rights and extreme poverty 15. The Human Rights Council, in its resolution 12/19, from October 2009, invited the then Independent Expert on the question of human rights and extreme poverty (Independent Expert) to pursue further work on the draft guiding principles, with a view to integrating the contributions of Member States and other relevant stakeholders in a progress report to be submitted to the Human Rights Council no later than its 15 th session, presenting her recommendations on how to improve the draft guiding principles, to allow the Human Rights Council to take a decision on the way forward with the view to a possible adoption of the guiding principles by 2012. 16. In preparing her report, the then Independent Expert reviewed all previous contributions made during the process and carried out additional consultations with a range of stakeholders. The Independent Expert also convened an expert meeting on 20-21 May 2010 in Geneva, where experts from different regions of the world where invited to discuss how to improve the draft guiding principles. 17. The Independent Expert presented her progress report to the Human Rights Council at its 15th session in September 2010. The report (A/HRC/15/41) provided detailed recommendations on how to improve the draft guiding principles, and an annotated outline covering overarching human rights principles, policy guidelines and specific rights-based obligations. The report also included the rationale behind the report’s proposals and outlined the main challenges experienced by persons living in extreme poverty that must be considered when preparing the guiding principles. 18. The Human Rights Council, in its resolution 15/19 from September 2010 (A/HRC/15/19), took note with satisfaction of the progress report of the Independent Expert on the draft guiding principles on extreme poverty and human rights and reaffirmed that the fight against extreme poverty must remain a high priority for the international community. 19. The Human Rights Council invited OHCHR to seek views, comments and suggestions on the Independent Expert’s progress report on the draft guiding principles from States, relevant United Nations agencies, intergovernmental organizations, United Nations treaty bodies, relevant special procedures, national human rights institutions and non-governmental organizations, especially those working with people living in extreme poverty, and other relevant stakeholders. It also invited OHCHR to organize a two-day consultation with States and relevant stakeholders on the progress report of the Independent Expert, and to submit an analytical compilation of the above-mentioned consultation to the Human Rights Council at its 19th session. 27