In this report, the Independent Expert on foreign debt and human rights examines the inherent structural problems of credit rating agencies and their failure to perform well their role of assessing risk and addressing the information asymmetry for bridging investors and debtors, thus having a negative impact on debt crisis prevention and resolution. In the present report, she sheds light on how credit rating-related announcements, especially downgrades, can lead to enormous impacts on the ability and capacity of States to respect, protect and fulfil their human rights obligations. The Independent Expert refers to human rights norms and standards applicable to sovereign debt and credit ratings and to the responsibilities of credit rating agencies as important actors in the international debt architecture. A set of recommendations, including in relation to the much-needed accountability and reform of these institutions, is made at the end of the report.