ERADICATION OF POVERTY…
How myopic our police makers may be but they will have to change their view on poverty from economics to addressing the human rights problems that impoverish and keep people poor.
Now a day’s poverty is the world’s worst human right crisis. Discrimination, state repression, corruption, insecurity and violence are as much defining features of poverty as the lack of material resources. These human rights problems cannot simply be solved by raising income levels. Material benefits alone do not guarantee an end to discrimination or improve security or give voice to those living in poverty.
Investment in agriculture may boost crop yields for poor farmers but does not guarantee security of tenure against unscrupulous land owners.
Building new schools does not guarantee that girls will have the same access to education as boys.
In many countries economic growth levels may be high but people’s right to be informed and consulted in public policy is ignored. Their right to express their views and be heard is curtailed. The poor are shut out and ignored.
Any successful poverty alleviation strategy must empower the poor to claim their rights so that they can control their destiny and can hold decision makers to account.
Eradication of poverty requires respect of economics, social and cultural rights such as health care, education and housing along with civil and political rights. There can be no sequenced or partial approach to human rights if we want to solve poverty. Demanding participation rights is as important as directing resources to meet basic needs for food, health and shelter. Protecting people against violence is as crucial as ending discrimination. Reducing maternal mortality calls for better health care but also for the improvement of the status of women.
The fight to end poverty is this generation’s greatest struggle. We will win it if we put freedom, justice and equality at its core.
