Human rights economy needed to eradicate poverty, says ASG Brands Kehris at High-Level Political Forum

SDGs in focus
SDG1 and interlinkages with other SDGs – no Poverty

Tuesday 9 July 2024
Conference Room 4

Thank you, Ms. Razavi,

Mr. Chair, Ambassador Rae,

Excellencies, dear guests,

Eradicating poverty is a priority of the 2030 Agenda.

Sobering statistics show that we are losing ground.

Behind the data are millions of people unable to live with dignity.

Ruinous debt levels, austerity measures, and inadequate fiscal space impede countries from delivering basic human rights.

Our economic systems are failing us and the planet.

They supercharge corporate profits and make the rich even richer while inequalities skyrocket and the environment is destroyed.

Economic growth alone is not the answer.

Recognizing this, the 2024 African Regional Forum on Sustainable Development called for approaches in economic policymaking that are - quote - “dignified and respectful of human rights”.

To eradicate poverty, people must be at the centre of development, and its benefits must be shared fairly, in line with the right to development.

Our economies need to protect and support a healthy and sustainable environment.

Economic, fiscal, monetary, business and investment decisions should be anchored in our shared, universal values, not in the interest of a privileged few.

In short, we need a human rights economy: a key lever for eradicating poverty and putting the SDGs back on track.

Colleagues,

Poverty has a woman’s face.

The current economic systems are failing to guarantee women’s rights and gender equality.

Unless decisive actions are taken, over 340 million women and girls will still live in extreme poverty in 2030.

This requires eliminating discriminatory laws governing work, property and families, recognizing and rewarding women’s contributions in agriculture and the informal economy, reforming care and support systems, and enabling women’s equal and inclusive participation in decision-making.

Excellencies,

We cannot end poverty without:

Implementing long overdue reforms of the international financial architecture.

Tackling the global tax abuse costing the world 480 billion dollars every year.

And urgently addressing the debt crisis.

Human rights economy requires us to:

1. Prioritize spending to meet States’ human rights obligations on education, health, social protection and other rights rather than cutting public services. Use these legal obligations to safeguard resources for lifting people out of poverty, including in the context of debt servicing.
2. Generate new resources to fight poverty and reduce inequalities by tackling tax abuse by corporations and individuals, and by reforming the international tax system.
3. Strengthen inclusive and meaningful participation of people living in poverty in economic policymaking. Prioritize transparency, access to information, freedom of expression, and accountability in public policy and budget processes.
4. Secure women’s autonomy and transform care and support systems, so that they are empowered and enabled to lift themselves and others out of poverty.

Our Office stands ready to work with all stakeholders to implement this transformative change.

Thank you.