“La economía de los derechos humanos”

Al igual que la Declaración Universal de los Derechos Humanos (DUDH) surgió de las atrocidades de la Segunda Guerra Mundial y de la Gran Depresión, la economía de los derechos humanos también se encuentra en un punto de inflexión. Nos enfrentamos a un panorama mundial en el que los niveles de pobreza están aumentando, las desigualdades de ingresos impulsan la inseguridad y más de la mitad de los países más pobres se encuentran en una situación de endeudamiento total o casi total. Es claro que el crecimiento económico no corregirá las desigualdades estructurales ni garantizará el cumplimiento de los derechos humanos. Para lograr esto, es necesario un cambio profundo que base la política económica en los derechos humanos, que proteja el medio ambiente y garantice la igualdad y la no discriminación, así como los derechos económicos, sociales y culturales.

“The human rights economy”

As the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR) grew out of the atrocities of World War II and the Great Depression, the human rights economy too arises at a turning point. We face a global landscape in which poverty levels are increasing, income inequalities are driving insecurity, and over half the world’s poorest countries are in or near full-blown debt distress. Economic growth alone will not redress structural inequalities or ensure the promise of human rights is fulfilled. Instead, a profound shift is needed to anchor economic policy in human rights, protect the environment, and deliver on equality and non-discrimination and economic, social and cultural rights.

“Report of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights”

The present report is submitted pursuant to Human Rights Council resolution 49/19, in which the Council requested the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights to prepare a report presenting the vision of the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights for reinforcing its work in promoting and protecting economic, social and cultural rights within the context of addressing inequalities in the recovery from the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic.

“Report of the Special Rapporteur on extreme poverty and human rights, Olivier De Schutter”

The dominant approach to the fight against poverty relies on increasing the aggregate output of the economy , combined with post-market redistribution through taxes and transfers. The Special Rapporteur argues, however, that the current focus on increasing the gross domestic product is misguided. An increase in gross domestic product is not a precondition for the realization of human rights or for combating poverty and inequalities. The ideology of “growthism” should not become a distraction from the urgent need both to provide more of the goods and services that enhance well-being and to reduce the production of what is unnecessary or even toxic. As long as the economy is driven mainly by profit maximization, it will respond to the demand expressed by the richest groups of society, leading to extractive forms of production that worsen social exclusion in the name of creating more wealth, and it will fail to fulfil the rights of those in poverty. Moving from an economy driven by the search for maximizing profits to a human rights economy is possible and, to remain within planetary boundaries, necessary.

“Speech from High Commissioner on Human Rights Economy”

Member States expressed their firm conviction that the basic necessities of life – education, health, decent work, social security, an adequate standard of living, freedom from hunger, and enjoyment of science and culture – are not services or commodities, but human rights to be enjoyed by all.
And last year, the UN General Assembly finally recognized a clean, healthy and sustainable environment as a human right, a landmark resolution underscoring that a thriving planet is inseparable from well-being and human dignity.