As several international NGOs have pointed out, « Human Rights are not a luxury only for the good times ». A deep concern is being raised among the human rights community about the impact of the financial crisis on combating poverty and Human Rights.This concern is shared by personalities such as Ban Ki-moon (UN secretary general) and Navy Pillay (UN High Commissioner for Human Rights) and many experts and rapporteurs in the UN system. The global financial crisis is indeed threatening many of the achievements of the last decades. This regression not only concerns economic and social rights, such as the right to health, adequate housing or education, but all categories of rights. In spite of the dramatic consequences of the crisis, to our knowledge, there is no major initiative to assess systematically the negative impact of the global financial crisis on Human Rights, much less to discuss ways and means of counteracting them.
This is why some international human rights and development networks would like to see the (WSF-related) Human Dignity and Human Rights Caucus to promote networking and coordination on this topic. The 2010 WSF Global Day for Action could be an excellent occasion to mobilize the human rights community. As in previous years, the Human Rights Caucus would act as a a facilitating platform for coordination and planning of human rights activities, open to all local, regional and international organisations working on human rights.
If you agree with the argument summarised above, and to promote coordination, we would be very grateful if you could get back to us as soon as possible, briefly indicating :
– if you are planning for or would like to get involved in the WSF Global Action Day in your country, or would like to receive more information on Human rights activities organized within the framework of the Global Action Day.
– if you would be willing to join a network or organisations planning to organise activities, seminars, culturals events on the impact of the finantial crisis on human righs, within the framework of the 2010 WSF Global Action Day.
– if you would like to receive more information about the network of organisations working on the impact of the finantial crisis on human rights and/or you would like to share information about how the finantial crisis affects your country.
Should you wish more information on the Human Rights Caucus, please contact Rosa Sanchez (coordinationhdhrc@yahoo.com)
Human Dignity and Human Rights Caucus, on behalf of among others, FIDH, HIC, ICCO, FIAN and Equalinrights.
Exemples of statements by international NGOs on this topic:
Just clik here
Information about UN and Finantial crisis (including human rights, but also other topics)
