On Monday 13 July GI-ESCR’s Executive Director Magdalena Sepúlveda moderated a webinar called ‘COVID-19 and the rights of people living in poverty’. Attended by over 100 participants, the webinar was organised by the United Nations Special Rapporteur on extreme poverty and human rights, Franciscans International, GI-ESCR, and the International Movement ATD Fourth World, with the support of the Permanent Missions of Belgium, Costa Rica, France, and Peru. The webinar featured five panelists:

• Olivier De Schutter, United Nations Special Rapporteur on extreme poverty and human rights

• Her Excellency Ambassador Shara Duncan, Deputy Permanent Representative and Chargé d’Affaires, Permanent Mission of Costa Rica

• Shahra Razavi, Head of Social Protection, International Labour Organization

• Eric Hazard, Panafrican Campaign & Policy Director, Save the Children

• Maryann Broxton, Research Coordinator, ATD Fourth World USA

Olivier De Schutter explained that, while States have taken a number of measures in response to the pandemic to expand and/or remove conditionalities to social protection, the benefits have not been felt by those living in poverty. He outlined nine key challenges in ensuring social protection reaches people living in poverty, which he will discuss in more detail in a report he is to present later this year.

Her Excellency noted that the aim of Costa Rica’s response to COVID-19 has been to protect families (especially families led or headed by women), children, people with disabilities, indigenous people, and those living in poverty. She highlighted a few of the 56 specific measures Costa Rica has taken, which include the provision of three months’ temporary financial aid, the provision of food packages to children enrolled in the public school system, and preventative measures for people living in situations of deprivation of liberty. Shahra Razavi emphasised how COVID-19 and its consequences have revealed the importance of social protection systems. She discussed how women have borne the disproportionate brunt of the economic and social impacts of the pandemic (only 7% of women, as opposed to 34% of men, for instance, have access to social protection), which risks undoing the gains made in recent decades regarding gender equality. She emphasised the need for the global financial system to support developing countries, underlining the importance of solidary and equity in shaping how we prepare for the next crisis.

Eric Hazard outlined how the pandemic has compounded existing challenges regarding the right to health, the right to education and the right to protection throughout Sub-Saharan Africa. With two out of every three people in Sub-Saharan Africa living in extreme poverty and nine out of ten required to pay for healthcare themselves, it is impossible for many to access hospitals or other medical services. Mr Hazard noted that the poorest and most marginalised groups are at risk of never returning to school, noting the rise in teenage pregnancies following the EBOLA crisis. He emphasised that the pandemic has had a catastrophic impact on those lacking social protection.

Maryann Boxton spoke about how the frequent focus on lack of political will in discussions regarding poverty eradication is misleading. Poverty exists as a result of deliberate choices by those who hold power, as do the COVID-19 risk-factors for those living in poverty. Noting that the pandemic has demonstrated how interconnected we all are, she emphasised that responses should be based on the idea of mutuality, rather than charity. She further stressed the need for accountability regarding the pledge to leave no-one behind.

A recording of the webinar is available here.