GI-ESCR and the Center for Economic and Social Rights (CESR) published this week their joint briefing paper 'Public Financing of Public Services' explaining why States are required to provide public services as a matter of human rights law, but also proposing an agenda for rebuilding public services in the context of the COVID-19 recovery.

Published as part of CESR's 'Recovering Rights' series, this brief follows the research brief GI-ESCR published last month on States’ obligations regarding public services. We hope these publications will help to advance the discussion regarding the central role of public services in imagining new models of society that will respond to the pandemic as well as the inequalities and climate crises.  

Main Takeaways

▪ In line with their human rights commitments, governments must provide quality public services necessary for the realization of people’s rights—including to health, education, housing, water and sanitation.

▪ The social and economic crises triggered by COVID-19 have exposed the inequalities caused by privatization and increased momentum around an agenda for rebuilding public services.

▪ Key elements of this agenda include reclaiming the public management of public services; investing sufficient resources in public services; building greater support for progressive tax measures that can expand resources; and ensuring international financing supports public services.

CESR’s Recovering Rights series aims to spark collective debate on this question. There is widespread agreement that we need a massive investment of resources to tackle COVID-19 and address the impact of its economic fallout on people's lives and livelihoods.

Read more information on GI-ESCR’s work on public services here.