GI-ESCR’s Executive Director participated at a High Level Panel during HRC48 on the COVID-19 pandemic and its impact on the realization of human rights
On 28 September our Executive Director, Magdalena Sepúlveda Carmona, participated on half-day panel discussion on deepening inequalities exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic and their implications for the realization of human rights that was held at the 48th regular session of the Human Rights Council.
As States work to build back better after the COVID-19 pandemic, this panel discussion addressed inequalities exacerbated by the pandemic and their implications for the realization of human rights. This discussion aimed to identify ways to alleviate inequality within and among States by sharing best practices, solutions to challenges and lessons learned, including in the context of integrated approaches to the promotion and protection of human rights and the implementation of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development – paying particular attention to Goal 10 on reducing inequality. The meeting also addressed the role of greater international cooperation in further reducing inequalities within and among States.
This high-level dialogue convened the following well-renowned experts and activists, including:
Ms. Michelle Bachelet, High Commissioner for Human Rights (Introduction)
Mr. Joseph E. Stiglitz, Nobel Laureate Economist from Columbia University
Mr. Gordon Brown, Former Prime Minister of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland (2007-10) and United Nations Special Envoy for Global Education.
Ms. Magdalena Sepúlveda, Executive Director of the Global Initiative for Economic, Social and Cultural Rights and former Special Rapporteur on extreme poverty and human rights.
Ms. Tlaleng Mofokeng, Special Rapporteur on the right of everyone to the enjoyment of the highest attainable standard of physical and mental health.
During her intervention, Magdalena highlighted the importance to place human rights obligations and standards at the heart of transformative policies able to address the deepening social inequalities caused by the COVID-19 Pandemic.
“The weaknesses of public health and education systems, which are overburden, underfunded and understaffed, are the result of austerity measures and decades of neoliberal policies that have exacerbated societies’ vulnerabilities to the COVID-19 and has aggravated inequalities. This is particularly true for gender inequality as women are overrepresented in the public services workforce and are more dependant on such services.”
Magdalena underscored that we are at a crucial moment to build public services as part of a just recovery and the transition to a more sustainable and resilient economy. There is an unprecedented opportunity to use the resurgent support of public services to catalyze a movement to rebuild the role of the State in the provision of social and economic rights, as well as to respond to the powerful forces that are pushing for austerity and privatized future.