freedom, justice and peace in the world.”
—————————————————
“right of self-determination,” which includes
Poverty not only threatens the basic dignity of people, but also their lives.
the right to “freely pursue their economic,
—————————————————
Article 1 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights grants all people the
its debt burden through existing debt-relief mechanisms and it has maintained a track record of implementing the economic and social reforms the World Bank and IMF
Addressing
suggest.121 Meanwhile, the Group of Eight
that “[in] no case may a people be deprived
poverty is based on the IHRL principle of
(“G8”)122 (United States, Canada, Germany,
of its own means of subsistence.”
ensuring minimum standards of dignity for
United Kingdom, France, Japan, Italy,
The UNDP document that argues
everyone.
and Russia) has also proposed a debt-relief
most forcefully for a human rights
on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights
approach to development and
(“ICESCR”) recognizes that the rights of
In this situation, the World Bank
poverty is the Human Development
everyone with respect to living standards,
and IMF have identified forty
Report 2000 (HDR 2000). HDR
food, clothing, and housing are framed in
‘heavily indebted poor countries’
2000 offers two main arguments to
terms of meeting “adequate” standards, and it
(‘HIPCs’) - countries at the bottom
justify the shift in approach:
refers to a universal right to the “continuous”
end of the world’s wealth spectrum,
1) Human rights are double-edged
improvement of living conditions.
The
with per capita incomes of just a few
tools that look at the law as well
right of everyone to physical and mental
hundred dollars a year. Developing
as atmorality, and they represent
health is framed in terms of meeting the
countries have the debt burden over
already accepted international
“highest” attainable standard.
$2 trillion.124 The world hunger
social and cultural development,”’ and states
Human rights are crucial.
can qualify if it has been unable to relieve
113
114
The International Covenant
115
116
initiative.123
According to the U.N. Committee
and poverty are directly connected
2) Human rights approaches
on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights
to the debt burden. Debt takes the
add analytical force to the
(“CESCR”), a “minimum core obligation
big portion of developing countries
implementation\ of human
to ensure the satisfaction of, at the very
budget, While the majority of
development, since rights place
least, minimum essential levels of each of
the population in those countries
claims on others (individuals
the rights is incumbent upon every State
in dire need of resources and
or institutions) to fulfil their
party.”117 Beyond its general application in
money.125
requirements. Rights entail duties,
the ICESCR, the obligation of international
As a result, international debt forgiveness
and duties bring with them
cooperation is reaffirmed in the treaty in the
has become a means for religious groups to
responsibility, accountability and
particular context of “the fundamental right
solve world poverty and hunger. “The Roman
culpability. . . .
of everyone to be free from hunger.”
Catholic Church has declared the year 2000
standards inboth areas.
....
118
Poverty not only threatens the basic
a Jubilee Year, invoking an ancient Hebrew
In short, this objection claims that
dignity of people,
but also their lives.
tradition discussed in the Old Testament.
social and economic rights cannot
Ninety percent of hunger-related deaths are
According to this tradition, the Jubilee was
be implemented unless they are
caused by malnutrition, while only 10% are
a time to start over, to right old wrongs, to
institutionalized, but since one
related to war.
reestablish justice and equity.”126
cannot identify the duty-bearers of
efforts by the international community to
By contrast, countries desperately need
the designated rights, it is difficult,
help the poorest countries reduce their debt
social incentives together with economic
if not impossible, to justify the
burdens. For instance, the World Bank and
growth to halt the progression of poverty.
obligations necessary to respect and
IMF established the Heavily Indebted Poor
In addition, strong leadership is necessary
promote such second-generation
Countries (“HIPC”) Initiative in 1996 as a
to invent, keep, and define reform success.
rights.112
joint program. A heavily indebted country
Innovation and adaptation are also essential,
120
119
After all, there have been
42
Currents 24.2 2021
