Economic, Social and Cultural Rights
International Financial
Institutions & Human Rights
International financial institutions play a crucial role in shaping economic policies in the Euro-Mediterranean region. This is particularly true in countries in the Middle East and North Africa, a region facing substantial financial stress and socio-economic instability.
Our Economic, Social and Cultural Rights Working Group works to monitor these developments, engage in advocacy and awareness-raising to mitigate the effects these institutions’ policies have on vulnerable populations.
You can browse the publications below to get a better view of our work on this topic.
THE HUMAN RIGHTS IMPACT OF INTERNATIONAL FINANCIAL INSTITUTIONS IN THE EURO-MEDITERRANEAN REGION: A JOINT POSITION PAPER
Ahead of the 2023 Annual Meetings of the World Bank and International Monetary Fund (IMF) in Marrakech, EuroMed Rights’ Economic, Social and Cultural Rights Working Group published a joint position paper the key issues of the IMF engagement in the Euro-Mediterranean region.
HOW IS AUSTERITY IMPACTING HUMAN RIGHTS IN THE EURO-MEDITERRANEAN REGION?
Austerity, or fiscal consolidation, is defined as cuts to public spending with the purpose of reducing public expenditure, often used during times of financial crisis. For example, removal of food subsidies or cuts to public wages.
Such measures can have devastating effects on human rights, for example in violation of the principle of not reducing social spending (non-retrogression) and ensuring maximum available resources for the investment into economic and social rights. For example, the Greek health care system was severely eroded by economic reform and austerity cuts after the 2008 financial crisis, in violation of citizens’ right to health. Other examples of rights that may be violated are labour rights, the right to social security, the right to education, healthcare and an adequate standard of living, and protection from discrimination. Hence, experts have asserted that the imposition of austerity policies, especially in times of financial crisis, poses a conflict with the enjoyment of human rights.
[Webinar] The gendered impact of austerity?
EuroMed Rights, Arab Watch Coalition, the Women’s Budget Group and Gender Action organised webinar “THE GENDERED IMPACT OF AUSTERITY: EXPERIENCES FROM THE EURO-MED REGION”.
READ MORE
