Human Rights: Inflation threatens everyone’s right to development |

Turning to Human Rights Council in Geneva on Thursday, Nada Al-Nashif quoted the International Monetary Fund (IMF) predicts that advanced economies should be prepared for an average inflation rate of 6.6 percent in 2022, well below the 9.5% level expected to hit poor countries..

Ms Al-Nashif added that while employment rates in the world’s richest countries recovered or exceeded pre-pandemic levels by the end of 2021, “most” middle-income countries have yet to recover from the crisis. COVID-19 a crisis.

The Legacy of COVID and Ukraine’s Suffering

coronavirus “exposed and exacerbated pre-existing inequalities” and slow down sustainable growth “for several years in many parts of the world”.”, the acting head of the United Nations on human rights told the Council during the biennial discussion on the right to development.

The unsustainable burden of sovereign debt has also weighed down many developing countries, as it has had a negative impact on social protection, Ms. Al-Nashif continued, adding that many countries now face unprecedented financial challenges, “including social unrestbecause their hands were bound by costly loan payments.

To make matters worse, the acting head of the human rights organization reiterated that the Russian invasion of Ukraine on February 24 resulted in “serious human suffering” both inside and outside the country.

The war has also caused a new disruption in global supply chains, leading to “soaring fuel and food prices” that have disproportionately affected women and girls, Ms Al-Nashif explained.

© UNICEF/Vincent Tremo

Food insecurity affects millions of people in Burkina Faso (file photo).

Increasing extreme poverty

Citing World Bank data, 75 million to 95 million more people are expected to live in extreme poverty this year compared to pre-pandemic projections, she continued.

She noted that of the 760 million people living in extreme poverty, “there will be 16 million more women and girls than men and boys.” The majority, 83.7 percent, live in only two regions: Sub-Saharan Africa (62.8 percent) and Central and South Asia (20.9 percent).

“The confluence of crises has had spillover effects on food and nutrition, health and education, the environment, peace and security, further undermines progress in the implementation Agenda 2030 and jeopardizes the sustainable recovery from the pandemic,” said Ms Al-Nashif.

Climate Change “Recovery” Fund

In a related warning, a leading independent human rights expert called on Thursday to create a global “recovery” fund to help states hit hard by extreme weather events caused by climate change.

Ian Fry, Special Rapporteur on the promotion and protection of human rights in the context of climate changedelivered an address at the end of his official visit to Bangladesh.

Nation of Southeast Asia”should not bear the burden of climate change alone“, he insisted, adding that “for too long, countries with large emissions have denied responsibility for the suffering they cause.”

© UNICEF

Heavy rains washed away cities, villages and infrastructure in Bangladesh.

Vulnerability of Bangladesh

Rights Expert appointed Human Rights Council in an independent capacity in March of this year, said repeated flash floods this year in Sylhet, in northeastern Bangladesh, have exposed women, in particular, to the worst effects of climate change.

According to the Special Rapporteur, the emergency forced them to walk “long distances for fresh water, which put them at risk of sexual harassment” and prevented them from taking care of children and farming.

He added that the rising waters had killed livestock, destroyed crops and stored seeds, and that it would take at least two years for the community to fully recover.