Poverty a result of denial of human rights

Apr 10, 2012

Poverty has its origin in human existence and it has been with society in various degrees from time immemorial. Its meaning and extent has changed over time with civilization, economic development and human perception of things.

By Isabella Bwiire

Poverty has its origin in human existence and it has been with society in various degrees from time immemorial. Its meaning and extent has changed over time with civilization, economic development and human perception of things. 

The current understanding is that the condition of poverty is unacceptable and should, therefore, be eradicated. 

This is based on the human rights notion that all human beings are equal, and should be entitled to not only civil and political rights, but also to social, economic and cultural rights 

The UNDP Human Development Report 1997 argued that income is not the total sum of well-being; therefore, lack of income cannot be the total sum of poverty. 

Human poverty does not focus on what people do or do not have, but on what they can or cannot do. 

According to the needs, one source of poverty is lack of basic services such as clean water, education and health. 

The manifestation of corruption has progressed considerably among individuals and thereafter, assumed institutional and later national dimension. 

The incidences of corruption have resulted to inefficient allocation of scarce resources, and ultimately worsening poverty incidence. 

Poverty as a challenge, can be addressed as a human rights based issue, therefore, there is an urgent call to develop an extensive vision directly coupled with human rights so as to acquire a first- rate legal aspect. 

Poverty should not be regarded as merely a governance issue but a denial of human rights. The state is obliged to respect, protect and fulfill the human rights of individuals. 

Successful poverty reduction depends on providing opportunities for the poor to contest their rights through normative changes, including legal frame work.

Empower poor people not only to claim their economic and social rights but also to demand accountability for the good public services. This would then mean that as there is a right in all the fundamentals mentioned, those in the circles of poverty – so is the duty for the Government, for instance, to create an enabling environment for the poor to get out of poverty. 

The writer  works with Foundation for Human Rights Initiative

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