16. PEACE, JUSTICE AND STRONG INSTITUTIONS

Promotion and protection of human rights: human rights questions, including alternative approaches for improving the effective enjoyment of human rights and fundamental freedoms – Extreme poverty and human rights (A/80/138) [EN/AR/RU/ZH] – ReliefWeb

Promotion and protection of human rights: human rights questions, including alternative approaches for improving the effective enjoyment of human rights and fundamental freedoms – Extreme poverty and human rights (A/80/138) [EN/AR/RU/ZH] – ReliefWeb
Written by ZJbTFBGJ2T

Promotion and protection of human rights: human rights questions, including alternative approaches for improving the effective enjoyment of human rights and fundamental freedoms – Extreme poverty and human rights (A/80/138) [EN/AR/RU/ZH]  ReliefWeb

 

Report on the Correlation Between Welfare System Reforms, Political Instability, and Sustainable Development Goals

Introduction and Executive Summary

A report presented to the United Nations General Assembly by the Special Rapporteur on extreme poverty and human rights, Olivier De Schutter, establishes a direct link between the reduction of welfare protections and the global rise of far-right political movements. The findings indicate that austerity-driven reforms to social protection systems are creating conditions of economic insecurity and institutional distrust. This trend actively undermines progress towards key Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly those concerning poverty, inequality, and institutional stability.

Key Findings on Current Welfare Systems

The report identifies a systemic shift in the function of welfare states, from providing security to implementing punitive measures. This transformation is characterized by:

  • The replacement of support-based programmes with systems imposing harsh conditions and sanctions on beneficiaries.
  • Increased use of digital surveillance and algorithms that can result in erroneous fraud accusations.
  • The stigmatization of claimants, forcing them into unsuitable employment under threat of penalty.
  • A failure to achieve stated goals of reducing poverty or public expenditure, instead increasing hardship and alienation.
  • The misclassification of poverty-related issues, such as classifying poverty as parental ‘neglect’, leading to severe family penalties.

Impact on Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

The restructuring of welfare systems has severe negative implications for the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development:

  • SDG 1 (No Poverty): Punitive welfare reforms directly contradict the primary goal of eradicating poverty. By cutting benefits and making access more difficult, these policies trap individuals in poverty, undermining Target 1.3, which calls for the implementation of nationally appropriate social protection systems and floors for all.
  • SDG 10 (Reduced Inequalities): The report highlights a direct correlation between rising income inequality and increased support for populist parties. Welfare cuts, often paired with tax reductions for the wealthy, exacerbate economic disparities, directly opposing the objective of reducing inequality within and among countries.
  • SDG 16 (Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions): The erosion of trust in public institutions is a critical consequence. When welfare systems are perceived as humiliating and punitive rather than supportive, they weaken the social contract and foster alienation from mainstream politics, creating instability that threatens peaceful and inclusive societies.
  • SDG 3 (Good Health and Well-being) & SDG 8 (Decent Work and Economic Growth): Deep cuts to social spending, including healthcare and income support, deprive millions of basic services essential for well-being. Furthermore, forcing individuals into unsuitable jobs undermines the goal of decent work for all.

The Political Consequences: A Cycle of Exclusion

The report outlines a clear sequence through which welfare cuts fuel political extremism:

  1. Government welfare reforms increase economic insecurity and erode public trust, leaving many feeling abandoned.
  2. Far-right populist movements exploit this discontent, presenting themselves as champions of those left behind by the political elite.
  3. Upon gaining power, these movements often intensify the dismantling of social protections, cutting food assistance, healthcare, and other essential services.
  4. This agenda serves to maintain the privileges of the economic elite while deepening poverty and exclusion for the most vulnerable, creating a self-perpetuating cycle.

Recommendations for Aligning Social Protection with SDG Commitments

To counter this trend and advance the SDGs, the Special Rapporteur urges governments to adopt a rights-based approach to social protection. Key recommendations include:

  • Shifting from narrowly targeted, conditional benefit schemes towards universal, rights-based social protection systems that provide security for all.
  • Reframing the welfare state as a critical investment in societal well-being and economic stability, rather than a cost to be minimized.
  • Formally recognizing social protection as a human right, essential for eradicating poverty and achieving the SDGs.
  • Implementing social support programmes with dignity and respect to rebuild trust in public institutions and counter the narratives of exclusion promoted by extremist movements.

Analysis of SDGs, Targets, and Indicators

1. Which SDGs are addressed or connected to the issues highlighted in the article?

  • SDG 1: No Poverty

    The article’s central theme is the impact of welfare cuts on “people living in poverty.” It directly discusses the failure of welfare systems to reduce poverty and calls for social protection as the “most effective tool for eradicating poverty.”

  • SDG 10: Reduced Inequalities

    The article explicitly links rising inequality to political instability. It cites a study where “a one-point increase in income inequality corresponded almost exactly to a one-point increase in support for populist parties.” It also discusses policies that exacerbate inequality, such as tax cuts that “shift wealth from the poorest households to the richest.”

  • SDG 16: Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions

    The article highlights how punitive welfare systems “erode trust in public institutions” and leave people feeling “humiliated and abandoned by mainstream politics.” This breakdown of trust creates a “void that far-right populists thrive” in, threatening inclusive and peaceful societies.

2. What specific targets under those SDGs can be identified based on the article’s content?

  • Target 1.3: Implement nationally appropriate social protection systems and measures for all.

    The article directly advocates for this target by criticizing current “narrowly targeted benefit schemes” and calling on governments to invest in “universal, rights-based social protection.” The Special Rapporteur states that social protection “is a human right that should be provided to all.”

  • Target 10.2: Empower and promote the social, economic and political inclusion of all.

    The article describes the opposite of this target, detailing the “politics of exclusion” where welfare reforms “further deepening poverty and exclusion.” The stigmatization and punishment of benefit claimants is a clear example of social and economic exclusion.

  • Target 10.4: Adopt policies, especially fiscal, wage and social protection policies, and progressively achieve greater equality.

    The article critiques fiscal policies that undermine this target, such as “deep cuts to social spending” and “tax cuts [that] shift wealth from the poorest households to the richest.” It calls for reframing the welfare state as a positive investment rather than a cost to be reduced.

  • Target 16.6: Develop effective, accountable and transparent institutions at all levels.

    The article points to a failure in meeting this target, noting that modern welfare systems subject claimants to “algorithms that falsely flag fraud” and erode trust in public institutions. This suggests a lack of effective and accountable systems.

3. Are there any indicators mentioned or implied in the article that can be used to measure progress towards the identified targets?

  • Level of social spending and coverage:

    The article’s mention of “deep cuts to social spending” and the call for “universal” protection implies that the proportion of government expenditure on social protection and the percentage of the population covered by these systems are key indicators. This directly relates to measuring progress on Target 1.3.

  • Measures of income inequality:

    The article explicitly cites a study linking “a one-point increase in income inequality” to a rise in populism. This indicates that metrics measuring income distribution, such as the Gini coefficient, are crucial for monitoring the conditions discussed, which relates to Target 10.2 and 10.4.

  • Public trust in institutions:

    The statement that welfare reforms “erode trust in public institutions” and leave people feeling “abandoned by mainstream politics” implies that public perception and trust are important indicators. Progress could be measured through surveys on public confidence in government and its services, which is relevant to Target 16.6.

SDGs, Targets and Indicators Table

SDGs Targets Indicators (Implied or Mentioned in the Article)
SDG 1: No Poverty 1.3: Implement nationally appropriate social protection systems and measures for all. Proportion of public expenditure on social protection programs (e.g., healthcare, income support, food assistance) and the percentage of the population covered by these systems.
SDG 10: Reduced Inequalities 10.2: Empower and promote the social, economic and political inclusion of all.
10.4: Adopt policies… to progressively achieve greater equality.
Measures of income inequality (e.g., Gini coefficient) to track the gap between the richest and poorest households.
SDG 16: Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions 16.6: Develop effective, accountable and transparent institutions at all levels. Levels of public trust in government institutions, measured through population surveys.

Source: reliefweb.int

 

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