Rising global inflation is expected to hit emerging and developing economies particularly hard this year, leading to a “Confluence of Crises” it threatens us all, the acting UN human rights chief has warned.
Nada Al-Nashif quoted International Monetary Fund (IMF) forecasts on Thursday at the Human Rights Council in Geneva, according to which the advanced economies should adjust to average inflation rates of 6.6 percent in 2022. well below the 9.5 percent rate expected to hit poorer countries.
Ms Al-Nashif added that although employment rates in the world’s richest countries have returned or exceeded pre-pandemic levels by the end of 2021, “most” middle-income countries have not yet managed to recover from the COVID-19 outbreak. 19 crisis to recover.
COVID Legacy and Sufferings of Ukraine
The corona virus has “uncovered and exacerbated existing inequalities” and sustainable growth “set back several years in many parts of the world‘ the acting UN ruler told the council during its biennial discussion on the right to development.
Unsustainable public debt burdens have also “burdened” many developing countries because they have a negative impact on the provision of social protection, Ms Al-Nashif continued, adding Many countries now faced unprecedented fiscal challenges, “including social unrest‘ because their hands were tied by expensive loan repayments.
To make matters worse, the acting human rights chief reiterated that Russia’s February 24 invasion of Ukraine resulted in “great human suffering” within the country and beyond its borders.
The war has also sparked new disruptions in global supply chains and contributed to “skyrocketing fuel and food prices,” which are disproportionately affecting women and girls, Ms Al-Nashif said.
Extreme increase in poverty
Referring to World Bank data, an additional 75 to 95 million 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, “16 million more will be women and girls than men and boys.” Most – 83.7 percent – lived in just two regions: Sub-Saharan Africa (62.8 percent) and Central and South Asia (20.9 percent).
“The confluence of crises has created side effects on food and nutrition, health and education, the environment, peace and security, further undermining progress in achieving the Agenda 2030 and jeopardize a sustainable recovery from the pandemic,” Ms Al-Nashif claimed.
“Recovery Fund” for climate change
In a related warning, a top independent human rights expert called on Thursday for the creation of a global “recovery” fund to help states severely affected 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 change, made his appeal at the end of his official visit to Bangladesh.
The Southeast Asian Nation “not have to bear the burden of climate change alone‘ he stressed, adding that ‘big emitting countries have for too long denied their responsibility for the suffering they cause’.
Vulnerability in Bangladesh
The human rights expert – who was independently appointed by the Human Rights Council in March this year – said repeated flash floods this year in Sylhet in north-east Bangladesh have exposed women in particular to the most dangerous effects of climate change.
Because of the emergency, they were forced to “walk long distances to fetch fresh water, putting them at risk of sexual harassment” and kept them from childcare and farming, the special rapporteur said.
He added that the rising waters had killed livestock, ruined crops and stored seeds, and that it would take the community at least two years to fully recover.
