How is it possible that in the context of relative wealth there is increasing homelessness, food insecurity, malnutrition, poverty and limited access to affordable and nutritious food and there are people who cannot afford electricity, gas, water, sanitation, and heating?
How did the NHS become so underfunded it is unable to provide essential care and treatment in a timely way?
Instead of cutting social security and public sector funding, the UN suggests that the government can broaden its tax base to increase funds available to realise our human rights to housing, food, health care and social security.
They centered their concerns on the fact that many people in the UK don’t have enough money to make ends meet. They pointed out that this is why social security systems exist. Social security is an insurance policy for life’s twists and turns to protect against being unable to afford the essentials. The committee were not convinced that this is how it’s viewed by the UK government, who put more emphasis on using the system to coerce people into work and use it to stigmatise and punish people who don’t. The UN called for an end to a two-child limit, benefit caps, sanctions regimes and to make sure benefit levels are reviewed so that people have enough money for the essentials.
With the change in political leadership since the UN review process began, I hoped for a shift in approach – a commitment to addressing the dire realities faced by so many in the UK with concrete, progressive action. Instead, the UK government relied heavily on slogans and vague promises to dodge tough questions. References to “working people,” “child poverty strategy,” and “getting Britain back on track to ending homelessness”. But there was no clear roadmap for real change, no targets, no timescales.
The committee continually asked for the UK to protect our economic, social and cultural rights in law similar to the way our Human Rights Act protects our civil and political rights. This would underpin our rights to protect us from the political choices that rip through our social security net. It’s time for the UK government to stop being the immovable object that stands in the way of our rights protections.
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Why should people care about what the UN thinks?
When human rights are under attack in many parts of the world, I can imagine that people in the UK could dismiss UN monitoring processes, saying it’s a waste of time or a challenge to UK sovereignty. But I cannot imagine a future where governments are not held to independent, expert transnational scrutiny. Without it, we risk creating a world where political power shields governments from accountability at home, where spin and rhetoric deny people’s realities. It’s reassuring that the UK government’s performance will be independently examined on their performance at a global level by a group of experts.
What next?
The government has two years to act on the UN’s priority recommendations and report back, but that’s a lifetime if you cannot find a way to feed yourself or your family or you are stuck in mouldy temporary accommodation with your children.
We cannot let this cycle of apathy and lethargy by our government continue, and they must address the key priorities highlighted by the committee:
Conduct an independent review of the UK financial secrecy and corporate tax policies and how these impact at home and abroad.
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Conduct an independent review of the impact of austerity on disadvantaged groups and regional inequality.
Assess the impact of welfare reform (like the five week wait for universal credit, the two-child limit and benefit caps) on disadvantaged groups and take corrective action.
Last year, I travelled around talking to communities about their experiences. A community member used this metaphor for his everyday struggles that sticks with me: “It’s like standing in a hurricane with an umbrella, it gets blown away unless you stick it in the ground with concrete.”
I’d love to say the report will revolutionise our political system and mean immediate action against poverty. Sadly, I don’t believe they will take concrete cross-departmental action without a groundswell of public and campaigning action.
Power must be claimed and to claim your rights doesn’t have to be difficult. To help make sure that the government sits up and takes notice of the UNs calls for change: ask your MP to read the UN Committee on Economic Social and Cultural Rights conclusions and ask them how the government intends to respond. To find out who your MP is and ask them a question you can visit They Work For You.
Visit Amnesty’s website to learn more about your human rights to housing, health and social security.
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Jen Clark is Economic and Social Rights Lead at Amnesty UK
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