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IMF / World Bank: Systemic Reforms Needed
Flawed Approach on Rights Raises Concerns
October 5, 2023
The International Monetary Fund (IMF) and the World Bank are facing increasing pressure to implement systemic reforms that align their policies with human rights. Human Rights Watch has released a video highlighting the negative impact of the current approach on individuals’ rights and well-being worldwide. As the IMF and World Bank Annual Meetings open in Marrakesh, Morocco, on October 9, 2023, it is crucial to prioritize these reforms to address rising poverty and inequality.
A Growing Crisis
The video features the story of Shanthi, a woman living in Sri Lanka who is struggling with the economic crisis in her country and the loan conditions attached to a $3 billion bailout from the IMF. These conditions have increased the cost of fuel and electricity, as well as doubled value-added taxes, exacerbating the hardships faced by Shanthi and others like her. Sri Lanka’s default on its debt in 2022 serves as a stark warning, as many other governments are currently in or nearing debt distress.
“Millions upon millions of people around the world have stories like Shanthi,” says Sarah Saadoun, senior economic justice researcher and advocate at Human Rights Watch. “IMF bailout conditions make lives already upended by global inflation and other economic challenges even harder.”
Shanthi’s story exemplifies how IMF loans to dozens of countries, affecting over one billion people, often pressure governments to implement austerity measures that harm human rights. The Human Rights Watch report finds that these loan conditions have had detrimental effects and the IMF’s efforts to address these impacts have been largely ineffective.
The Need for Reforms
The IMF and governments must prioritize systemic reforms to ensure economic recovery that promotes rights in the short and long term. Austerity policies that threaten rights should be halted, and spending on health, education, and social security should meet international benchmarks as a percentage of GDP and national budgets.
The World Bank’s Shortcomings
The video also highlights the shortcomings of the World Bank’s approach to social security, particularly in countries like Sri Lanka. While the World Bank commits to promoting universal social protection, it often supports means-tested programs that exclude many individuals in need. These programs rely on income, assets, or narrow poverty indicators for eligibility, leading to high error rates, corruption, and social mistrust.
Advocacy for Universal Social Security
A coalition of 43 human rights and economic justice organizations has launched an initiative calling for universal social security, urging governments and international financial institutions to commit to providing benefits to all individuals at various stages of their lives. This approach, grounded in a human rights framework, aims to address the failures of current policies that have left millions suffering.
“The IMF and World Bank recognize that people need support, but then they promote narrow means-tested programs that—both by design and due to chronically high error rates—exclude many people who are struggling,” says Saadoun. “The IMF and World Bank need to revise their policies to support universal social security.”
Navigating the Global Economy
The urgency for systemic reforms within the IMF and World Bank is evident. As the global economy continues to face challenges, it is crucial to prioritize human rights and ensure that economic measures prioritize the well-being of individuals. A comprehensive and rights-based approach to economic recovery is essential to address poverty, inequality, and the hardships faced by millions around the world.
Learn more about the global economy and the need for systemic reforms in our related articles:
- How IMF Policies Undermine Rights
- IMF: Austerity Loan Conditions Risk Undermining Rights
- Bandage on a Bullet Wound: IMF Social Spending Floors and the Covid-19 Pandemic
- Aluminum: The Car Industry’s Blind Spot
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<< photo by Pixabay >>
The image is for illustrative purposes only and does not depict the actual situation.
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