We celebrate the NHS’s 70th birthday. So why forget it’s link to human rights?
Article / 28th June 2018The National Health Service in Britain was inspired by the 1948 Universal Declaration of Human Rights, both now marking their 70th birthday. We can look back at how unrestrained neoliberalism swallowed those dreams of the 20th century and co-opted socioeconomic rights along the way, writes Afua Hirsch.
Reclaiming the UN’s radical vision of global economic justice
Article / 15th June 2018The Universal Declaration of Human Rights is one of the most translated and celebrated documents in the world, marking its 70th anniversary this year. But relatively few people are aware of the significance of its 25th Article, which proclaims the right of everyone to an adequate standard of living.
Squeezing the state: Corporate influence over tax policy and the repercussions for national and global inequality
Article / 13th June 2018Reducing inequality is one of the central pledges of the SDGs, appearing as a stand-alone goal (SDG 10) and as a cross-cutting commitment to “leave no one behind”. Reducing inequality requires resources; both (re)distributing currently available resources more fairly, and raising more resources to invest in goods and services which tackle inequality.
Warnings of a new global financial crisis
Article / 13th June 2018There are increasing warnings of an imminent new financial crisis, not only from the billionaire investor George Soros, but also from eminent economists associated with the Bank of International Settlements, the bank of central banks.
‘Cruel’ policy measures pushing US inequality to dangerous level, UN warns
Article / 5th June 2018A scorching report by the UN special rapporteur on extreme poverty and human rights, Philip Alston, finds ‘systematic attack on welfare program’ will leave millions deprived of food and healthcare.