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UN Article
NEW YORK,
25 August (UN Headquarters)
Author
Roberto Guimaraes
Though some
parts of the world have experienced
unprecedented growth and improvement
in living standards in recent years,
poverty remains entrenched and much
of the world is trapped in an inequality
predicament.
The United Nations Report on the World
Social Situation 2005: the Inequality
Predicament, issued today, sounds
the alarm over persistent and deepening
inequality worldwide. The Report focuses
on the chasm between the formal and
informal economies, the widening gap
between skilled and unskilled workers,
the growing disparities in health,
education and opportunities for social,
economic and political participation.
"By detailing some of the most
critical issues affecting social development
today, the Report can help guide decisive
action to build a more secure and
prosperous world in which people are
better able to enjoy their fundamental
human rights and freedoms. Overcoming
the inequality predicament is an essential
element of this quest," said
United Nations Secretary General Kofi
Annan.
Departing from approaches that have
focused on economic growth as a panacea
to development problems, the Report
notes that a focus on growth and income
generation neither sufficiently captures
nor addresses the inter-generational
transmission of poverty; it can lead
to the accumulation of wealth by a
few and deepen the poverty of many.
In fact, despite considerable economic
growth in many regions, the world
is more unequal than it was 10 years
ago.
"We will not be able to advance
the development agenda without addressing
the challenges of inequality within
and between countries," said
José Antonio Ocampo, Under-Secretary
General for Economic and Social Affairs.
Ocampo also noted that "the timing
of the Report could not be better.
With 2015 as the target date for the
achievement of the Millennium Development
Goals, it is the right time to incorporate
the goal of reducing inequality in
our strategies to promote development,
security and human rights for all.
"According to the Report on the
World Social Situation 2005:
The Inequality Predicament:Inequalities
between and within countries have
accompanied globalization. These inequalities
have had negative consequences in
many areas, including employment,
job security and wages. However, there
is still debate concerning the specific
role of liberalization and deregulation
policies in these trends.
- Unemployment
remains high in many contexts and
youth unemployment rates are particularly
high. Youth are two to three times
more likely than adults to be unemployed
and currently make up as much as
47 per cent of the total 186 million
people out of work worldwide. Most
labour markets are unable to absorb
all of the young people seeking
work. The incapacity of countries
to integrate younger labour market
entrants into the formal economy
has a profound impact, with effects
ranging from the rapid growth of
the informal economy to increased
national instability.
- Millions
are working but remain poor; nearly
a quarter of the world's workers
do not earn enough to lift themselves
and their families above the $1
per day poverty threshold. A large
majority of the working poor are
informal non-agricultural workers.
Changing labour markets and increased
global competition have spurred
an explosion of the informal economy
and deterioration in wages, benefits
and working conditions, particularly
in developing countries.
· In many countries wage
inequalities, especially between
skilled and unskilled workers, have
widened since the mid-1980s, with
falling real minimum wages and sharp
rises in the highest incomes. China
and India have seen considerable
income growth, but differentials
remain wide. In developed countries,
the income gap has been especially
pronounced in Canada, the United
Kingdom and the United States.
- Despite
progress in some contexts, health
and education inequalities have
widened, especially within countries.
Sub-Saharan Africa and parts of
Asia are in the worst predicament.
Inequalities in life expectancy
have widened dramatically. HIV/AIDS
has aggravated these differentials,
especially those between Africa
and the rest of the world. There
are also wide gaps in access to
immunization, maternal and child
care, nutrition and education. Gender
gaps in access to education have
narrowed somewhat, but persist.
This situation contributes to a
human capital crisis and threatens
sustained poverty reduction.
- Violence
is often rooted in inequality. It
is dangerous for both national and
international peace and security
to allow economic and political
inequality to deepen. Such inequalities,
especially struggles over political
power, land and other assets can
create social disintegration and
exclusion and lead to conflict and
violence. Manifestations of such
violence discussed in the Report
include war, the use of child soldiers,
and domestic and sexual violence.
· Indigenous peoples, persons
with disabilities, older persons
and youth are typically excluded
from decision making processes that
affect their welfare. These groups,
which have been discriminated against
throughout history, are still frequently
denied their basic human rights.
They are also often excluded from
the political process.
Based on
these findings, the Report on the
World Social Situation 2005 recommends
that:
- Worldwide
asymmetries resulting from globalization
should be redressed, with emphasis
placed on more equitable distribution
of the benefits of an increasingly
open world economy. This should
be facilitated by promoting democratic
participation of all countries and
peoples in the processes that determine
the international development agenda.
- Democracy
and the rule of law should be promoted
and special efforts made to integrate
marginalized groups into society.
This effort must be backed by political
will.
- To prevent
global conflict and violence, attention
should be paid to reducing the inequalities
in access to resources and opportunities.
- Conditions
in the informal economy should be
improved by providing social protection
programmes and better linkages between
the formal and the informal economies.
- Opportunities
for productive and decent employment
should be expanded; youth should
be a focus of employment policies
and programmes. With decent employment
those who are able to secure jobs
and receive adequate compensation,
benefits and protection under the
law are also empowered to voice
their concerns and participate more
actively in society.
Unless attention
is paid to redressing global inequality
and pursuing the comprehensive vision
of social development agreed upon
at the Social Summit in Copenhagen
in 1995, the Report warns that the
inequality predicament will be perpetuated,
frustrating efforts to achieve the
Millennium Development Goals.
For
further information, please contact
Roberto Guimaraes in the Department
of Economic and Social Affairs, Tel.
(917) 367-2190,
e-mail: guimaraesr@un.org
Produced by the United Nations Department
of Public Information.
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