4 December 2018: Ten UN Special Rapporteurs on human rights issues have issued a joint statement urging the international community to step up efforts against economic inequality and discrimination. Their call came on the 32nd anniversary of the UN Declaration on the Right to Development. The Special Rapporteurs note that the July 2019 session of the UN High-level Political Forum on Sustainable Development (HLPF) will review progress on SDG 10 (reduced inequalities), at a time when the world is “wealthier but also more unequal than ever before.”

The Rapporteurs’ statement was released by the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR). In it, the Rapporteurs stress that inequality and discrimination threaten the right to development and are drivers for migration. The statement cites figures of 800 million people living in extreme poverty, while the richest 10% of the world’s population earn up to 40% of total global income and hold half of the world’s total wealth. The Special Rapporteurs urge all stakeholders to take the opportunity of the HLPF review of SDG 10 to bring about more equal societies.

Besides highlighting the dynamics of inequality among individuals and communities, the Special Rapporteurs observe that inequalities in the global governance system are hindering the least developed countries (LDCs), landlocked developing countries (LLDCs), small island developing States (SIDS) and countries affected by displaced people from realizing their right to development, while they are being disproportionately affected by climate change, natural hazards, environmental degradation and austerity policies. The statement recalls that the Declaration on the Right to Development enshrines equality of opportunity for everyone to be able to access education, health services, food and housing, and that tackling inequality and combating discrimination are legally binding obligations.

UN Special Rapporteurs offer an independent perspective and expert knowledge of specific areas, and are not paid by the UN. The Special Rapporteurs who issued the statement represent expertise on the right to development, human rights, democracy, the right to health, the right to education, human rights and the environment, the human rights of migrants, minority issues, internally displaced persons (IDPs), and discrimination against women. [OHCHR Press Release]